DEUT650 (Continued from [[DEUT865]] Deuteronomy 17:5 stone TZADIK 157-61). Now you, son of man, take heed to yourself and remove yourself from cruelty. Be merciful to the poor and the needy and let the poor be as members of your household (Avos 1:5). And our Sages of blessed memory have said: "And He will give mercy to you, and be merciful to you, and He will multiply you' [this verse], all who are merciful to their fellow creatures are accorded Mercy by Heaven" (Shabbos 151b). Therefore, do not divest yourself of mercy, but guard yourself against the trait of cruelty, as King Shelomo said (Mishlei 5:9): "Lest you give your glory to others and your years to the cruel one." And guard yourself against revenge, which results from cruelty. If you want to avenge yourself of your foe, add to your virtues and walk in the ways of the just. This will give you vengeance over your foe, for he will be grieved by your good trait and your good name and he will mourn when he hears a good report of you. But if you do ugly deeds, your foe will rejoice in your dishonor and shame, and he will be taking revenge on you. (Continued at [[EXOD366]] Exodus 20:5 children TZADIK 161-3).

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DEUT652 As is known, charity and chesed overcome the attribute of strict justice. On [this] verse … Chazal have commented (Shabbath 151b): "Whosoever has mercy on human beings will be granted mercy from Heaven." In these times we see with our own eyes how the attribute of strict justice grows stronger in the world from day to day. All kinds of maladies and unnatural deaths abound. There is a lack of Divine influence in the world, so that each day is more cursed than the day before. How much must we increase the prevalence of tzedakah and chesed. Perhaps in this way, we shall succeed in averting the severity of the judgment and the world will become filled with mercy...

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DEUT655 See [[EXOD162]] Exodus 12:38 mixed AHAVCH 106

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DEUT656 The Sefer Hachinuch lays down that the trait of niggardliness sets up an iron barrier between the person and the blessing that should come to him. He also removes himself from Heavenly compassion, according to Chazal's interpretation (Shabbath 151b) of [this] verse: "'And He shall give you mercy and have compassion on you and multiply you.' He who is merciful to others, mercy is shown to him by Heaven; while he who is not merciful to others, mercy is not shown to him by Heaven."

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DEUT657 We must be merciful. The Talmud cites this verse to show that one of the basic traits of the Jewish people is that of being merciful (Yevomos 79a). The essence of compassion is being able to imagine yourself in someone else's situation. It is the resulting softness of the heart that makes one sensitive to the suffering of others. (Ali Shur, p. 148). ... If you know that someone has a special problem and you are unable to speak to him in person, you should at least write him a letter call him up on the telephone to offer words of encouragement. Some people have a tendency to analyze the problems of others behind their backs, which often leads to loshon hora. A person who is merciful will try to help the person with constructive assistance or advice.

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DEUT653 It was taught: R. Gamliel Berebbi says: "And He will grant you mercy, and He will be merciful to you": This teaches us that all who are merciful to others are accorded mercy by Heaven, and all those who are not merciful to others are not according mercy by Heaven (Shabbath 151b)

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DEUT654 It was taught: There are three distinguishing signs of the Jewish nation: mercifulness, shame-facedness and lovingkindness. Mercifulness --as it is written: "and He will grant you Mercy and He will be merciful to you" (Yevamoth 79a)

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DEUT658 See [[DEUT745]] Deuteronomy 15:8 open CCCBM 51-5

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DEUT660 See [[NUM310]] Numbers 25:8 stabbed AMEMEI 15

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DEUT659 See [[LEV261]] Leviticus 18:25 vomit AMEMEI 126

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