"For Instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of the L-rd from Jerusalem." -- Isaiah 2:3

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DEUTERONOMY — 13:18 mercy

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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DEUTERONOMY — 13:18 mercy

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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DEUTERONOMY — 13:18 mercy

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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