A word of Torah:
        This week’s Torah portion contains the verse tzedek tzedek tirdof—justice, justice, you shall pursue (Dt. 16:20). Doubling words in the biblical text is used for emphasis. It would seem that pursuing social justice is a key Jewish value. Yet the Talmud states:
        Our masters taught: Lovingkindness (gemilut hesed) is greater than charity (tzedakah) in three ways. Charity is done with one’s money, while lovingkindness may be done with one’s money or with one’s person. Charity is given only to the poor, while lovingkindness may be given both to the poor and to the rich. Charity is given only to the living, while lovingkindness may be shown to both the living and the dead. [B. Suk 49b]
        This text suggests that kindness is greater than tzedakah. Why? Because ultimately an even holier way is to act out of lovingkindness, that is, to go beyond what is required by justice. To act out of lovingkindness is to identify with other people, to feel for them, to want to help them or ease their burdens even if simple justice would not require it. To act out of lovingkindness is to understand we are all lost in a broken world, yet together we can improve the journey of life. Gemilut hesed means to care even when it is “not deserved.” It also means to understand that we all need deeds of lovingkindness to be done for us, regardless of our economic status.
        The Hafetz Hayyim (1839-1933) was a rabbinic scholar who focused his teachings on discouraging people from gossiping. He also wrote a small book entitled Ahavat Chesed—love of kindness. This book’s title is taken from a verse in Micah (6:8): God has told you what is good and what God asks of you: to act justly and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
        The Hafetz Hayyim wonders why the verse doesn’t say either act justly and kindly or love justice and kindness that is, why vary the verb? He answers that the prophet says we are obligated to act justly. However, kindness is an attribute to be cultivated in order that it becomes second nature to respond to others with kindness.
        The Hafetz Hayyim suggests that too often we are responding with reluctance to a request whether it is from a beggar on the street or a friend who needs help with moving. There is an element of coercion involved because it can feel hard to say no to the request. Instead we should strive to act kindly with a willing heart. There is a big difference between something we do reluctantly and full heartedly. The Hafetz Hayyim uses the analogy of a parent with a child. It is not duty but love that motivates a parent’s giving to a child. A parent happily gives even when the child hasn’t asked.
        Perhaps then a different way to understand the verse tzedek tzedek tirdof  is that we are called to pursue justice but the doubling of the word suggests that justice is not enough. We must strive to build a world of justice—and of lovingkindness.