Taking Jewish Teaching to Heart

Every rabbi, I imagine, has their store of favourite Jewish teachings - teachings which say as much about the rabbi who quotes them, as about Judaism. Since, this is my first column for the Sussex Jewish News, I though I might introduce myself by sharing with you a passage which is a constant source of inspiration for me and lies at the heart of my way of conducting my rabbinate.

The passage in question is from Pirkei Avot, the collection of sayings of the rabbinic sages, which is included in the Mishnah. We read (Chapter 1:2):

Simon the Just was one of the last survivors of the Great Assembly. He used to say, The world stands [omeid] on three things: On Torah, on Service [Avodah], and on Loving Deeds [Gemilut Chassidim].

This is how I understand this important text: The world - that means the whole of creation, and every individual creature of God. And yet, Torah, Avodah and Gemilut Chassidim are mitzvot which devolve specifically upon the Jewish people - both individually and collectively. Through our commitment to the three 'pillars' [ammudim], Torah, Avodah and Gemilut Chassidim, Jews make our contribution to maintaining God's world. How? Torah, the first pillar [ammud], is the centre we begin from and return to: God's teaching - both the written word, traditions of interpretation, and our own continual struggle with the question, what does God require of us now? Avodah, the second pillar is the active work we do in the service of God and God's creation which emerges out of our engagement with Torah; it is our responses to the question: prayer, celebration of Shabbat and the festivals, kashrut, gemilut chassidim, tzedakah, social action, interfaith dialogue, our contribution to the life of our immediate community and to the wider community of communities. Gemilut Chassidim is the third pillar because it embraces, not only the particular 'loving deeds', such as visiting the sick, which form part of Avodah, but also the way in which we relate to others, as we grapple with the Torah, as we participate in Avodah. Unless we behave lovingly towards others, our involvement in Torah and Avodah becomes mere passionless mechanistic piety. Gemilut Chassidim is the loving practice of Torah and Avodah; it is what transforms our encounters with others into relationships between persons.

Torah, Avodah and Gemilut Chassadim: the three pillars with which Jews support God's world