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Chesed (חסד, also Romanized ẖesed) is a Hebrew word commonly translated as "loving-kindness," "kindness" or "love." Chesed is central to Jewish ethics and Jewish theology and is a common term in the Bible for describing God’s love for humankind and God’s special relationship with the Children of Israel.
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Chesed is valued by religious Jews of all denominations. It is considered a virtue on its own, and also for its contribution to tikkun olam (repairing the world). It is also considered the foundation of many religious commandments practiced by traditional Jews, especially interpersonal commandments. Chesed is the basis for a wide variety of Jewish communal institutions.
Chesed is also one of the ten Sephirot on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. It is given the association of kindness and love, and is the first of the emotive attributes of the sephirot.
English
"Loving-kindness" is also often used as an English translation of chesed, originating with the Coverdale Bible of 1535. Although some consider it to be a somewhat archaic translation, it remains one of the most common translations. "Love" is often used as a shorter English translation. Daniel Elazar has suggested the translation of "covenant-love." "Grace" and "compassion" are also occasionally used as translations of chesed.
Greek and Latin
Eleos (often understood as mercy or pity) is the word used by the Septuagint to translate "Chesed" into Greek. The Latin (Vulgate) translation of the Bible by Jerome used the Latin equivalent, misericordia. Chesed has also been understood as linked with the Greek word 'Agape' and its Latin equivalent, caritas (charity).
Ethics
In traditional musar literature (ethical literature), chesed is one of the primary virtues. The tannaic rabbi Simon the Just taught: "The world rests upon three things: Torah, service to God, and bestowing kindness" (Pirkei Avot 1:2). Chesed is here the core ethical virtue.
A statement by Rabbi Simlai in the Talmud claims that "The Torah begins with chesed and ends with chesed." This may be understood to mean that "the entire Torah is characterized by chesed, i.e. it sets forth a vision of the ideal life whose goals are behavior characterized by mercy and compassion." Alternatively, it may allude to the idea that the giving of the Torah itself is the quintessential act of chesed.
In Moses Cordovero's kabbalistic treatise Tomer Devorah, the following are actions undertaken in imitation of the qualities of Chesed:
A person who embodies "chesed" (חסד) is known as a "chasid" (hasid, חסיד), one who is faithful to the covenant and who goes "above and beyond that which is normally required" and a number of groups throughout Jewish history which focus on going "above and beyond" have called themselves chasidim. These groups include the Hasideans of the Second Temple period, the Maimonidean Hasidim of medieval Egypt and Palestine, the Chassidei Ashkenaz in medieval Europe, and the Hasidic movement which emerged in eighteenth century Eastern Europe.
Chesed institutions
Across all streams of Judaism, many communal institutions dedicated to chesed are common. Sometimes these institutions are created by synagogues, local Jewish councils, or individual rabbinic or lay leaders. Often, an individual starts the initiative without prior community or leadership support. Many chesed organizations are very large, while many others may be a small as a one-man shop. Common institutions include:
When love is established, much of Jewish persons had had Teshuvah only with thinking about death and other not just modes, they cannot accept with faith.
Jewish political thought
The political theorist Daniel Elazar has suggested that "chesed" cannot easily be translated into English, but that it means something like "loving covenant obligation." Chesed "is the antidote to the narrow legalism that can be a problem for covenantal systems and would render them contractual rather than covenantal" and so forms the basis of Jewish political thought that goes beyond a concern with compliance with following laws.
Kabbalah
The first three of the ten sephirot, are the attributes of the intellect, while Chesed is the first sephira of the attribute of action. In the kabbalistic Tree of life, its position is below Chokhmah, across from Gevurah and above Netzach. It is usually given four paths. To Chokhmah, Gevurah, Tiphereth, and Netzach (some Kabbalists place a path from Chesed to Binah as well.)
The Bahir states, "What is the fourth (utterance): The fourth is the righteousness of God, His mercies and kindness with the entire world. This is the right hand of God." Chesed manifests God's absolute, unlimited benevolence and kindness.
The angelic order of this sphere is the Hashmallim, ruled by the Archangel Zadkiel. The opposing Qliphah is represented by the demonic order Gamchicoth, ruled by the Archdemon Astaroth.