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True kindness
Rabbi Moishy Pruzansky
This week’s Parsha details which animals and fowl may or may not be eaten according to Torah Law. The Ramban explains that whatever you eat has an influence on your character, and the forbidden birds and animals possess negative character traits. Therefore, Hashem prohibited eating predators and other cruel an- imals lest we become influenced even slightly by their inherent bad behavior (11:13). Apparently, the expression “you are what you eat” is a Torah concept.
However, the “chassidah” bird seems to pose a complete contra- diction to this rule. The Torah states that the chassidah, which some Sages define as a stork, is not kosher. Rashi comments that the name for this bird is closely related to the Hebrew word chessed, kindness. Rashi continues to explain that the reason why it was given this par- ticular name is because the chassidah displays kindness by sharing its food with the other members of its species (11:19).
How can the Ramban’s opinion be reconciled with this fact? If the nature of this bird is to kindly share its food with all the birds of its species, why is it not kosher?
Rabbi Yissocher Frand relates a true story (The Power of a vort, pp. 288–289, artScroll), which he heard from rabbi Yaakov Luban.
A young man with severe learning disabilities lived with his family in Yerushalayim. For years, his family cared for him at home, but as time went on and the family grew, it became increasingly difficult to do so. Someone recommended a specific school for disabled adults. The school had a housing program and students lived there long-term. The parents struggled with the idea of sending their son to such an institution, but after some time, they finally decided that they had no other choice. Before taking the step, they arranged a meeting with rav Shlomo zalman auer- bach zt”l for guidance. “did you discuss this decision with your son yet?” rav Shlomo zalman asked.“discuss it with him?” they asked in surprise. “he’s mentally challenged.” “Well,” replied rav Shlomo zalman, “you can’t just drop him off there without speaking to him about it first. It wouldn’t be right. Please bring him to me and I will discuss the matter with him.” When the parents brought their son to rav Shlomo zalman, he lovingly asked the young man, “What is your name?”
The young man responded with his name.
“My name is rav Shlomo zalman auerbach and I am the gadol hador.” [rabbi Yissocher Frand points out that rav Shlomo zalman was world-renowned for his extreme humility and must have felt extremely uncomfortable voicing that sentence out loud — he had never been heard making such statements in the past. Yet, in order to comfort this mentally challenged individual, he made a statement that was completely out of character.] “I have a problem that I need your help with. There is a school that has no mashgiach to ensure that everything is being run properly. as the gadol hador, it’s my job to make sure that every- thing is being run there as well as possible. Unfortunately, I can’t be there regularly. Can I ask you a favor? Would you be willing to go live in the school and serve as my representative to make sure that it’s being run properly? Tell everyone that rav Shlomo zalman auerbach, the gadol hador, sent you as his personal emissary to supervise.”
The boy “accepted” his position excitedly. he took his mission so seriously that a few weeks after being placed in the institu- tion, when his parents wanted to bring him home for Shabbos, they had to work hard convincing him — as he insisted that he couldn’t take the Shabbos off. “rav Shlomo zalman told me that I am responsible for this school,” he protested. “I have to be here to supervise.”
Rav Shlomo zalman auerbach exemplified true kindness. Kindness does not mean being compassionate exclusively to people similar to you but to go out of your way to shower kind- ness upon all people, no matter how different you and they may be.*
The first Gerrer Rebbe, the Chiddushei Harim (Rabbi yitzchak Meir Alter), explains that the reason why the chassidah bird is not kosher is because it only does kindness with its own species. It never displays kindness toward anyone that looks, acts, or feels differently than itself — and this is why it’s rendered non-kosher. The Torah thus teaches us that “kindness” that is limited exclu- sively to others who act, dress, or think just like you, is not kindness but mere socializing or an expression of self-interest. As such, the chassidah bird — which shows generosity only to its own species — is rightfully designated as a non-kosher bird, for the Torah does not want us to follow its terrible example. When we Think of “kindness” we tend to think of “charity.” However, the Gemara states that greeting others warmly and with a bright smile (and by logical extension, offering your friendship to a stranger) — are even greater acts of kindness than monetary favors (Kesuvos 111b). Such gestures are things that every human being needs, rich and poor alike, in order to have a bright and enjoyable day.
The lesson from this week’s parashah is undeniable: kindness is only complete if you direct it toward everyone. Often we find it easier to be kind and warm toward people in our own social circles, toward those who share our nuances of Judaism, or toward people who dress, think, and talk just like us. However, we should learn from the ac- tions of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and the chassidah bird’s non- kosher status that a Jew must offer his warmth and kindness to everyone, including to Jews who are different than himself. If you do so, you are guaranteed to become a truly kind person. And what could be more kosher than that?