For 60 days, the talmidim of Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe embraced a mission – one act of chesed at a time. Every day, the students sought out opportunities to help others, recording each effort and internalizing the impact of kindness in their lives. The initiative, designed to reinforce a mindset of continuous empathy and responsibility, was deeply tied to the Torah’s timeless lessons.
The chesed challenge was not simply about performing good deeds; it was about shaping a mindset where awareness of others’ needs becomes second nature. Rabbi Don Pacht, menahel of Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe, explained, “We must act with an awareness of what another person is going through and respond as if we were the ones in need.”
In recognition of their outstanding commitment, each student was awarded an autographed copy of Our Amazing World of Chesed, personally inscribed by its author, Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn.
Rabbi Pacht marked the occasion with a meaningful visit to Rabbi Krohn’s home in Kew Gardens, bringing words of chizuk and extending heartfelt wishes of support from the YTM family for a continued r’fuah sh’leimah while the Rabbi continues to recover from a sudden stroke suffered on Erev Shabbos, December 8, at this past year’s Agudath Israel National Convention.
What might have been a routine meeting became a moment of divine orchestration, an instance of hashgachah pratis, as the parshah’s message aligned seamlessly with the chesed initiative, emphasizing that acts of kindness are not only intentional but often divinely orchestrated. This beautifully reflects the Yeshiva’s mission – to cultivate a generation that sees every act of compassion as an integral thread in the fabric of communal life.
In a beautiful display of ahavas Yisrael, the Yeshiva community remains steadfast in t’filah and emunas Hashem, offering unwavering support to Rabbi Krohn during this challenging chapter. The entire community joins in extending heartfelt wishes for a full and speedy recovery ad mei’ah v’esrim shanah.
Rabbi Krohn shared a deeply resonant message, emphasizing the importance of viewing every act of kindness through the lens of personal empathy.
Rabbi Krohn referenced Parshas Mishpatim and the well-known Rashi that elaborates on the pasuk “If you lend money to My nation…with you.” Rabbi Krohn explained that these seemingly extra words in the Torah indicate that when performing chesed, a person must imagine himself in the recipient’s place. Every favor should be extended with the same care and sincerity as if it were being done for oneself.
Rabbi Krohn then posed a challenge to the students, urging them to see chesed not just as an action, but as a mindset: What if you were sick? What if you were struggling? What if you were being bullied or left out? By imagining themselves in another’s place, the students could ensure that their chesed would always come from a place of deep sincerity and understanding.
“Think about someone else the way you would want to be thought of if you were in need,” Rabbi Krohn told the students, reinforcing that every act of kindness strengthens not only the recipient but also the giver. Furthermore, the rav reminded the boys that chesed is a two-way bond – just as a person extends kindness to others, Hashem reciprocates by bestowing kindness upon that individual.
Students found that the program not only made them kinder but also more confident in standing up for one another. More than a two-month project, this experience has laid the foundation for a lifetime of kindness, reinforcing the lessons of Parshas Mishpatim in a tangible way.
Reflecting on the challenge, I couldn’t help but be transported back to my own YTM days and Rabbi Hersh Kasirer’s legendary Gold Club challenges, where we, too, were encouraged to seek out chesed opportunities, reinforcing that a true ben Torah carries these values for life.
May these lessons in chesed continue to inspire kindness in every corner of our lives.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
