What is Compassion? In Hebrew it is known as Racham. Racham is undeserved Mercy, Compassion. Without G-d's Racham humanity would have been destroyed a very long time ago. If not then, then surely now! Just see the innumerable evils today! We heartlessly murder babies in the womb, 800,000 children in the US last year alone! We hate others based on skin color, on religious and/or political ideologies, based on country of origin, on our perception of their intelligence! Where is OUR Racham?And our political leaders? OI!!!!

Consider these words of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov recorded at Likutey Moharan Book II Lesson # 7: 1,2.

One has to know how to act with this compassion. It is forbidden to show compassion for the wicked, or for murderers and thieves. In addition, someone who does not know how to exercise compassion might “pity” a four-day-old infant by feeding it foods suitable for an adult, and not for such an infant. Such an infant must be nourished specifically on milk. It is therefore necessary to know how to act with compassion. Compassion for an infant such as this requires giving him specifically milk; and for an adult, [giving him] the food that he needs. Likewise, it is necessary to show compassion to each person as is suitable for him.

Only Moshe Rabbeinu had such compassion. He was the leader of the Jewish people and he will be the leader in the future, for “That which was is what will be” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Moshe Rabbeinu had genuine compassion for the Jewish people. He sacrificed himself for them and cast aside his life, showing absolutely no concern for himself. Although God said to him, “and I will make you into a great nation” (Exodus 32:10), he paid no attention whatsoever to this, but said, “If You would, forgive their offense” (ibid. :32) . This is because he was compassionate and a true leader.

Compassion, Racham, is so critical that our Rebbe equates it directly with human-ness! The Rebbe says that without developing compassion one can not develop Da'at, experiential knowledge of the Divine! What is the Source of Compassion? It is Devekut! Attachment to the Holy One because without that attachment one Divine Image is darkened with materialism, greed, and unknowing! But one who knows HaShem, one with Da'at, WILL manifest Divine Racham!

Does this mean unbridled pseudo-compasson? No! As the Rebbe explains, compassion, in this context, should NOT be shown to evil doers, those who mock HaShem, for those who seek to destroy the freedoms of others because by so doing the evil doers block them from the Derech or Way of G-d! Our Rebbe says such workers of iniquities are not even to be regarded as human at all! Such people have degraded themselves, through their own choices, to the animal level.

ON THE OTHER HAND within even such people the Light of HaShem is present, even if only as the slightest flicker. For this reason our work of Tikkun Olam or Repairing the Broken extends even to them. Our compassion must be measured. Civilized people are called to promote the Light of G-d! By fanning the flames ever brighter even the darkest corners of our world will be alighted with the Truth of the Holy Beloved! THIS is how we are to demonstrate our Racham to the ungodly! Not by accepting their ungodly plans but firmly saying NO! By STANDING for TRUTH of the One G-d!

Moshe Rabbeinu demonstrated his absolute service to HaShem and his Racham for all living beings by showing us the Way to true happiness and civilization. When HaShem told him to stand aside while He destroyed the rebellious Israelites and raised up another Tribe through him, Moshe, moved by Racham, said “Nay my Lord! TAKE MY LIFE INSTEAD!”

THIS is our job as Jews! This is the job of the Noahidim who stand with us! “YES HaShem! We deserve Your awesome Wrath but please demonstrate Your Racham anyway!!

Yes HaShem! America has turned its back on You!

Yes HaShem, collectively Americans are guilty for the death of over 61 million innocent babies since 1973!

Yes HaShem! Collectively we are guilty of racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, of willfully – as well as unintentionally – violating Your Holy Laws! We can not even begin to conceive of all the evils we have wrought individually, let alone collectively as a nation! We stand before You with no excuses!

Nonetheless, please bestow upon us Your great and undeserved Racham, Mercy, Compassion, anyway! Rescue us from all the evils that are upon us like the beating wings of some fierce bird of prey from the regions beyond our understanding! Turn Your Righteous Judgments away from us Adonai! Forgive us our Master, our King! Give us yet another chance to make our nation Great Again! To make our nation Pro-Life and anti-death again! Even at this late hour we know that it is not yet too late IF You are still with us! YOU are our only hope Adonai! Grant us Your Causeless Rachem and save our nation and our world from this approaching evil!!!

Please turn in our Supplemental Songbook to page 21 for Rachem. I will be adding an additional line:

Rachem Rachem Na HaShem Elokeinu Rachem al Yisrael Amecha, Rachem al ahrt-zote haBre-et Rachem Ve'al Yerushalayim Ir-echa Rachem, Rachem, Rachem

Have Mercy Have Mercy Hashem our God Have Mercy On Israel Your people On the United State of America where most of us live. On Jerusalem Your city Mercy, Mercy, Mercy

* By Rabbi Shlomo Nachman ben Ya'akov, © November 04, 2020 (latest update Novemeber 14, 2024)