Ahavat Chesed by the Chafetz Chaim: the practice of kindness
Ahavat Chesed (אהבת חסד), “Love of Kindness,” is a 19th-century work on performing acts of loving-kindness by Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen Kagan, author of the Mishnah Berurah and of the Chafetz Chaim.
Quick facts
| Title | Ahavat Chesed (“Love of Kindness”) |
| Author | Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen Kagan (the Chafetz Chaim) |
| Publication | 1888 (according to Sefaria) |
| Commentary | Netiv Chesed, by the author himself, printed with the work |
| Genre | Halakhah and ethics of kindness |
Content
According to Sefaria it details how to properly give loans to the needy, perform hospitality, celebrate with a bride and groom, visit the sick, write a will, comfort the mourning and bury the dead. It also incorporates talmudic stories and teachings about the greatness of chesed.
Structure
Our sources describe it in three parts; we have not verified the content of each, so we do not detail them.
Frequently asked questions
What is Netiv Chesed?
An elaborating commentary by the author himself, printed with the work.
What topics does it cover?
Loans, hospitality, weddings, visiting the sick, wills, comforting mourners and burial.
Sources
- Ahavat Chesed, entry on Sefaria
