Random Acts of Kindness
So, what sort of compassionate act can you perform? A while back, 11 cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point performed a chesed shel emet, which in Jewish tradition is an act of loving kindness which cannot be repaid by the recipient of the act. In this case, they cleaned up Silver Lake Cemetery on Staten Island, a 125-year-old graveyard for the indigent, isolated and forgotten run by the Hebrew Free Burial Association since 1888. The cadets were looking for a meaningful community service project, and HFBA was needing help. Look around your community; it’s highly likely that there is a small, neglected cemetery nearby that could also use your attention. Odds are nobody will thank you. You’ll be doing it just for one reason. Because it’s the right thing to do.
