A Jewish Mother’s Compassion

It is a well known statement of Chazal that Jews are known as ביישנים, רחמנים, and גומלי חסדים, that we are shy, merciful, and we do acts of kindness.

Rabbi Twerski, surprisingly, points out that this is not the nature of non-Jews. He uses the case of Hagar and Yishmael, when they are sent away by Sara.

The Torah tells us that Yishmael had passed out from the intense heat, and his loving mother said the following: אל אראה במות הילד, which, in essence, means that she plans on abandoning her son because it’s too painful to watch the boy die.

Rabbi Twerski contends that no Jewish mother would ever react in that fashion. She would stay with her child, continue praying, and hope for a miracle.

This is what separates Jews from the rest of the world. And this is why we often hear that when a Jew behaves in a cruel manner, that people will ask if he’s really Jewish.

We are a shy, kind, and compassionate people. We should be proud of these wonderful character traits.