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comfort mourners

You Should Follow the Ways of the Holy One, Blessed Be He

Rabbi Hama son of Rabbi Chanina said: "After the Lord your God shall ye walk" (Deut. 13:5). But is it possible for a man to walk right behind the Presence? Has it not already been said, "The Lord thy God is a devouring fire" (Deut. 4:24)? Yes, but what the verse means is that you are to follow the ways of the Holy One. He clothed the naked: "The Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin, and clothed them" (Gen. 3:21). So should you clothe the naked. The Holy One visited the sick: "The Lord appeared unto him in the terebinths of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1). So should you visit the sick. The Holy One buried the dead: "He buried [Moses] in the valley" (Deut. 34:6). So should you bury the dead. The Holy One comforted mourners: "And it came to pass after the death of Abraham that God bestowed blessing upon Isaac his son" (Gen. 25:11). So should you comfort mourners.


Sotah 14a

 

Jewish Funeral