Rabbi Yisrael Salanter: The Torah of Kindness and Responsibility

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (1810–1883) devoted his life to the study and teaching of morality and interpersonal ethics. He noted that Jewish tradition begins a child’s formal Torah education with Talmudic tractates addressing liability for damages, instilling from a young age the principle of personal responsibility. Fittingly, the anniversary of his passing, the 25th of Shevat, often coincides with Parashatt Mishpatim, which emphasizes these very principles.

Rabbi Salanter taught that one cannot selectively observe Torah commandments while disregarding others. He illustrated this with a striking example:

 

The Man In A Hurry

One early morning in Elul, before dawn, Avraham rushes out to the synagogue for Selichot, deeply immersed in thoughts of repentance. As he leaves, he slams the front door, inadvertently startling his neighbor—a widow—awake.

“What was that?” she wonders groggily. Realizing it must be Avraham hurrying to Selichot, she sighs, “If only Yaakov were still here to go with him…” Tears well in her eyes.

In his haste to fulfill a mitzvah, Avraham has unknowingly caused two transgressions: disturbing a widow’s rest and evoking her grief. Still unaware, he hurries down the street and, without noticing, bumps into a passerby.

When he reaches the synagogue, he finds it locked. The shamash has not yet arrived with the key, and several congregants stand waiting. Soon, the embarrassed shamash comes running, fumbling nervously with the keys.

Frustrated, Avraham loses patience. “Come on, hurry up! We’re wasting time!” he shouts. The shamash, humiliated in front of everyone, turns pale, ashamed of his mistake.

Once again, Avraham’s actions lead to two wrongs: shaming another person publicly and potentially endangering his livelihood.

 

Compassion In Every Action

Rabbi Salanter’s lessons extended beyond theoretical teachings. His wisdom was deeply rooted in everyday interactions.

One year, before Pesach, the Rav went with his students to bake matzot. The students asked, “What halachot should we be most careful about?”

Rav Salanter replied, “Of course, the matzot must be kosher. But not only according to the laws of Pesach—one must also ensure not to offend the women kneading the dough. Many are widows or orphans, and it is forbidden to cause them distress with harsh words or criticism.”

His sensitivity to others was unparalleled. On the yahrzeit of his mother, he wished to lead prayers and recite Kaddish. However, another man, mourning the loss of his daughter, also wanted to be chazan. According to Jewish law, the one remembering a parent has precedence.

Nonetheless, Rav Salanter stepped aside. “My mother, aleha hashalom, would prefer that I do a kindness for another person on this day,” he explained. He believed that a good deed was as pleasing to Hashem as reciting Kaddish.

His awareness extended to the smallest details. While a guest in someone’s home, he asked, “Who fetches the water?” Learning that a maid carried it from the well, he began using only the bare minimum for netilas yadayim.

“If I carried the water myself, I would use the full amount required,” he said. “But taking on an extra stringency (chumra) at the expense of another’s effort is not true yirat Shamayim.”

 

Torah That Elevates

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter’s legacy teaches that true Torah observance is not confined to ritual precision—it is measured by how we treat others. Whether by avoiding harm to a neighbor, honoring a grieving father, or showing sensitivity to a servant’s labor, our actions must reflect kindness, respect, and thoughtfulness.

In doing so, we not only serve Hashem but uplift those around us, embodying the true spirit of Torah.

Copyright© 2023 by The LaMaalot Foundation. Talks on the Torah, by Rabbi Yitzchak Zilber, is catalogued at The Library of Congress. All rights reserved. Printed in China by Best Win Printing, Shenzhen, China.

By Rav Yitzchok Zilber ztk"l
Founder, Toldot Yeshurun