How Many Unexpected Mitzvot of Chessed Can One Do in One Day?

Recently a friend of mine related to me an unusual and interesting situation that her husband experienced of performing acts of chessed and of how many mitzvot constitute chessed.   

              They had traveled to a wedding out of town to be Mesameach choton vekalla (to make a bride and groom happy). Earlier that day they were informed that the husband’s eldest brother was in hospital after having a heart attack. And the wife of their Mesader Kiddushin (the Rav who officiated at his own wedding) had passed away.  Aside from the wedding, which was scheduled, the other “events” were not planned and as such “unexpected”.

            This man’s evening of chessed “between man and man” reminded me of the paragraph in the Morning Prayers Eilu Devorim (These are the things…). In it are mentioned different “services” a person might do for another: honoring one’s parents; acts of kindness; learning in the morning and in the evening; having guests; visiting the sick; helping a bride; “escorting” the dead to the grave; delving into prayer; and making peace between man and his fellow. And Talmud Torah equals them all.  (Hirsch Siddur)     Each of these mitzvot individually are not every day occurrences as each one relates to a specific circumstance at a given time. Yet as far as I understand, all are also considered acts of chessed for which there are rewards in this World by the personal satisfaction derived in the actual doing of the chessed.

             It was fascinating to me in that this man’s parents are not alive anymore. In Halacha one’s eldest siblings are likened to one’s parents with regard to Kibbud Horim (Honoring Parents). He visited his brother and did Bikkur Cholim (visiting the sick) and Kibbud “Av”(father). He made a Shiva call (comforting the mourner) which connects to burying the niftar (one who has passed away). He and his wife attended a wedding which connects to giving happiness to a bride and assisting her into marriage. In addition, this man traveled by taxi to the hospital to visit his brother and then yet another taxi to comfort the mourner so as to complete all his “chessed errands” in time to also attend the wedding. In so doing, he paid the taxi driver for services right away – thus fulfilling the mitzvah of paying one’s wages on time – a mitzvah and a chessed.

    It is truly remarkable to be able to fulfill such “opposite” experiential mitzvot and acts of kindness all in one night. Not everyone is emotionally capable at the time to go from joy and happiness to care, concern and worry; to empathy and sympathy – all with compassion and love for another human being. Yet this man accomplished his “duties”.