One Special Mitzvah: 'He Returned in a Dream and Told Me...'

Why is chesed (acts of kindness) so highly valued by Hashem? A soul-stirring message from the World to Come reveals the answer...

A Message from Heaven

The renowned Torah scholar and Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Batzri once discussed the profound importance of performing chesed (acts of kindness) for others. He shared a powerful story told to him by Rabbi Avraham Wallis. In his words:

About ten years ago, I was teaching in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood of Jerusalem. One day, after waiting ages for the bus home, I decided to try to hitch a ride. Just a few moments passed before a driver stopped and welcomed me warmly into his car. He wasn’t just offering me a ride — it was clear he was actively seeking passengers, looking to help wherever he could.

I rode with him a number of times, and he was always the same: not just willing to help, but eager. It was as if doing chesed was his personal mission. Eventually, after we became friendly, I asked him, “Why do you go out of your way like this? What’s your motivation?”

His answer stunned me. “I received a message from Heaven,” he said.

“Promise Me You’ll Come Back From Heaven…”

The driver continued:

“I’m not anyone special, just an ordinary guy, but something happened that changed my life.

“About a year ago, I came across an old man lying on a bench. He was homeless, ragged, completely alone in the world. I felt terrible for him and invited him to live in my home. Hashem has blessed me with everything I need and more. I’m a building contractor and I own a villa, plus a small private rental unit with everything a person might need. I invited him to stay there and he gratefully accepted.

“From that day on, he became like family. I gave him food, clothing, medical care — whatever he needed. He lived with me for about a year. Then, one day, he said, ‘I feel my end is near. I want to thank you for your kindness — but I have nothing to give. I can’t leave you an inheritance, but I want to give you something.’

“So I said to him: ‘Give me your word that you’ll return after you pass away and tell me what happened in the Heavenly Court.’

“He gave me his word. A short time later, he passed away.”

The Promise Fulfilled

“Months went by, and I forgot about the promise — until one night, the old man appeared to me in a dream.

“‘You asked for something very difficult,’ he told me. ‘Don’t ever make such a request again.

“‘It’s not easy to receive permission to return to this world, and even when I was granted it, I didn’t want to come back. It’s so good up there. Returning causes great suffering for the soul.

“‘But because you saved me — and because I promised — I had to come. I’m not allowed to tell you what happens in the Heavenly Court. But in your merit, they allowed me to share one thing.’

“‘Know this: every mitzvah a person does — whether prayer, Torah learning, tzitzit, Shabbat — if it’s done for the wrong reasons, such as honor or recognition, the reward is diminished. Pieces of the mitzvah literally fall away.

“‘But acts of kindness? Even if done with impure motives — even for honor — the mitzvot remain whole. The merit remains fully yours. Kindness is deeply beloved in Heaven.’”

The contractor concluded: “That was the message I received from Heaven. Since then, I dedicate an hour every day to chesed. I drive around looking for people to help. I received a message, and now I pass it on.”

The Heart of Kindness

Rabbi Batzri concluded the story with this message:

“It’s so important to do chesed every day, in any way possible. And perhaps most importantly, we must remember that chesed begins at home. A kind word, a helping hand, a patient moment with a family member — all of it matters.

“Hashem desires the heart. It’s not just what you do — it’s the love and sincerity behind it that counts.”

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