Hesed and Tzedakah (PDF)

From a Jewish perspective, divine action in this world revolves around two poles: Hesed and Tzedakah. There is one fundamental difference between them: Hesed describes those actions of God that arise not from obligation, but instead are spurred by pure love for humankind, by grace and mercy. Tzedakah by contrast touches on God's righteous interaction within his covenant, as well as justice observed by man seeking harmony with God's will. Each of the terms applies to both God and man. Hesed and Tzedakah emanate from God, and eventually should transform a person into a Hasid and a Tzaddik. The authors of this volume parse the subtlety of different meanings behind this pair of terms - from Bible to modernity.

Rabbi Walter Jacob is president of the Abraham Geiger College, Germany's rabbinical seminary, and of the Solomon B. Freehof Institute for Progressive Halakhah. The former president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and Senior Scholar of Temple Rodeph Shalom in Pittsburgh holds a D.H.L. from Hebrew Union College as well as a D.D. from there and Drury University. Rabbi Walter Homolka is principal of the Abraham Geiger College, Germany's rabbinical seminary, chairman of the Leo Baeck Foundation, and an executive board member of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. He holds a PhD from King's College London and teaches Jewish Law at Potsdam University.