I recently read the following idea from Inner Work, a book of translated excerpts from the writings of Rav Avraham Mordechai Gottlieb, and it’s been stuck in my head since then.
When we realize that all of reality is pure compassion, we are redeemed.
Looking at reality as “pure compassion” is, to me, an abstract concept; falling in line with G-d continuously creates the world, and G-d continually bestows goodness. (The more I think about it, the more I think all three concepts are really the same.)
Looking at this concept through a Hebrew language lens helped me make some slight sense of it. The words “womb” (רֶחֶם) and “compassion” (רַחֲמִים) share the same three-letter root of ר-ח-מ, which means they’re similar and connected.
Here’s what I think…
Inside the womb, a baby grows in a temperature-controlled, environmentally protected space and is nourished in the best possible way. That’s the רחם and that’s רחמים. It doesn’t get better than that!
With a little research (aka help from ChatGPT), we can see how the planet Earth and humanity share a similar existence as a baby in the womb.
- Remarkable Precision Orbit with the Sun : From a scientific perspective, Earth’s habitability is not a matter of luck or convenience —it’s a remarkably precise convergence of conditions that allows complex life to exist.
- The Atmosphere – Earth’s Womb : Earth’s atmosphere protects life by blocking harmful solar radiation, burning up most incoming meteoroids, and maintaining temperatures that allow liquid water and living organisms to survive.
- The Mechanisms for Life on Earth : Earth’s ecosystem sustains life by continuously cycling energy from the sun and recycling essential nutrients through interconnected systems of air, water, soil, plants, animals, and microorganisms.
- Water Reserves for the Non-Rainy Day : The water table is vital because it stores and supplies groundwater that sustains drinking water sources, agriculture, and natural ecosystems during dry periods.
See! Our world is also a “temperature-controlled, environmentally protected space and is nourished in the best possible way” place to live! That’s the רחם and that’s רחמים.
Beautiful, right?
Shifting gears and asking questions…
If all of reality is pure compassion, then why doesn’t it feel like it?
And, moreover, how does one get that feeling?
It would seem that gratitude is a good place to start.
Reframe statements of praise from “Thank you G-d for my teeth” to something like, “Thank you G-d for having compassion on me and giving me teeth. Without my teeth, I would look silly and have to eat only soft or blended food, and that might be terrible, or be forced to deal with dentures. Thank you for having compassion on me.”
Or, “Thank you G-d for having compassion on me by giving me the mitzvah (or opportunity) of ___ to help me become more similar to You (aka spiritually closer) and bring Your Presence into the world. Being more like You is always a good thing.”
In the Hebrew text, the word “redeemed” is שנגאל, coming from geula, which is knowledge of G-d. That makes sense.
IMHO, it sounds like something to be experienced to be understood. What do you think? Seriously, I would love to hear your thoughts.
May we all come to realize that all of reality is pure compassion speedily in our days!
Hatzlacha!
Yitzhak Sasson 