Rabbi Zundel of Salant was standing near a well when a stranger came by to draw water. Since the rabbi was dressed very plainly, the stranger thought that he was a pauper and offered him a few cents to fill the bucket of water. The Rabbi was pleased to do this and refused payment, telling the stranger to pay him the next time he would draw water. A short while later, the stranger found out that this man was a righteous rabbi and great scholar. When the stranger came to the rabbi pleading for forgiveness, the rabbi laughed and said, “I owe you thanks for enabling me to fulfill the mitzvah of doing chesed, kindness, with my body.”

If only we could have the attitude to be grateful for performing acts of kindness each moment they are presented before us. We learn this character trait from Eliezer, Abraham’s devoted servant, whose kindness is without bounds. As Eliezer stood next to the well, he could have drawn water by himself, but he was searching for someone who understood the value of chesed, kindness. In a world where headlines highlight people’s transgressions, our tradition teaches that our headlines must focus on kindness.

We do not stand by wells today, but we do interact with people each and every day of our lives.

We are taught to call out hate, but we must also be taught to call out kindness.

Eliezer was a simple servant whose main function in our tradition was to find a kind person.

That can be our job, too.