Vayechi: The True Meaning of Chesed—Relationship, Not Altruism

Rabbi Zweig begins with Yaakov's request to Yosef in Parshas Vayechi to perform "chesed (חסד) v'emes"—true kindness—by burying him in Israel rather than Egypt. Rashi (רש"י) explains that kindness to the dead is called "chesed sheleimus" (complete kindness) because it is done without expectation of reward. Most people understand this to mean that genuine chesed must be entirely altruistic, with no expectation of anything in return. Rabbi Zweig argues this understanding is fundamentally mistaken and creates unnecessary guilt about our motivations. The shiur presents a fundamental question: If chesed requires total altruism, how can we do chesed for our children, from whom we naturally expect something back? How can we reconcile the Ramchal's teaching that God created the world to give us pleasure with the Mishna's instruction not to serve God for reward? How can Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi's teaching in Pirkei Avos that we should be equally careful with all mitzvos because we don't know their rewards be reconciled with the prohibition against serving for reward?