TALMUD 1
R. Assi further said: Charity
is equivalent to all the other religious precepts combined
-Baba Bartha 9a
R. Eleazar further stated, Gemiluth Hasadim
(an act of loving kindness) is greater than charity, for it is
said, Sow to yourselves according to your charity, but reap according to
your hesed; if a man sows, it is doubtful whether he will eat [the harvest]
or not, but when a man reaps, he will certainly eat. R. Eleazar further
stated, The reward of charity depends entirely upon the extent of the kindness
in it, for it is said, 'Sow to yourselves according to charity, but reap
according to the kindness'.
-Sukkah 49b
Our Rabbis taught, In three respects
is Gemiluth Hasadim (an act of loving kindness) superior to charity:
charity can be done only with one's money, but Gemiluth Hasadim can be done
with one's person and one's money. Charity can be given only to the poor,
Gemiluth Hasadim both to the rich and the poor. Charity can be given to
the living only, Gemiluth Hasadim can be done both to the living and to
the dead.
-Sukkah 49b