The Chevra Kadisha, The Sacred Burial Society, have instituted an annual fast day. It was established as a form of repenting, if G-d forbid they had failed to handle the deceased body with the utmost of care.
The volunteers treat the body with gentleness, with special care and with absolute dignity. Every act of theirs is infused with reverence and honor for the deceased. They keeping the body covered whenever possible. They move the body gently and only when necessary.
This is an extraordinary concept. So much concern and attention to avoid hurting a Jewish body. So much emphasis and caution to guard against harming someone who can no longer feel.
How much more so must we be careful and sensitive when interacting with people who do have feelings. Our family, our friends, our neighbors and even total strangers deserve our vigilance and tenderness. Not because they can hurt us back, but because they are part of G-d.
If the Torah instructs us, with many intricate details, how to treat a body without a soul, without G-d's holy spark that gives it life, shouldn't we be much more cautious and careful when relating to a human being with a G-dly soul??
This is a lesson to always be a little kinder than necessary to all those around us.
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