In Genesis Rabbah, a medieval collection of midrashim, R. Ahavah son of R. Ze’era makes a curious claim about teshuvah, the way of turning: God created teshuvah before creating the world, including the Earth Creature, ha-Adam. [1:4]
This is compassion: to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the orphan and widow, release the fettered, comfort the afflicted, make ready the healing before the wound has been suffered.
What else does R. Ahavah’s order suggest?
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