A Chessed Before Davening

Rav Yehuda Zev would try to do at least one act of chessed each morning before Shacharis, to strengthen the power of his tefillos. At home he prepared a thermos of hot water before leaving for shul, so his son-in-law could have a hot drink before heading out. At his summer resort he prepared negel vasser for companions who woke later. In his mussar talks he stressed that no chance for chessed, big or small, should be overlooked. After washing his hands, he refilled the cup for the next person. When he came home from yeshiva at night, he mailed his students' letters on the way, saying first, "Hareini mechaven lekayem mitzvas asei shel chessed," meaning, "I intend to fulfill the positive command to do chessed."