salvation part 2

Rabbi Hama ben Rabbi Hanina said, "What is the meaning of the following verse of scripture: "You shall walk after the Lord your God" (Deut 13:5)

Now is it possible for a person to walk after the presence of God? And has it not been said, "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire" (Deut 4:24)

But the meaning is that one must walk after the traits of the Holy One, blessed be he. ---

Just as he clothes the naked, as it written, "and the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skin and cloathed them" (Gen 3:21), so you should clothe the naked.

Just as the Holy One, blessed be he, visited the sick, as it is written, "And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre" (Gen 18:1), so should you visit the sick.

Just as the Holy One, blessed be he, comforted the mourners, as it is written, "and it came to pass after the death of Abraham that God blessed Isaac his son" (Gen 25:1,) so should you comfort the mourners.

Just as the Holy One, blessed be he, buried the dead, as it is written, "And he buried him in the valley" (Duet 34:6), so should you bury the dead."
(Babylonian Talmud tractate sotah)

(excerpt from Jacob Neusner's book, "A Rabbi Talks with Jesus")