perhaps you could call it mercy killing

The Noam Elimelech (end of Parashath Hukat) explains the statement in the Talmud about cleaving to HaShem. How do we cleave to Him? By cleaving to His Attributes, He is Merciful, you too be merciful.

You must act with great mercy towards yourself, just as He acts with great Mercy towards you. What should you do? You should devote yourself, body and soul utterly, to performing the mitzwoth, to learning the Torah, all for the sake of HaShem; in this way you bring yourself life (in this world and the next) as Chazal taught: "What shall a person do and live? Kill himself" [ie. negate himself in the service of HaShem that he should have life in the world of truth]

Comments