There is a beautiful story about Rav Moshe Feinstein, with an explanation given by the Mashgiach of his Yeshiva on the Lower East Side, Rabbi Michel Birnbaum: He says that Rav Naftali Amsterdam was a student of Rav Yisrael Salanter. He once asked Rabbi Yisrael for advice about a disagreement that he had with his wife, based on the fact that his wife was insisting that it was time that he bought himself a new suit, while Rav Naftali felt that such a purchase was unnecessary. Rabbi Yisrael replied that there is a level of where one understands the need for a given item, and sees to it that someone else has that item. For example, if I think you need a coat, I buy you a coat. Then there is a higher level of Hessed where one provides somebody with something that he personally sees no need for at all. For example, your friend may think that he needs suspenders, and while you see no need for them, you get them for him anyway. The following story relates to this concept: One Shabbat morning Rav Moshe Feinstein was on his way out of shul. He put his on coat, and as he was walking toward the door, a man stopped Rabbi Moshe, and said something to him. Rabbi Moshe then took his coat off, sat down at a table made a beracha on a piece of cake, ate half the cake, and left. On the way home, his student asked Rabbi Moshe what that was all about. Rabbi Moshe explained that the man was a Hasidic Jew. Hasidim have a custom called Shira’im , whereby they sit by their Rebbe’s table on Friday night. The Rebbe eats from the meal and gives leftovers to his Hasidim. They believe that there is something special about eating the leftover food that the Rebbe ate from. Rav Moshe Feinstein was of Lithuanian descent, and this was definitely not a Lithuanian custom or belief. Nonetheless, Rabbi Moshe explained, “ That Hasidic Jew came over and asked me if I would eat a piece of the cake, so that he could take some of the leftovers. So although it wasn’t my custom, it was his custom. I did not want to disturb his happiness on Shabbat, so I took the piece of cake and made him happy.” What a great concept! Quite often, we look at people and we think that their needs are silly. We don’t think it is our job to fulfill their crazy needs. If you have a son-in-law, for example, who decides that he only wants organic tomatoes, you may think that’s crazy, but if that is what makes him happy, that is what you do. That is the higher level of Hessed, it is a wonderful concept that was taught and Rav Moshe actually lived. Have a wonderful day.