The idea of G’milut Chasadim, acts of loving kindness, as explained in the Mishnah:

אֵ ּלּו דְ בָרִ ים שֶׁ אֵ ין לָהֶׁם שִ עּור. הַ פֵאָ ה, וְהַ בִ ּכּורִ ים,
וְהָרֵ אָ יֹון, ּוגְמִ ילּות חֲסָדִ ים, וְתַ לְמּוד ּתֹורָ ה. אֵ ּלּו
דְ בָרִ ים שֶׁ אָ דָ ם אֹוכֵל פֵרֹותֵ יהֶׁן בָ עֹולָם הַזֶׁה וְ הַ קֶׁרֶׁ ן
קַיֶׁמֶׁ ת לֹו לָעֹולָם הַ בָא. ּכִ בּוד אָ ב וָאֵ ם, ּוגְ מִ ילּות
חֲסָ דִ ים, וַהֲבָאַ ת שָ לֹום בֵ ין אָ דָ ם לַחֲבֵרֹו, וְתַ לְמּוד
ּ:תֹורָ ה ּכְ נֶׁגֶׁד ּכֻּּלָם

These are the things that have no definite quantity: The corners [of the field]. Firstfruits; [The offerings brought] on appearing [at the Temple on the three pilgrimage festivals]. The performance of righteous deeds; And the study of the torah. The following are the things for which a person enjoys the fruits in this world while the principal remains for them in the world to come: Honoring one’s father and mother; The performance of righteous deeds; And the making of peace between a person and their friend; And the study of the torah is equal to them all. (Mishnah, Peah 1:1)

• In this explanation, these deeds are reciprocal; you do them and you get something. Is that how you view it?
• What do you think of the words righteous deeds? Does this somehow elevate simple actions?

There are some acts of loving kindness that don’t have a financial cost (like visiting the sick or consoling the bereaved. Then there are others that do require money. In this commentary on the above verse, we are taught to set aside money to always be ready to do them.

Therefore, it is necessary for a person to separate out one fifth of their profit at all times so that it would be [readily] found whenever [an opportunity] to perform an act of lovingkindness comes, in order that one can sustain them (i.e. the less fortunate), and in that way, fulfills the obligation. (Bartenura on Mishnah Peah 1:1:5)

• Do you keep extra money handy to do small acts of kindness?
• When you think about acts of loving kindness, do you think about things that are free, or things that have a cost?

שִ מְ עֹון הַ צַדִ יק הָ יָה מִ שְ יָרֵ י כְ נֶׁסֶׁת הַגְ דֹולָה. הּוא
הָ יָה אֹומֵ ר, עַל שְ לשָ ה דְ בָרִ ים הָ עֹולָם עֹומֵ ד, עַל
:הַּתֹורָ ה וְעַל הָ עֲבֹודָ ה וְ עַל גְ מִ ילּות חֲסָ דִ ים

Shimon the Righteous was one of the last of the men of the great assembly. He used to say: the world stands upon three things: the Torah, the Temple service (worship), and the practice of acts of piety (or loving kindness). (Pirkei Avot 1:2)

• Acts of loving kindness are different than just giving money (ie, Tzedakah). Rashi, a great Medieval commentator, in an explanation of this verse talks about how acts of loving kindness can be even greater than charity.
• How do you understand this text? Do you think that acts of loving kindness really make the world go round?

This text from Pirkei Avot is often sung in synagogue and other gatherings. Here are a few popular versions by Rick Recht or Steve Dropkin

Sometimes just a cheerful word or smile does a lot…

AND RECEIVE ALL HUMANS WITH A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE. What does this mean? It teaches that if a person presents the most precious gifts in the world to their fellow but gives them with a sullen countenance, Scripture regards them as having presented them with nothing. On the other hand, one who receives their fellow with a cheerful countenance, though they give him nothing, Scripture accounts it to them as though they had presented them with the most precious gifts in the world. (Avot D’Rabbi Natan 13:4)

Other fun teachings:

• The noble deeds of our life are our passports to forever. (Paul Nathan)
• Deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments. (Talmud)
• When I say to myself, “I can’t do everything,” let it not be to do nothing. Let it be, instead, merely a recognition that I don’t have to do everything, that other people
  too will do their part to right wrongs, just as they—and I—will not try to add to the wrongs we see done each day. (Chasidic teaching, adapted by Rabbi Chaim Stern)
• The Baal Shem Tov said: What matters is not the number of commandments we obey, but how, and in what spirit, we obey them. (Chasidic)
• You have not done enough, you have never done enough, so long as it is possible that you have something of value to contribute. (Dag Hammarskjold)
• Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. (Mark Twain)