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Week 136 - Wednesday - 3 July 2002

PIRKEI AVOT: CHAPTER 4: MISHNAH 16

Rabbi Yaakov said: This world is like a vestibule before the world-to-come; prepare yourself in the vestibule, that you may enter into the banquet hall.

Kehati

Rabbi Yaakov of our Mishnah, surnamed Kurshai, was the teacher of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, and was mentioned above, Chapt. 3, Mishnah 7 (see our explanation ad loc.). He expounded the verse (Deut. 5:16):"That your days may be long" as referring to a world which is wholly long, "and that it may go well with you" to a world which is wholly good, thus confining the reward for the mitzvot to the afterlife. Similarly in our Mishnah, Rabbi Yaakov teaches us that our earthly existence is but an ante-chamber where man trains himself, through the mitzvot and good deeds, for life eternal in the world-to-come.

Rabbi Yaakov said: This world is like a vestibule - and a gateway, before the world-to-come - which every person expects to make his final destination. Therefore - prepare yourself in the vestibule - build yourself a firm basis of mitzvot and good deeds in this world, that you may enter into the banquet hall - of the "palace" which symbolizes life in the world-to-come. Thus we read (Midrash Mishlei 6): "The wicked are destined to plead before God. Give us a chance to repent; but God replies: You foolish men! The world that you inhabited is like Shabbat eve, whereas this world is like Shabbat itself; unless a man prepared food the day before, what will he eat on Shabbat?... The world where you lived resembles dry land, whereas this world is like the sea; unless one prepares food while ashore, what will he eat when at sea? The world that you were in is like a vestibule, and this world is like a banquet hall; if a man does not qualify in the vestibule, how shall he enter the banquet hall?!"

Likewise, our Sages (Eruv. 22a) expounded: "'which I command you this day, to do them' (Deut. 7: 11), this day (you are) to do them, and you cannot postpone them for tomorrow; this day (you are able) to do them, and tomorrow (is set aside) for receiving the reward for (having done) them." Furthermore, (Shab. 151b); "Perform (your duties) whilst you can find (an object for them); take the opportunity, when it is yet in your power (i.e., before you die)."

PIRKEI AVOT: CHAPTER 4: MISHNAH 17

He used to say: Better is one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world than the whole life of the world-to-come; and better is one hour of bliss in the world-to-come than the whole life of this world.

Kehati

In our Mishnah Rabbi Yaakov further elaborates on the distinction between this world and the next. Whereas in the present world of action man can seek perfection by repentance and good deeds, the next world serves as the scene of reward and spiritual joy. However, man's delight in the afterlife depends on his performance upon earth. Unless he cares to improve himself in this life, he will have no remedy ever after, as it is written (Eccl. 1:15): "That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered." Our Sages explained (Kohelet Rabba): In this world, the crooked can be straightened, and the lacking numbered; but in time to come, he who arrived crooked, cannot he straightened out; and he who arrived lacking, cannot be numbered. There are sinners who were friends upon earth; one of them repented in time, before he died, but the other did not repent before his death. The one who repented is privileged to stand in the company of the righteous; and the one who did not repent, remains in the company of the wicked...

He Rabbi Yaakov, used to say: Better is one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world – one hour in this life can be of paramount value when it is utilized for repentance and self-improvement, as it is stated (Av. Zar. 17a): "Some acquire eternal life in a single moment" than the whole life of the world-to-come - for a man can no longer reform himself in the afterlife, and he receives his reward solely on the basis of the level he achieved during his earthly existence. And better is one hour of bliss in the world-to-come - where the righteous enjoy the radiance of the Divine Presence (Ber. 17a), than the whole life of this world - than all satisfaction in this world, where a man never attains complete gratification what with all the sorrows and troubles which come upon him (Rashi). Our Sages explained (Ber. 34b): "All the prophets prophesied (their message of bliss and comfort - Rashi~ only for the days of the Messiah, but as regards the world-to-come, 'Eye has not beheld, O God, beside You' "(ls. 64:3). This teaches us that the grandeur and excellence of life in the world-to-come is beyond the grasp of man, as David said (Ps. 31:20): "0, how abundant is Your goodness which You have hidden away for them that fear You..."

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