Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 2/19/2016, 3:44 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com
The Mishna says (3;1) R'Akavya Ben Mehallel says: Remember three things and you won't come to sin. Where did you come from, where are you going, and in front of who will you face judgement.
The Rishonim; explain that when a person contemplates where is he going (eventually) as the Mishna explains further to the grave, this will allow him to refocus his energies in life. Most of our lives we spend chasing and glorifying momentary pleasure or success. Although a person may need these pleasures and success to live a productive life he should remain aware that these are only a means to an end. When a person remembers where he is going, he will realize that all of these pleasure and success won't accompany him to the next world. Instead he will re-focus on the things that have true value and will accompany him in the next world. Although this is something we all know deep down it is very difficult to actually live with and according to this awareness. Most of our lives we spend chasing money, building big houses, driving fancy cars, worried about our appearance, honor etc.
But imagine for a minute that you are standing at the funeral of someone and his son stands up to eulogize him. He speaks about how wealthy his father was, how he built a beautiful house, drove the newest sports car, went to the gym everyday and was extremely fit and good looking. You keep waiting for the punchline, asking yourself "and what did the guy do in life, who really cares about all of this stuff it won't help him now". The reason is because deep down we know that these accomplishments are not eternal they are temporary. Now imagine a eulogy in which they say my father was very wealthy and he did tremendous kindness with all of his wealth, he had a beautiful house and was always inviting others over who were less fortunate etc. That we all realize is a true accomplishment something that this man will take with him forever. These are accomplishments that are everlasting because they were focusing on others not on himself. What a person does for himself dies with him what he does for others lives on forever.
May we all merit everlasting accomplishments which will live on forever.