At the end of Avot’s fourth perek, Rabbi Yaakov makes two statements about the relationship between this world and the next (Olam Haba). The two statements connect with one another and together define the focus and goal of life in this world.
A Mere Corridor
Rabbi Yaakov begins by comparing this world to a corridor that leads to a palace—the next world.1 This comparison has two implications: The first is that this world is not the end goal. There is a bigger, better, nicer and more meaningful place—the “palace”—we reach after passing through this world, which is a mere corridor. We are, of course, familiar with this world, drawn to its pleasures, and focused on its reality and challenges. Rabbi Yaakov teaches that this world is, in essence, just the “promo”—just the hallway.
The Mesillat Yesharim opens by explaining (based on our mishnah) that we need to realize that we were not created (mainly) for this world.2 Our souls ultimately seek things more meaningful than what this world has to offer, and we should ensure not to get lured astray by the non-spiritual aspects of our world.
Ultimate Reward
This concept connects to two other statements of Rabbi Yaakov. The first is his assertion that Hashem rewards mitzvah observance only in the next world, not in this one.3 Understandably, reward is given in the palace, not the corridor.
Rabbi Yaakov also expresses this idea in the second mishnah above, where he teaches that: “One hour of tranquility in the World to Come is more precious than all of life in this world.”4 As opposed to this world, in which one can never be completely happy, the next world offers us true peace, satisfaction and tranquility. Reward is given only in the next world because one moment of peace and tranquility there is greater than a whole life of pleasure here. Knowing and appreciating this should help us avoid pursuing the pleasures of this world. Doing so would be selling ourselves short.5
The Way In
All this does not mean that there is no importance to this world or that there is no significance to the hallway. Though not the ultimate end, life in the hallway is very important, and our time here needs to be maximized.6 We see this from the first part of the (second) mishnah where Rabbi Yaakov asserts that “one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world are more precious than all of the World to Come.”7 Though the next world is the world of reward and satisfaction, we earn that reward and satisfaction through our actions and personal reflection in this world. Though only a corridor, it is where we prepare to enter and earn our place in the palace.
Rav Yaakov emphasizes the need to take advantage of life in this world in the first mishnah as well when he urges, “Prepare yourself in the corridor, so that you may enter the palace.”8 The right to enter the Olam Haba palace is earned through our efforts in Olam Hazeh.9
Kohelet Rabbah adds (to Rabbi Yaakov’s statement) that: “The next world is earned only by what we do in this world.”10 Like passing through a corridor that is the sole entry to the palace, preparation in this world is the only way to gain entry to the next one. Our efforts in this world are not just one way forward; they are the sole opportunity to earn and enhance our portion in the next world.
The Gra expressed this idea with his last words, spoken while crying on his deathbed. His talmidim asked him why he was crying. Was he afraid of facing his Maker? What did he think he would be punished for? The Gra responded that he was crying over the fact that he would soon be unable to perform mitzvot and earn reward. The Gra appreciated the unique opportunity life in this world offers. Only here can we perform mitzvot and enhance our eternal life in the palace of the World to Come.
Sha’ah Achat
There are two additional important lessons to be learned from Rabbi Yaakov’s words. We learn the first lesson from his usage of the term “sha’ah achat (one moment).” Each and every moment has significance and thus needs to be maximized and taken advantage of. Rebbe Yehuda Hanasi famously quipped, “Some acquire their share in the next world through one moment (as opposed to others who need many years).”11 Each moment can and should be of great significance and impact.12
Action and Reflection
A second lesson is about the primary importance of deed and self-reflection. Instead of Torah and chochmah, Rabbi Yaakov focuses on teshuvah (repentance) and ma’asim tovim (good deeds) as the meaningful content of our world. Though Torah study is obviously a central focus of our time and energy, its significance is in how it drives us to build our identity and live our lives properly.13 As the Gemara in Kiddushin states, “Study is great(er), for study leads to action.”14
Today and Tomorrow
I think we can summarize Rabbi Yaakov’s teachings using the Gemara in Eruvin that explains the Torah’s15 emphasis on the need to do mitzvot today with five words: “Hayom la’asotam, machar l’kabel scharam.”16 Today (this world) is when we work. Tomorrow (the next world) is when we receive reward.
May we maximize every day of this world by realizing that we are here to reflect and grow.
1 Avot 4:16.
2 Mesillat Yesharim 1.
3 Kiddushin 39a.
4 Avot 4:17.
5 See Chovat Halevavot (Avodat Elokim Perek 9) who compares life in this world to one given access to riches for only a year. If he is wise, the person will seek to move the riches to the place he will be after the year.
6 The Radvaz (She’eilot u’Teshuvot Radvaz, 3:555) talks about someone who didn’t cry when he lost a relative because he said “he was now in a better place.” He mentioned to him that this isn’t the Jewish approach, and that this is the approach of philosophers who see no value in this world. Judaism sees every moment in this world as valuable and as a way to prepare for the next world, so we definitely do and should cry over a person who can no longer work to prepare and improve himself.
7 Ibid.
8 Avot 4:16.
9 Rav Saadya Gaon (Emunot V’Deiot Maamar 10) emphasizes this point: והאדם הצדיק לא יאהב חיי העולם הזה, כי אם בעבור שהיא מדרגה יגיע בה ויעלה ממנה אל העולם הבא, לא בעבור עצמה. ולא נתנה אהבתה בלב האדם כי אם שלא ימית את עצמו כשתבא עליו צרה, כמ”ש (בראשית ט’ ה’) ואך את דמכם לנפשותיכם אדרוש:
10 Kohelet Rabbah 4:5.
11 Avoda Zara 10b.
12 The Gemara in Kiddushin (49a) teaches that if a man is mekadesh a woman on the condition that he is a tzaddik, we need to consider the possibility that they are married even if we know the man to be a rasha because he may have had teshuvah on his mind. Even a moment of mere intention can change a person’s nature and identity.
13 See Ramban (Shichichat Asa’ein 15) who explains that the mitzvah (mi’de’orayta) to recite birkot haTorah is (only) because of the fact that the Torah includes a list of the actions that help us earn a place in the next world.
14 Kiddushin 40b. See also Sfat Emet (Emor 5643) who learns from our mishnah that a life lived with commitment to Hashem is greater than a moment of willingness to give up one’s life for our values.
15 Devarim 6:6 and many other places.
16 Eruvin 22a.
By Rabbi Reuven Taragin
