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Even though we all say until 120 we all know people that have died before then, many of them suddenly. The world to come is FOREVER and I cannot stress that enough. Yes we all think of ourselves as tzaddikim who even though we do “occasionaly” sin al in all we are such righteous people. But what about Rav Yochanin ben Zaki that blessed his students that they should have the same fear of Hashem as of people. And what about Shmuel (who rashi states was bigger than Moshe and AAron put together) being terrified at the final judgement? In short what can we do to be sure of a favorable judgement?
Hi Original Thinker.
Certainly, many aspects of this huge topic are very scary to me. Sometimes I think about what I heard about Yitzchok Avinu, I believe (if I am wrong, please correct me), who went from this world to being niftar into the next with the ease of one who has a coat on and then just takes it off, and that is how subtle the change was.
Rabbi Akiva Tatz talks in depth about this topic, and while I heed his advice and made a note of what the transition may be like after 120, iy”H, it is still something I dont like to think about for too long.
OT, be the best Jew you can be. Don’t look at others, look at yourself. Remember that you are always standing before Melech Malchei Hamelochim. Don’t miss the obvious opportunities to do mitzvos. Try NOT to miss the less than obvious opportunities to do mitzvos. Do the best you can, then strive to do better. And…..well….yup…thats about it.
As far as fear of dying is concerned, I used to be terrified. I don’t think about it anymore. Maybe because my parents are gone, and if I died today I feel they would be there waiting for me with open arms to walk into, so it won’t be so scary. I have lost many people that I love, so I guess in my mind it would be a reunion with those who I admire and love. What would I miss in this world? I would miss my family, my kids, my grandkids, etc. But Hashem has been very good to me. I have a lot of nachas from them, and if Hashem decided to take me home, then he wouldn’t decide that I have had enough nachas, he would decide that I have suffered enough pain on this world.
original, actually the thought of our day of passing is very important to review and remind ourselves of daily. We are to contemplate daily that we are really here for a short journey and mission to accomplish on Earth, seeking and serving the Creator.
The mussar sefers actually encourage this habit.
We must remember at all times that at the end, when Hashem comes to “call us back upstairs” we will pretty much be like a compost of flesh for the worms. Only thing remaining will be the good deeds we did and self improvement.
Only a materialist would be afraid of dying because that means an end to his physical desires and pleasures in this world. But if you want to be afraid of dying, do it in a positive way in that you’ll be afraid that you only maybe won’t succeed in fulfilling your potential and overcoming your greatest yetzer hara when its full strength against you in life.
WHen its time for me to go I will probablly be sad, remorseful and full of regret. Regret I didn’t daven enough, do teshuva enough, learn halachas and shmiras shabbos shmiras ha loshen more. DIdn’t have enough patience with my kids, didnt give more love and unconditional acceptance to my spouse. I might regret I didnt write that great novel that made people’s heads spin.
I might be sad that I could’ve been like MOshe Rabbaynu but wasn’t even close to be alwaysrunswithscissorfast.
I actually heard of this one sect of chassidim that some men have a minhag of getting up in the night and laying themselves down in a wooden box on the floor, as if lying in their coffin, which serves to remind them that they are not immortal. I am not telling you to get a wooden coffin. just…making a comment.
Whoa! I misread your title as “Anyone here scared of dieting?”
Now THAT’s a scary topic!! lol!!
Mark Twain was an Atheist and did not believe in an afterlife. He was asked if, as he believed, there would be no existance after his death and didn’t that scare him, he quipped,” I didn’t exist for thousands of years befor I was born and it didn’t inconvenience me in the least.”
originial thinker – Not only are you an originial thinker, but you are also an originial speller!
DIEING??? Perhaps you meant dying? Or dyeing?
I’m very scared about dyeing. I can’t for the life of me understand why people tatoo their whole bodies or dye their hair color, except those that can’t stand gray!
Who remembers -“Wash that gray -right out of my hair -I’ll wash that gray right out …”?
All the thoughts I’ve read here are very good.
Just try doing more learning, more chesed, less lashon hara, spend more time with your family…
I will just pass along one thought I heard…
When someone is on his death bed, he will often express thoughts like the ones mentioned above, but one thing NEVER heard expressed at that time –
‘I should have spent more time at work’.
Something to think about next time you find yourself telling your spouse or kids ‘We’ll talk on Shabbas, I’m stuck at the office’.
“Yes we all think of ourselves as tzaddikim who even though we do “occasionaly” sin al in all we are such righteous people.”
Seriously? Well then, count me out. I don’t.
Chazal say to do teshuva every day, because you don’t know when you will die. Words to live by.
msseeker, i assure you you are a righteous person. YOu were the one who initiated that great debate didnt you, here in the CR? You were the one who defended chassidus against the rabid attacks of the those who were trying to tear it down right?
Assuming the question is regarding Dying, no.
Hashem will take me when He is ready to do so. I trust Him that when it happens, it will be for the best.
Furthermore, the famed Machlokes between Bais Shammai & Bais Hillel (whether it is better to be born or not) applies here as well. Once Hashem takes me, I can no longer do Avairos, and it is much easier to do an Avairah than a mitzva.
Thanks, Always, but that doesn’t make me a tzaddik.
I’m not AFRAID of dying, but I’d like to avoid it as long as possible.
Another thing, tzadikim don’t waste their time on the internet.
msseeker. Oh yeah they do. I am here a lot. LOL
Tzadikim don’t always run with scissors fast either.
What about upshearin? IF you dont run after the mitzva sometimes the mitzva will run from you.
Look at the ads- Kleins Monument Factory and Misaskim. How ironic!
Tzadikim don’t ALWAYS run with scissors fast, unless they ALWAYS make upsherins.
say that 10 times fast now
OK, let’s make it interesting.
Do you ALWAYS run with scissors fast?
Do you always run WITH SCISSORS fast?
Do you always run with scissors FAST?
Or do you SOMETIMES run with scissors fast?
Or always run (sometimes empty-handed) fast?
Or always run with scissors (sometimes slow)?
Is it possible to run slow?
Just one more question:
Are you related to Mrs. Critique who may always know the answers correctly?
If yes, please ask her for me: Is it possible to know answers incorrectly? Is it possible to “may always” anything?
TIA. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around these two galus-long SN’s ever since they appeared.
Ani chashuv kemeis. I feel like I’m dying every day.
originial thinker
“In short what can we do to be sure of a favorable judgement?”
It’s good to be in touch with our mortality. It keeps us focused on what’s important in life, and forces us to think about our purpose on this world.
The truth is, that’s all Hashem really wants from us. Stay focused on the big picture, and give every day your best. When you worry about a favorable judgement, keep in mind that Hashem sees your sincerity and efforts and you don’t have to be afraid so long as you’ve tried your best.
Don’t compare yourself to Tzaddikim. You are YOU, not them. Do YOUR best, and connect to Hashem in YOUR special way.
Msseeker, I am not related to Ms. Critique.
Say that 10 times fast.
originial thinker
Ok, so now I’m an teensy bit confused…What exactly is your question? Are you saying that you’re afraid of death because you’ve done some things (“taryag avairot”)you shouldn’t have? Or that you’re afraid that your self image has become so distorted (“And if he can be so distorted in his thinking what about me?”) that you don’t know anymore if you’re doing/did good or bad….?
A study has shown that the number ONE fear people have, is public speaking.
The number TWO fear people have, is dying.
That means that at a funeral, most people would prefer to be the one in the aron than the one giving the hesped!
-credit to Jerry Seinfeld for this deep vort.
Mytake, only a teensy bit confused? I can’t make heads or tales of the Eichman riddle. And his post making a shining example of the biggest Zionist reshaim – for ?? ???? ???? no less! – is creepy.
To quote a self-hating Jew (Woody Allen), “I’m not afraid of death. I just don’t want to be around when it happens.”
I just heard an awesome class on this topic called “The Core Fears with Living and Dying” by Rabbi Yaakov Zalman Labinsky. He talks about what really happens when we leave this world and how we can be comforted that we don’t really stop living but only living as we have in this world. He also talks about what it really means to live. Not just exist. I know I am not supposed to post web sites so if you want to hear it just google his name and class title. Hatzlacha.
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