Mitzvot and Good Deeds Build Spiritual Structures in the World to Come

"All Israel has a portion in the World to Come, as it is said: 'And your people, all of them righteous, shall inherit the land forever, a branch of My planting, the work of My hands, in which to glory.'" (Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:1)

The Mishnah states that every person from Israel has a portion in the World to Come. But how can this be? Does even a wicked person who committed many transgressions have a portion in the World to Come? Is the World to Come an open territory that everyone can enter?!

The Maharsha explains: "All Israel has a portion - after all corrections, punishments, and purifications, everyone is invited to the life of the World to Come." This means that everyone has a portion and inheritance in the World to Come, but a person who committed transgressions will need to undergo various sufferings and corrections for their soul until they receive their portion.

Furthermore, the Chafetz Chaim explains that while every Jew ultimately has a "portion" in the World to Come, the question is: what will that portion look like!

The more Torah a person learns and the more mitzvot they acquire, the more they plant beautiful saplings and flourishing trees with all kinds of fruit, and they will enjoy and delight increasingly in their portion in the World to Come. But if in this world, the world of action, they wasted their time and did not acquire Torah, mitzvot, and good deeds - and all the more so if they committed transgressions - then their portion in the World to Come will grow thorns and thistles, as King Solomon said: "I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense; and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, thistles covered its surface, and its stone wall was broken down." What shame and what depression to receive such a "portion."

The masters of Mussar (Jewish ethics) have also compared the deeds that a person does to the bricks with which they build their spiritual structure in the World to Come. One person builds only a rickety shack, another builds a building, a third builds a magnificent estate, and so on.

Therefore, one should remember -

How happy one is to purchase for their home in this world - another beautiful plant, another picture, another shiny ceramic tile, to plant a beautiful tree in the garden, to expand the living room, to add a room, etc.

And yet, with every mitzvah that one fulfills, with every triumph over the evil inclination, with every good deed - one is enhancing and developing, building and expanding, nurturing and beautifying - their portion in the World to Come!

Therefore, let us strive to fulfill the saying of the wisest of men: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might!"

A parable: A fox passed by a large vineyard. He desired to eat from the grapes, but to his disappointment, the vineyard was well fenced on all sides. The fox walked around the vineyard, hoping to find a breach in the fence through which he could enter. To his great joy, he found a small opening in a side corner. However, he was disappointed to discover that the opening was too small, and his body could not squeeze through. The fox stood outside, the scent of grapes filling his nostrils, trying to figure out how to get in. Finally, he decided to go on a diet and fast for three days. Indeed, to his great joy, after three days he managed to squeeze inside. He immediately began to devour the grapes, one after another without restraint. He stayed in the vineyard for several days, enjoying himself, eating and growing fat. When he decided it was time to leave, he suddenly realized that he had grown too fat and now couldn't get out! With no choice, he fasted again for three days and exited. The hungry fox looked at the vineyard and said: "Oh vineyard, vineyard, what good were you to me? I entered hungry and left hungry!"

Of him it is said: Not the wisest of animals, but the most foolish of animals! True, he needed to eat, but if he had been smart, he would have thrown bunches of grapes over the fence so that he would have provisions for the journey.

The moral is clear: It is permissible to enjoy this world as needed. But primarily, we must prepare provisions for the truly long journey!

When a person is born, their hands are clenched, as if to say: The whole world is mine! And when they pass away, their hands are open and extended, as if to say: I have taken nothing from here. "World, world, what good were you to me? Naked I came and naked I departed!" But a person who was wise enough to prepare provisions for the journey is the true wise one who derives full benefit from the world.

Just a Tourist

A wealthy Jew from abroad came to the home of the "Chafetz Chaim," wanting to see and behold the greatest of the generation - "your eyes shall see the king in his beauty." Upon entering the Chafetz Chaim's dwelling, his astonishment knew no bounds: a simple and poor house, few and old furniture. He couldn't contain himself and expressed his great amazement to the Chafetz Chaim: "Is this how the greatest of the generation lives?! Is this his home?! Are these his furniture and possessions?!" The Chafetz Chaim responded with a question: "And you?! Where is your furniture? Where is your wealth?" The man was puzzled and answered: "My furniture?! Of course I didn't bring them with me here. I'm just a tourist here. I brought a suitcase with clothes and some necessary items, but my fancy furniture and wealth are in my magnificent home abroad." The Chafetz Chaim replied: "Indeed, I too am a tourist here, and I have only what is necessary. My true home is up there, above. And in it, I try to invest the best of my efforts."