The Eye That Sees: A Modern Parable on Integrity and Accountability from Pirkei Avot

“Reflect upon three things, and you will not fall into transgression:
Know what is above you — an Eye that sees, an Ear that hears, and all your deeds are written in a book.” (Pirkei Avot 2:1)

In today’s language, the Mishnah is telling us: Be mindful — you’re being watched; you’re on camera.

A person wouldn't do something shameful if they knew the act was being filmed and would later be played publicly before friends and family. The following story illustrates this vividly.

The Wedding That Exposed Everything

A young couple married in great joy. It was a magnificent celebration with many guests. The groom’s father brought 10,000 shekels to pay the hall and the band, keeping the money in his jacket pocket.

During the dancing, he was called to join the circle with his son. He took off his jacket and placed it on a chair. The music was lively, the joy contagious — father and son danced with full hearts.

When the dancing ended, he returned, put on his jacket, and reached into his pocket — the money was gone. His face went pale. For a moment, he considered calling the police and searching the guests but decided not to ruin the evening.

Weeks later, the family gathered to watch the wedding video together for the first time — the bride and groom, both sets of parents, siblings, uncles, cousins, everyone. The film began beautifully: the ceremony, the meal, the dancing, the happiness. Then suddenly, as the camera panned across the hall — everyone gasped.

There, on the screen, they saw the bride’s father quietly approach the unattended jacket, slip his hand into the pocket, and remove the money.

The video stopped. The lights came on. Silence. All eyes turned to him. The shame was unbearable. How he wished he could erase that moment from the film! How he longed to turn back time and stop that recording from ever being made.

Life’s Final Playback

The sages teach that when a person departs this world and stands before the Heavenly Court, everything he has done in life is shown to him — as if projected on a screen, before him and all his departed loved ones. There is no way to deny or delete anything. The embarrassment for one’s misdeeds is immense.

As one man who experienced clinical death described in a published account (“HaShavua B’Yerushalayim,” Oct. 26, 2003): “I saw my whole life flash before me like a movie — not just memories, but as if reliving each moment from childhood to adulthood. Everything was visible — both good and bad. The shame was overwhelming. Everyone could see what I had done: my acts of kindness, but also anger, gossip, disrespect, and deceit. Nothing was hidden.”

This is exactly what the Mishnah teaches: “Know what is above you — an Eye that sees, an Ear that hears, and all your deeds are written in a book.”

Every Deed Is Recorded

At the moment of a person’s passing, all their actions are presented before them in detail. They are told: “You did such and such, in this place, on that day,” and the person replies, “Yes.” Then they are told, “Sign,” and they sign — as it says: “He seals the hand of every person.” (Iyov 37:7) (Taanit 11a)

Moral Reflection

Every act, word, and intention leaves a trace — written, seen, and remembered. The awareness that our lives are being “recorded” — not by technology, but by Heaven itself, invites us to live with integrity, honesty, and compassion.

If we live as though our actions were being replayed before our loved ones, we would walk a path of dignity and conscience every day.