The Closest Accompaniment: Torah, Commandments, and Good Deeds

"At the time of a person's passing, neither silver nor gold nor precious stones and pearls accompany the person, but only Torah and good deeds." (Avot 6:9).

There was a story about a man who had three friends. The first friend - his best friend, with whom he spent most of his time. The second friend - a good companion with whom he also spent time and socialized. And the third friend - a distant friend whom he met only rarely. One day, officers arrived at his home with an order that he must appear immediately before the king. The man was seized with trembling knees, his body shaking with fear. Apparently, someone had informed the king about his tax evasion and various offenses he had committed, and who knows what the king would do to him?! He immediately ran to his closest friend's house and said: "Please, come with me to the king to speak well on my behalf!" The friend replied: "I'm sorry, I cannot, I fear for myself." Disheartened, the man ran to his second friend and asked him to stand with him before the king. He replied: "I will accompany you to the king's gate. But I cannot enter with you before the king, for I too fear him." In his distress, the man went to his third friend and pleaded: "Please, come with me to the king." The friend said: "Of course! I will run to stand before the king even before you, to speak well on your behalf! I will do everything in my power to save you!"

The Midrash says (Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer 31) that a person in his lifetime has three friends: The first - money. All his days he chases after more and more money, working "from sunrise until his last breath" to accumulate more wealth. The second friend - his family and friends, to whom he also dedicates time and enjoys their company. And the third friend - Torah and mitzvot, which he occasionally "tries" to remember... And at the time of his departure from this world, the first friend, the wealth he accumulated during his lifetime, is of no help to him, as it is written: "Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath" (Proverbs 11:4). The second friend - his family and friends, accompany him to the grave, but cannot do anything beyond that. And the third friend - the Torah and mitzvot he performed - they run before him to the heavenly court to advocate for him and save him, as it is said (Isaiah 58:8): "And your righteousness shall go before you."

The Talmud states (Sotah 3b): Anyone who performs one mitzvah in this world, it precedes and goes before him to the World to Come, as it is said: "And your righteousness shall go before you." And anyone who commits one transgression in this world, it envelops him and goes before him on the Day of Judgment. Rabbi Eliezer says: "It is tied to him like a dog."

Regarding the mitzvah, it says that it walks before him, while regarding the transgression, it says that it envelops him. This is similar to two people who need to come before the king: one to receive an award of excellence, and the other to receive punishment. For the first - an honor guard accompanies him and walks before him to show him the way, but of course they don't need to hold onto him, as he walks happily behind them. But for the second - the officers handcuff him and lead him so that he won't escape.

The Maharsha says: "It is known that a person's actions create angels according to his deeds, whether for good or for bad. For one who performs a mitzvah will walk in joy, and the mitzvah only needs to go before him to show him the way there. But one who commits a transgression needs someone to lead him, to wrap around him and envelope him, because he does not go there willingly, like one who is led to the gallows, who is led against his will, by force."

A Millionaire's Socks

A Jewish millionaire from the United States was diagnosed with the disease. According to the professor, it was already too late; at this stage, nothing could be done, and he had little time left to live. Suddenly everything changed, life looked different, and his condition deteriorated. He gathered all his family members, who refused to accept the bitter news, and said: "I have a request for you. Whatever happens, no one knows their day, nothing is predictable. There are two envelopes on my desk. My request is that you open and read the first envelope at the eulogy before the burial. Open the second envelope only on the day of remembrance, on the thirtieth day. This is my request, this is my will." Several difficult weeks passed, and he returned his soul to the Creator.

A heavy tragedy fell upon the entire family; many accompanied him on his final journey - dignitaries, wealthy individuals, community leaders, rabbis, and many other VIPs. There, at the eulogy, after the sermons and eulogies, the eldest son stood up, and the first envelope was opened. Everyone was attentive, everyone was tense. What had he written? What had he requested? And this is what was written: "I ask to be buried with socks"! Everyone was shocked. "What's the problem, socks?! Bury him with socks," says the eldest son. The Chevra Kadisha representative looked perplexed and embarrassed. "It's not possible," he says gently. "What do you mean it's not possible?! This is his last request!" the son insists. "Yes, but it cannot be done"... stammers the Chevra Kadisha man. "What's the problem, just socks," the son repeats. Whispers, opinions, and debates among the large crowd... "Well, really, what's the problem?!... What is the deceased asking for?!... Where is the respect for the dead?!... What did he ask for?!... Come on, really, these laws... etc..." The wife is crying, the children are crying, the crowd is arguing, and the deceased - waiting. The rabbis said: "It's impossible, that's the law!" It was decided to bury him without socks. Sadness, bitterness, frustration and also misunderstanding accompanied the deceased on his final journey. Mounds of sand fill the open grave, and even his last request was not fulfilled.

The second envelope awaited the thirtieth day, the memorial. The best catering was ordered, speakers and preachers were invited, family, friends, relatives, and acquaintances came to pay respect to the deceased, and above all - curiosity: what was written in the second envelope? And then the son opens and reads: "I know you buried me without socks! I just wanted to show you that despite all the money I had, all the honor I received, and all the power I accumulated, I couldn't take even a pair of socks with me!"

Silence, stillness. How true.

"For at the time of a person's passing, neither silver nor gold nor precious stones and pearls accompany the person, but only Torah and good deeds!"