The Death of Rabbi Yohanan

When Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai became deathly ill, his students entered to visit him. When he saw them, he cried. They said to him: Master! Lamp of Israel! Steadfast Pillar! Mighty Hammer! Why are you crying? He said to them: If I was being taken before a king of flesh and blood, it could be that he would rule today but not tomorrow. If he was angry at me, it is possible that his anger would pass; and if he imprisoned me, his imprisonment would not last forever. Even if he killed me, this death would not be an eternal death. It is possible that I might be able to appease him with words and bribe him with gifts. Even under those conditions, I would be afraid. But now they bring me before the king who is the king of all kings, the blessed Holy One, who lives forever and ever. If he is angry at me, his anger is forever; and if he incarcerates me, his incarceration is forever. If he kills me, then the execution is for eternity; nor can I appease him with words or bribe him with gifts. And what is more, there are two roads before me, one to GanEden and one to Gehinom and I don’t know down which one they will lead me. Shall I not cry?!
They said to him: Our master, bless us! He said to them: May it be His will that the fear of heaven be upon you as much as the fear of flesh and blood. His students said to him: That’s it?! He said to them: I wish you could do this much! For when a person transgresses, he says, “I hope no one saw me.” Just as he was dying, Rabban Yohanan said to them: Empty the house of all its vessels to avoid their impurity and prepare a chair for Hezekiah, king of Judah, who is coming.
-Babylonian Talmud Berachot 28a, trans., Rabbi Steve Sager

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“Between 1305 and the early 1800’s. the House of Taxis ran a form of pony express service all over Europe…. Its couriers clad in blue and silver uniforms, crisscrossed the continent carrying messages between princes and generals, merchants and money lenders.” –Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave We may think we are the first generation consumed by rapid communication but we are not. Throughout our history it has been a priority. Of course, now in the 21 st century we must ask: are we better or worse for it?

Speech

“To say the right thing at the right time, keep still most of the time.” John W. Roper Those who get in trouble most often are those cannot seem to keep still, remain silent. Life teaches many lessons. Among the best lessons of life is one my father taught me at an early age was, “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.” The contributions we make to life via our mouth are many and varied. Most of the time, I reckon, they are not contributions at all, but things that diminish the richness of life.

The Price of Misjudgment

“If a man does not judge himself, all things judge him, and all things become messengers of God.” – Nachman of Bratslav ”If I do not accept responsibility for the evil I do, the very earth will rise up to judge and condemn me. The stars, the trees in the wind will provide sentence…” -Julius Lester

A Soulful Journey

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