{"id":11360,"date":"2008-02-21T08:04:00","date_gmt":"2008-02-21T08:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/production.ou.org\/life\/other\/mishnas_chayim_ki_tisa_good_days_and_bad_days\/"},"modified":"2015-10-28T09:24:33","modified_gmt":"2015-10-28T14:24:33","slug":"mishnas_chayim_ki_tisa_good_days_and_bad_days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/torah\/mishnas_chayim_ki_tisa_good_days_and_bad_days\/","title":{"rendered":"Mishnas Chayim – Ki Tisa: Good Days and Bad Days"},"content":{"rendered":"

View pdf – Parashat Ki Tisa 5768<\/a><\/p>\n

Kindly take a moment to study MISHNAS CHAYIM in the merit of
\n\u05d9\u05e6\u05d7\u05e7 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05df \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05d0\u05dc \u05e2”\u05d4
\na fellow Jew who passed away with no relatives to arrange Torah study on behalf of his Neshamah<\/i><\/p>\n

Picture the following scenario:<\/p>\n

A certain individual\u2014let\u2019s call him Dave\u2014has had an eventful day. In the course of one day, he has lost thousands of dollars in bad investments, gotten into a car accident which will cost him a fortune in repairs and doctor bills, lost his job, and, to top it all off, slipped on the sidewalk and broke his leg.<\/p>\n

When Dave finally arrives home, his wife asks him how his day was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a great day!\u201d Dave replies.<\/p>\n

What would we think of such a person? Most probably, we would suspect that he is slightly unhinged, at the very least.<\/p>\n

Chazal, however, teach us that Dave is actually correct.<\/p>\n

The Gemara in Kiddushin (39b) discusses the question of whether a person receives reward for a mitzvah<\/i> in this world or the Next. (Although it is well beyond the scope of this forum to adequately deal with this monumental issue, we can extract a basic point from the greater whole.) The Mishnah (ibid) states:<\/p>\n

\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea, \u05de\u05b0\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9… \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9\u05d7\u05b5\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5. \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05e9\u05b6\u05d0\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea, \u05d0\u05b5\u05d9\u05df \u05de\u05b0\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9…\u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e0\u05d5\u05b9\u05d7\u05b5\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever performs a single mitzvah<\/i> is treated benevolently…and inherits a portion in the World to Come. Whoever neglects to perform a mitzva<\/i> is treated malevolently and does not attain a portion in the World to Come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although the Mishnah seems to be talking about someone who fulfills just one mitzvah<\/i>, the Gemara clarifies that this is not the case. Rather, the Mishnah describes a person whose overall tally of mitzvos<\/i> and aveiros<\/i> is equal. He then goes on to perform one more mitzvah<\/i>, tipping the count in favor of the merits. The Mishnah teaches that if mitzvos<\/i> comprise a majority of one\u2019s deeds, he is treated \u2018benevolently\u2019. However, if the subject passes up a mitzvah<\/i> opportunity, leaving his deeds evenly split between virtues and sins, he is treated with \u2018malevolence\u2019.<\/p>\n

Rashi explains that this show of benevolence (or otherwise) occurs in this world. Simply put, the implication of the Mishnah is that if a person possesses more merits than failings, he is already rewarded in this world. In the case of a \u2018tie\u2019, one is punished for his aveiros<\/i> in this world.<\/p>\n

The Gemara provides further clarification of the Mishnah, beyond the superficial meaning. It is apparent from a B\u2019raysa<\/i> that a meritorious person generally does not<\/i> receive reward in this world. On the contrary; the tzaddik<\/i> only receives payment for his aveiros<\/i> in this world. Recompense for the tzaddik\u2019s mitzvos<\/i> occurs solely in the World to Come. Consequently, the Mishnah\u2019s statement of benevolence in this world needs to be reevaluated.<\/p>\n

The Gemara\u2019s interpretation shows that the Mishnah is in sync with the B\u2019raysa<\/i>. As the Gemara states, the Mishna\u2019s declaration that a meritorious person is treated with benevolence in this world actually means that he is punished<\/i> in this world. Furthermore, when the Mishnah says that a rasha<\/i> is treated harshly in this world, it means that he receives reward<\/i> in this world.<\/p>\n

You may be wondering why the Mishnah seems to mean the opposite of what it says. Come to think of it, you may be wondering why tzaddikim<\/i> are punished while reshaim<\/i> are rewarded.<\/p>\n

Rashi explains that obviously, Hashem\u2019s intention is pure and just. Retribution is infinitely more severe when meted out in the Next World. Therefore, punishment in this world is actually to the recipient\u2019s benefit. Through his suffering in this world, the tzaddik<\/i> receives a substantially lighter penalty, and finishes his temporary sojourn in this world with a clean slate. Consequently, he can proceed to eternal bliss in the Afterlife without any purgatorial detours.<\/p>\n

The sinner, on the other hand, is headed for serious trouble. Hashem grants sinners their due reward for their meager merits in this world. Since nothing in this world can compare to a scintilla of enjoyment in the World to Come, this reward is really to the sinner\u2019s detriment. He completes his stay in this world with his mitzvah<\/i> account depleted, and then proceeds to the next world with nothing to look forward to but severe retribution.<\/p>\n

The Gemara uses the term \u05d9\u05d5\u05dd \u05d8\u05d5\u05d1 to describe this arrangement: a great, festive day. Although the tzaddik<\/i> who undergoes suffering in this world may find it understandably difficult to bear, the experience is really for his ultimate benefit. For this reason, Chazal consider him to be treated \u2018benevolently\u2019 in this world. It is a true Yom Tov for him.<\/p>\n

In a very esoteric section of this week\u2019s parsha<\/i>, Moshe Rabbeinu beseeches Hashem to reveal His Essence to him. Hashem replies:<\/p>\n

(\u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d9 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e4\u05b8\u05e0\u05b7\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc: (\u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc”\u05d2:\u05db”\u05d2<\/p>\n

\u201cI will let you see My \u2018Back\u2019, but My \u2018Front\u2019 you shall not see,\u201d (Shemos, 33:23).<\/p>\n

Although it is nearly impossible to fully comprehend these cryptic words, R\u2019 Moshe Shternbuch (Ta\u2019am V\u2019Daas, Ki Sisa) offers the following more palatable homiletic interpretation:<\/p>\n

It is beyond our mortal capabilities to completely fathom Hashem\u2019s ways. We cannot always correctly interpret the events of our personal and communal lives. For the time being, we must strive to remain firm in our belief that Hashem\u2019s every action is just and calculated.<\/p>\n

In the future, when Moshiach<\/i> arrives to usher in a new era, Hashem will reveal His master plan to all. At that point, we will be able to look back and see how every detail of history was precisely calculated for our ultimate benefit. In hindsight\u2014\u2018My Back\u2019\u2014we will be able to see and understand Hashem\u2019s ways. From a perspective of the present, however\u2014\u2018My Front\u2019\u2014Hashem\u2019s ways appear hidden.<\/p>\n

Understandably, most people find it difficult to bear the vicissitudes of life. In the future, however, we will be able to see and appreciate what Chazal assure us: that all of our days of pain and difficulty were truly \u2018great days.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n

Mishnas Chayim is brought to you by Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah<\/b>, a network of Torah scholars dedicated to bringing the merits of Mishnah study to the greater Jewish public. Encompassing Mishnah, Gemara, and variety of other services, Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah primarily assists mourners interested in acquiring the merit of Torah study for their loved ones. To learn more visit<\/i> www.societyformishnahstudy.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

View pdf – Parashat Ki Tisa 5768 Kindly take a moment to study MISHNAS CHAYIM in the merit of \u05d9\u05e6\u05d7\u05e7 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05df \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05d0\u05dc \u05e2”\u05d4 a fellow Jew who passed away with no relatives to arrange Torah study on behalf of his Neshamah Picture the following scenario: A certain individual\u2014let\u2019s call him Dave\u2014has had an eventful<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42734,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-torah"],"yoast_head":"\nMishnas Chayim - Ki Tisa: Good Days and Bad Days<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It may be hard to bear the vicissitudes of life. 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