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Sparks of spirituality: What do we take along?
By Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
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"When a man departs from this world,
neither silver, nor gold, nor precious
stones nor pearls escort him, but only Torah study and
mitzvos" (Ethics of the Fathers 6:9).
Rebbe David of Mikalayov went to the market in the big
city for merchandise. When he returned home his children
gathered about him. "What did you bring us from the
city?" they asked. Rebbe David explained that he had been so
occupied with transacting business that he did not have the
opportunity to buy them anything. As he saw his children's
disappointment, he regretted that he had been so busy and
had forgotten about them.
Rebbe David then said, "Our earthly stay is nothing but a
market where we are to accumulate provisions for the
Eternal World. Yet, we may be so occupied with daily
activities that we may forget why we are here. When we come to the Eternal World, G-d will ask us, 'What did you
bring from the market.' If we come with empty hands, G-d
will be disappointed, not for Himself, but for us."
The content of this anecdote is indeed important. What is
even more important is that Rebbe David turned his children's
comments into a teaching of moral ethics.