TRANSFORM YOUR EMUNAH!

272 - Gratitude (Part-1)

HaShem knows all of our thoughts and all of our needs, and the question then arises, why should I pray for anything? Because if HaShem knows exactly what I need and will come through for me in exactly the way that I need according to what's best for me, why should I pray for anything to be different? Although this might be a good question, as discussed many times, if we use our own perspective, there could be many different answers, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, however, we always opt to follow HaShem's guidance, HaShem's perspective, which is portrayed in the Torah and throughout all the Torah commentaries. 
It is very clear from the Torah that we have a mitzvah to pray for our needs, whether we understand it or whether we don't. We find throughout Torah literature many personalities that were unable to have children, and although they could have just accepted their situation, they nevertheless chose to pray to HaShem to send them their desired request, to have a child. And there are many examples for this in the Torah, that it is a mitzvah to pray for the things that we desire to have. However, it is also important not to forget the fundamental starting point, that HaShem does know everything that we need, because sometimes we might feel anxious, did I express my prayer in the most perfect way? 
We do have a mitzvah to make our maximum effort to pray in the right way, and in fact, Torah sources do teach that we are to make our highest effort in verbalizing and outlining all the details to what we are requesting from HaShem. However, at the same time, to realize that HaShem only expects of us to make our maximum effort, and at the same time, we are to humble ourselves and realize that even if we make our maximum effort, we can still not do it in the perfect way, because we are imperfect beings. When we ask HaShem for something, we might leave out many of the details that are actually of paramount importance just because of our limited nature, maybe we forgot, or maybe we didn't realize the importance to ask about other details. Again, our expectation is not to bring about any desired result. Our expectation is to make our maximum effort in doing so. 
And in the same vein, when we live with this fundamental principle, realizing and internalizing that HaShem of course knows everything that we might need even before we have verbalized, so we are able to also focus our energies on the highest form of prayer. The Torah commentaries teach that there are many chambers in the heavenly worlds, and depending on what our prayer consists of, our prayer is directed to a specific chamber in the heavenly worlds. We are taught that there are angels appointed over each of the chambers, and sometimes they can be strict in their judgment of why a certain prayer of ours should be prevented from making its way into a certain chamber. However, there is one chamber which the angels have absolutely no jurisdiction to, and this chamber is exclusively managed by HaShem Himself without any opportunity for the angels to get involved whatsoever. 
And we are taught that this is the chamber of gratitude, when we express our gratitude to HaShem for the areas He has come through for us, that itself is a catalyst for HaShem to thereafter answer our prayers that we might not even have verbalized, because HaShem now sees our appreciation and says, Oh, you think that was a gift? I'll show you what a real gift is. And through our thanking HaShem, we bring about all of our needs, even the ones that have not been verbalized. Of course, the ultimate reason we thank HaShem should not be to bring about the fringe benefits of the other things that we need. However, it is inspiring and motivating to realize that when we do thank HaShem, that merit extends to even unrelated areas to what I am thanking HaShem about and brings about HaShem answering our prayers, sending our salvations and our success.

271 - Olam Haba (Part-15)

Imagine you are up to write an important exam, and all the students are informed that if you would like, you are welcome to come over and see the exact questions that will be asked on this exam. Not only that, but we will also show you the correct answers to the questions that will be asked. Of course only a fool would skip such an opportunity, because after seeing the questions and knowing the right answers, we can be guaranteed to succeed in our exam.
Much more important than any exam that can exist in this materialistic world that we live in, is the exam we will have at the time that we pass on from this world. The Gemara in Shabbos 31a states that there will be six questions asked of us at the exam we will have to face on the day of our passing. Of course there is much Torah literature about these six questions available for one who is interested in further study. But for our purposes right now we will go through these six questions very briefly, so that b'ezrat Hashem, each one of us, can make an effort to be mindful of these questions and be prepared for that exam when the time arrives.
Question number one the gemara says, is nasata v'nasata beemunah - did you conduct your business affairs in an honest manner? That is the simple meaning. And on a deeper level, as the commentaries teach, is - did you live your life according to the values of Emunah? And in truth, these two explanations are really one and the same, because one who is living according to the values of Emunah will also certainly conduct their business affairs in an honest manner, because if Hashem is truly in charge, I have no need to cheat anybody. 
The second question is kavata itim latorah - did you set aside time to study the Torah? And as the Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah chapter 246 states - every single Jew is obligated in the mitzvah of Torah study, whether poor or rich, whether healthy or unhealthy, whether one has family responsibilities or other responsibilities, under all circumstances one is obligated to set aside time to learn Torah. In our day and age we are so privileged to have so many forms of Torah learning available in all languages and in all mediums, such as books, online lectures and the like. Let us remind ourselves that this is the second question that will be asked in our final examination. It is also worthwhile to mention that the Halacha states that although women do not have the same level of obligation in terms of Torah learning as of men, by helping others such as her husband and children to learn Torah, she bears the fruits of a full out partnership in their Torah learning.
Question number three is asakta bepirya ureviyah - was one involved in making an effort to try procreate and make a family? The emphasis on try, because if we believe Hashem is in true control, then Hashem exclusively decides if and what type of family we might have; but our effort needs to be to try and pray to make a family and be able to procreate. Question number four is Tzipisa Liyeshua - did you hope for the arrival of Mashiach? We have a mitzvah every single day to hope for the coming of Mashiach that we should merit in our days. Questions five and six are also related to Torah study, where the questions surround some of the more deeper and technical aspects of how exactly we went about our Torah study. And again, highlighting and seeing the great emphasis that Hashem places on Torah study. 
And the gemara ends off by saying that a prerequisite even to all six questions that will be asked in our final examination is did we have Yiras Hashem - fear of Hashem. Of course there are many levels in understanding these six questions, but at least revising a brief understanding of these six questions for preparation of our exam can certainly go a long way. May we all merit to be successful in all our endeavours in this world, but most importantly may we all merit to pass our final examination with flying colours.

270 - Olam Haba (Part-14)

There are different approaches taken on by Torah leaders, where some focus more on the fact that Hashem is a loving, forgiving Father always looking out for our best, and others focus more on the fact that there are severe and serious consequences for our actions. It is very clear from many Torah sources that both of these aspects are true. On the one hand, Hashem created the world just out of love to be able to give us pleasure eternally. And on the other hand, the system that was created in this world, where we are given the opportunity to earn our eternity, gives space for choosing good and earning our reward, and also the opposite, where there are very serious and severe consequences for our transgressions. 
It is important to note that both of these approaches are true perspectives of the Torah, and one should certainly expose oneself to both of them to some degree. However, for many people, focusing on one of them is more beneficial. Some people are very inspired and motivated when they understand the extreme seriousness and severity of the consequences for their actions in the next world. Whereas for many people, that idea may be very overwhelming, and although one certainly should be exposed to it to some degree, because as we've learned previously, many Torah commentaries write that the only way to come to real love of Hashem is by first coming to fearing Hashem, and the most basic level of fearing Hashem is understanding that there are severe consequences for our actions in the next world, however, at the same time, one with this type of nature and approach could expose themselves mainly to the more positive areas, such as what is waiting for us in Gan Eden and the like.
There is much written about all of these topics, and if one would like to investigate it further, perhaps a place to start are the Midrashic collections on these topics, called Meseches Chibut Hakever, Meseches Gehinnom, and Meseches Gan Eden. Every one of us has our own journey, and different people connect with different things. But one thing is for sure, to just ignore the fact that reality is one day going to hit, and not expose oneself whatsoever to the concept of Olam Haba, is certainly not in line with what all the commentaries do. Throughout Torah literature, right from the early classics such as the Talmud all the way through to the later Torah commentaries, the concept of Olam Haba and the consequences that we've been discussing is on the front pages of every topic. Because let us remind ourselves, this world is a world of Emunah, although everything around us might seemingly dictate that the important things are getting evolved in the materialistic things of this world, however, our purpose in this world is to practice and excel in our belief, our Emunah, in what we are taught from Hashem's perspective, the only true perspective.
"Hashem, my Father, I am so grateful that You have chosen me as Your child to teach me this true information of Your perspective that teaches us the truth of what reality is. Because Hashem, although You created this world, that many people are involved in this world for its own sake - Of course I can't understand Your real calculations - but as Torah commentaries teach, one of the reasons that many people exist in this world is just because of me. Because as the Gemara states, I am obligated to believe that the entire world was created just for me, and although there might be many people who seemingly do not understand that there is another world and just get involved in day-to-day materialistic activities in this world, however, Hashem, as You've taught me from Your Torah commentaries, many of those people were created just to test me. Because although they might appear to be successful in their endeavors, I am now called on to believe that those pursuits of the materialistic world and the successes they might be seeing is not reality. Although it might appear to the naked eye that that will lead to happiness and the like, however, a person who is truly connected will quickly realize what true reality is."

269 - Olam Haba (Part-13)

How do I know if I'm doing well in terms of my spiritual scorecard? The truthful answer is that I don't know. But that's okay. I'm not meant to know because I'm not the judge. Hashem's job is to take an accounting of all our actions in order to reward us appropriately and fairly in the next world, B'ezrat Hashem, whereas our job in this world is never to know exactly how we are doing, but rather always to strive higher and higher. 
The Gemara in Berachos 28b states that when Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, one of the greatest sages, was passing away, his students asked him why he was crying. And he mentioned, because there are two roads after a person dies, that of Gan Eden, heaven, and that of Gehinnom, hell - and I don't know which path they are leading me onto. Now one might feel if Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai wasn't sure where he was going, what chance do I have? But again, as the Rambam says, every single individual is able to become as great as Moshe Rabbeinu. And as the commentaries explain, of course it doesn't mean that we are able to actually reach the same spiritual state as Moshe Rabbeinu, the greatest human being ever to live. But rather that just like he achieved his maximum potential, we are able to achieve our maximum potential. 
Hashem will certainly not make an unfair challenge that is impossible for us to pass, but rather the opposite. Let us remind ourselves, why did Hashem create the world in the first place? Only to give to us. Of course He does want us to have a challenge, and we are taught that one of the most basic fundamentals of Judaism is that we do have free choice, and we are able to exercise our choice in whether we are going to choose good or bad, whilst at the same time, the whole purpose of Hashem giving us that opportunity is only so that we should have the ability to earn a greater place for ourselves in the next world. On the one hand, of course we must remember that Hashem is never trying to catch us out, and He is an absolutely loving Father, whilst on the other hand, we should remember that just like Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai was worried that perhaps he would have to go through the terrible tortures of Gehinnom, so too each one of us should have that at the forefront of our mind, because by doing so, that could be a tremendous motivator to doing more good and staying away from bad. 
The Gemara in Bava Basra 10b tells of the son of Rabbi Yeshua ben Levi, who had a near-death experience, which as we know, means he went to the next world for a few moments, and then came back to this world. When he recovered, his father asked him what he saw in the next world. And he said, "I saw an upside-down world, because many people that were considered noble and respected in this world were the real poor people in the next world, and many of the paupers in this world were the ones that were of highest royalty in the next world." And his father said back to him, "you saw the real world; this world that we live in is the upside-down world, where many people are honoured for their material successes, whereas people who have truly achieved what counts in the real world, much of the time are ignored." The Torah commentaries teach us that in the next world, there is no beating around the bush. Everything is absolutely clear, and there are no excuses. 
The Chofetz Chaim in his Sefer Shem Olam, chapter 4, writes that the poorest of people in this world still have a way out, because they can really rely on the kindness that others might show them, such as by hosting them, giving them food and accommodation, and the like. However, says the Chofetz Chaim, there is no such thing in the next world. If one does not have a place in what he calls the Machaneh of the Shechina, the place where Hashem manifests Himself, he is then stuck in the outer chambers. And the Chofetz Chaim then brings a Midrash, which says that friends cannot save one another in the next world, to the extent that even a father cannot invite his own son into his place in the heavenly chambers - If you have not earned that place, you have no license to be able to go there on someone else's account. Every single one of us has the tremendous opportunity to be able to gain eternal Olam Abba and bask in Hashem's light forever. But with that comes the opportunity to choose each moment of our lives - how exactly are we going to make use of those moments.

268 - Olam Haba (Part-12)

We've discussed some of the concepts that the Torah authorities outline to us, with regards to the world to come - Olam Haba. However, as many of them mention, ultimately, we don't know exactly what is going to transpire, until we actually get there and see for ourselves. However, one thing that is clear according to all opinions, is that in the next world, there is no more opportunity. Olam Haba, the next world, is the world of reward, where we reap the benefits of everything that we did in this world, whereas this world, the world where we have to believe, and many things don't make sense - the world of emunah, is the world of opportunity. 
It is known about the Vilna Gaon, that when he was passing onto the next world, his students saw him crying. And when he was asked why he was crying, he said that he was now leaving a world, where for a small act, for a very small price, one can perform mitzvos that earn you eternal reward, greater than anything that this world can buy. A story in Tanach brings this point out in a very powerful way. The infamous king, Nevuchadnezzar, before he became king, used to be the secretary of another king who had dealings with the king of Israel. Once, when Nevuchadnezzar the secretary was away, the Gentile king wrote a letter where he addressed it to the king of Israel and the God of Israel, first referring to the human king of Israel and only thereafter addressing the God of Israel. When Nevuchadnezzar the secretary arrived back and noticed that the king was about to dispatch this letter, he suggested to the king that it would be more appropriate to first address the God of Israel and only thereafter the human king of Israel.
The Gentile king followed his secretary, Nevuchadnezzar's advice, and it says that Nevuchadnezzar took four steps in order to implement this change. Because Nevuchadnezzar was such an evil man on every other front, Hashem did not want him to have a place in the world to come. But Hashem will never skip over any good deed that anyone performs, even the most wicked of individuals, and Hashem wanted to reward Nevuchadnezzar for standing up for the honor of God in this one act that he committed. And because of the four steps that he took in his effort to stand up for the honor of Hashem, he was rewarded with becoming the most powerful man and human ruler over the entire world. How many times do I take a hundred steps, or maybe drive in a car for ten minutes in order to go to Shul, visit a sick person, or any other mitzvah? We are taught that the reward that awaits us is so great that it cannot even fit in this world. Let us just digest that concept. That the reward that awaits us in the next world for just one single mitzvah is greater than being rewarded with becoming the ruler over the entire world. 
"Hashem, my Father, thank you so much for teaching me the truth of what real reality is. I know that ultimately this world is a distraction from true reality because everything in this world operates in a way where we seem to experience things exactly as they are, at face value. But the truth of the matter, as you've taught us so many times in your Torah, is that we are called unto believe in the information that you've given us in the Torah. Although much of the world are making the main pursuit of their lives to amass as much money as they can, or perhaps to try to find forms of happiness that speak to them in this world, however, Hashem, you have taught us that this world is so short in comparison to what eternity is, and the opportunity that we have each moment to perform mitzvos in this world will gain us reward beyond anything that we can even begin to imagine in this world.
Please Hashem, help me to use my time wisely in this world and not get distracted by the normal way of the world and direction that people follow, but rather to use every moment that I can in service to you. And as you've taught us in your Torah sources, that even if I've fallen and committed transgressions, it's never ever the wrong time to pick myself up and say, Hashem, from now on, I'm going to do my best and capitalize on each opportunity to pick up another mitzvah and, b'ezrat Hashem, move to an even higher place in Olam Haba, for eternity."

267 - Olam Haba (Part-11)

We've been discussing about the components that the Torah commentaries outline to us of what will transpire in the next world, after we pass on from this world. We know that there are two seemingly paradoxical forms of serving Hashem. One is when we employ the side of fear and the consequences for our actions, and the other is motivation out of our absolute love for Hashem. Many commentaries teach that in order to come to the higher level of absolute love for Hashem, we first need to start with the motivation of fear of Hashem. And as we've been discussing, it's so important for us to internalize the truth of what is in store for us, because by doing so we are able to then take our lives much more seriously and thereby b'ezrat Hashem and our maximum potential in the world to come for eternity.
As we've discussed many times, Hashem created the world just to give to us, and our job in this world is to have the opportunity to be able to earn our place for eternity. It's so important when we do relate to topics of fear of heaven and the negative consequences in the world to come, that we always keep at the forefront of our mind the initial reason why Hashem decided to create the world. Hashem is not out to get us. Hashem only decided to create the world because He wants to give us unlimited pleasure for eternity. And the only reason that we have this opportunity to choose between good and bad is because He wants to make the good even better by giving us the free choice and opportunity to choose good. 
But again, because this is the way the world has been designed, there is an opportunity to choose evil, both on a large scale as well as even the smallest of actions, every one of us in our own way. With the fast-paced world that we live in, it's not always easy to catch ourselves for the sins we might be committing and the missed opportunities we might have been able to grab onto. As we've discussed many times in this daily inspiration, we know that the Torah commentary is write, that if you want to summarize our job in this world into one word, that word is emunah. And as we've talked about many times previously, one of the most basic expressions of emunah is when we talk to Hashem, because if I believe Hashem exists, can hear what I'm saying and can help me more than anyone else, I will certainly reach out to Him about whatever endeavor I might be dealing with. And no less should we be reaching out to Hashem with regards to our spiritual endeavors than more practical areas in our lives. 
"Hashem, my dear Father, thank You so much for teaching me the truth of why I exist. Thank You so much, Abba, for deciding to create this world for one objective. You don't need this world; You are perfect in Your core, but You just wanted to create us to be able to give to us. That's the only reason that You created us for. Thank You so much, Hashem, for giving us the opportunity not only to bask in Your light and pleasure for eternity, but You in Your great kindness willed it that we should be able to also live in this world, to be able to earn an even greater place for the next world. And Hashem, You have taught us that the more mitzvos that we do, and the more we listen to Your instructions from the Torah, the higher place we will earn in eternity. Please, Hashem, can You help me to work out in my personal life which are the areas that I can do better in. Hashem, I'm going to take a certain amount of time right now to try to really think about where I might have some missed mitzvah opportunities, and where, even slightly, I might be committing transgressions. Please, Hashem, help me to find the truth and be able to just become better and better each day. 
And Hashem, You have also given us one of the most incredible gifts, to be able to do teshuva and repent for anything and everything I might have committed in the past. Please, Hashem, accept my repentance for all my transgressions. And as we've learned from the Gemara, please help me to do my teshuva with sincerity and out of love for You, and to turn those transgressions of mine into mitzvos. Hashem, I know that the more that I have olam haba, the next world, which is ultimately our final destination for eternity, at the forefront of my mind, the more I am able to remain in the right place of what real reality is. Please, Hashem, help me to be successful in my endeavour to internalize more and more each day of what true reality is. Olam Haba."

266 - Olam Haba (Part-10)

The Mishna in Pirkei Avos, chapter 4, mishna 17 teaches, that this world is like a corridor before Olam Haba. And therefore the mishna advises: prepare yourself in the corridor, in order that you may enter the palace. If I like a certain type of food, and I don't restrain myself from overeating, altough I might enjoy those moments indulging in that food, however if I am irresponsible, I will pay the consequences thereafter with a stomach ache, or other areas of my health. The verse in Koheles, chapter 2, verse 14, states, "Hechacham Einav Berosho", and as some commentaries explain, a wise person is always considering the future consequences of their actions. 
Although we certainly do need to pay attention to the consequences of our actions in this world, because we live in this world and we need to function in our day-to-day lives, however, much more important than that is to think ahead of what's going to be in the future when we leave this world, because as we've been discussing, our time span in this world is so short in comparison to what eternity has in store for us. And therefore, the mindset of someone who is truly in reality, mindful of the real future in store for us, will make an effort to not get too caught up in indulging in this world and being distracted from our spiritual pursuits, but rather, making our highest priority to serve Hashem and earn our place for eternity in the world to come. 
Let us remind ourselves that the main purpose that Hashem placed us in this world and didn't directly place us in the next world, was so that we should have an opportunity to be able to earn our place in the world to come. And in order to do so, of course, we have to lay out the opportunity to be able to choose good and earn our reward, whilst at the same time, also have the choice to do the opposite. And let us also remind ourselves of what the Torah commentaries teach us, that this world is the world of emunah, the world where we are required to believe. Because if a person does not have the next world at the forefront of their mind, for the most part, we don't see consequences for our actions in this world. And that being the case, it is very hard to remain constantly motivated and inspired to choose good and stay away from bad.
Because let's say, I did commit a sin, as we all do every day, because we are limited by our human capacity, but because usually nothing happens in this world as a direct consequence of our sins, but rather we are called in to believe of the effect, if that belief is not so strong, it is difficult to be motivated to constantly make our maximum effort to do the right thing. And again, as discussed many times, that's why the Torah commentaries teach us that our purpose in this world can be summarized in one word, emunah, to believe, because we don't see, we have to believe it. 
If I'm standing with my family or a few friends, and I have a really good joke to make about a certain individual that will really make everyone laugh, but it happens to be that this statement qualifies as lashon hara, which as we are taught in Torah literature, is one of the most severe sins. Now again, one might say, "listen, I don't really mean bad, I'm just trying to be a bit funny and create a good atmosphere. It's not so bad, right?" And if one is to go ahead and tell the joke, usually one doesn't get struck by a bolt of lightning, and one does not have to pay any direct consequence. Imagine for a moment that if I go ahead and say those words of lashon hara, that immediately that would cause a bolt of lightning to strike me and paralyze me for life, with excruciating pain. If that happened to the guy next to me, and I clearly saw that it happened as a result of his speaking lashon hara, most of us would certainly think twice before saying the lashon hara, even though it might be super funny and socially appropriate.
We are taught that the effect of what will happen in the next world from our actions is much stronger than a bolt of lightning striking us and paralyzing us. And conversely, the positive effect of our actions is much stronger than anything we might even begin to imagine. The more we work towards believing in the real impact of our actions that do not take place in this world and we cannot see in this world, but rather we have to believe that will really and very literally take place in the next world, the more we will be successful in our endeavor for eternity.

265 - Olam Haba (Part-9)

We've been discussing the tremendous importance that there is to try to build our belief in the next world, in Olam Haba. Although, a believing Jew understands that this world is certainly not our final destination, and we are all going to another place called Olam Haba, however, there are many levels in what it means to believe so. The first thing that we might do in trying to internalize this belief is learning about the information offered by Torah commentaries about the process of what is in store for us. 
As discussed, once our neshamah departs from our body, after it is cleansed if necessary via the process known as chibbut hakever, the neshamah makes its way up to what is called the olam haneshamas. And it is there that we have much Torah literature about what happens, such as in Gan Eden, Gehinnom, and the like. We discussed that at some point, when Hashem decides it's right, Mashiach will come to the physical world that we live in, and only those who are alive at the time will merit His arrival. And as the Rambam says, we should not get caught up too much as to the exact details of what's going to happen when Mashiach comes, because we don't really know until it's going to actually happen. 
Nevertheless, one thing is for sure, it's going to be the most incredible thing in the world, in many ways, beyond anything we might be able to comprehend. For thousands of years, every day, the Jews have been waiting for this great day, and we have a daily mitzvah to yearn for this great day to arrive. So we can certainly understand how this is something very important in Hashem's eyes. And again, our job is not to try to understand exactly what's going to play out then, because that's Hashem's business. Our job is to believe that if Hashem says this is extremely important and amazing, then we should certainly go ahead and yearn for that day to arrive. Obviously, our main motive should be that if that is Hashem's will, for the world to operate in the messianic state, that should be our main motive. However, it is certainly also acceptable and praiseworthy to want to be alive at that time, to be able to experience Mashiach with our very own eyes. 
There are different opinions amongst the Torah commentaries as to exactly how many years will transpire after the arrival of Mashiach. But at some point after that happens, there will be the next part of the process, which is called techiyas hameisim, the resurrection of the dead, where all people who have passed on, who merit this part of the process, will be resurrected back to life. According to the most accepted view of the Ramban and the Kabbalists and most Torah commentaries, once the stage of the resurrection of the dead occurs, our body and soul will then move into a new existence called Olam Haba, where although we will still have a body together with our soul, we will then move into a new existence with complete holiness, where we will not need to eat, drink, nor use our bodily functions. 
The Gemara in Berachos 34b states some amazing things with regards to the coming of Mashiach. But thereafter, the Gemara states that when it comes to what's going to transpire in the time of Olam Haba, our minds cannot even begin to comprehend the greatness of such a thing. Just to put it into perspective, if you stop for a moment and try to imagine a world where time doesn't exist - our minds cannot comprehend such a thing, because in our existence, it is impossible to exist in a world where time doesn't exist. And in a similar vein, our minds cannot even begin to comprehend the forms of pleasure that will exist in the next world, because the greatest forms of pleasure that exist within our imagination in this world do not even compare to one moment of the slightest pleasure in the next world. 
There is much Torah literature about all of these concepts, and one interested in pursuing these topics further will certainly be able to find very valuable information easily accessible. However, let us remind ourselves that our main purpose in this world is to earn our place in the next world. Meaning, our job in this world is not to try work out what is going to transpire and how it's going to be then, because that is up to Hashem, and our experience will be B'ezrat Hashem when that time arrives. Our purpose in learning these topics is to motivate us to come to more Yiras Shamayim, fear of heaven, and Ahavas Hashem, love of Hashem. Because when we're able to internalize that the concepts of Olam Haba are not just fairy tales, but rather a real destination for our real future, we are then, B'ezrat Hashem, able to be motivated to use our time in this world in the most efficient manner, when we realize that each moment that we have in this world is an opportunity to gain eternity for eternity. What a tremendous opportunity we all have to be learning about Olam Haba and making an effort to Bezrat Hashem internalize that the next world is our true, final destination.

264 - Olam Haba (Part-8)

We've been discussing how there are many concepts that are often thrown out such as Moshiach, Olam Haba, Gehinnnom, Gan Eden, and the like. And it is worthwhile to break down each of the segments to understand better what is in store for us. As we've discussed, when our neshamah leaves our body, if it is necessary, there is a process called chibut hakever, where a person has to undergo suffering in its burial place. Thereafter, the soul, our neshamah, makes its way up to what is called by the Ramban, the Kabbalists, and the most accepted view by the Torah authorities, the olam haneshamos, the world of the souls. 
According to the Ramban, the Kabbalists, and most Torah authorities, Olam Haba, our eternal address, is a different place to olam haneshamos, the world of souls. The world of souls is almost like a waiting room for the next part of the story to happen. And in the world of souls is where we have both Gehinnom and Gan Eden, sometimes called hell and heaven. Let's continue the breakdown of the process as discussed by Torah authorities. At some point, when Hashem decides it's right, either because the Jewish people who will be alive at the time will earn it, or just because Hashem decides that this is the right time, we will merit the coming of Moshiach. The coming of Moshiach will be an experience for all those people that will be alive in the world at that time. As opposed to if one has already passed on and is now in the waiting room, in the world of souls, then they will not experience the coming of Moshiach. 
There is a discussion in the Gemara which is brought down by many Torah authorities, such as the Rambam, in Hilchos Melachim Umilchamos, chapter 12, as to what exactly is going to transpire at Moshiach's arrival. Some hold that the world will then operate in a completely supernatural manner, such as that we will have the Beis Hamikdash falling down from heaven, and many other similar miracles. Whereas other opinions hold that the world will then function in a similar manner to how it does today, such as we will have to go ourselves and build the Beis Hamikdash, using the same building techniques that we do today. However, there will be two major differences. One will be that all the nations of the world will be subjugated to the Jewish people, and there will be absolute peace in the world. And secondly, that all the people of the time will have a tremendous desire to just do mitzvahs and serve Hashem as much as possible, as opposed to today, where we have a tremendous evil inclination to transgress, even though we might know what is right. 
If one is interested in studying about the Messianic era, there is much Torah literature available to be able to investigate the topic further. However, as the Rambam writes, even if one were to find seeming contradictions between different statements in Torah passages about exactly what is going to transpire in the times of Moshiach, one shouldn't pay too much attention to that, because at the end of the day, we don't know exactly how it's going to play out, until it actually plays out. There are people who work on finding codes in the Talmud and Torah in general to try to find hints to when exactly Moshiach is going to come. It would seem from the Rambam that he was not particularly in favor of doing so, because in a sense, it's wasting one's time, because only Hashem knows when Moshiach is going to come, and that is not our job nor business to get involved in. 
What is our job, however, is to fulfill the mitzvah that is one of the 13 principles of faith, to instill the belief in ourselves that Moshiach can come at any single moment, and even if he'll delay and he didn't come yesterday, nor for the last thousand years, today might just be the day. And as we've learned, those neshamas that have already passed on will not merit to be present for the coming of Moshiach, because the coming of Moshiach is something that happens in this world for the people who will be alive then. The concept of techias hameisim, the resurrection of the dead, is something that occurs at a later stage, and we'll discuss that further in future, Bezrat Hashem. So how much more so then, should we all daven, "ani maamin beeumah sheleimah bevias hamashiach v'af al pi sheismahamea im kol ze achakeh lo bechol yom sheyavo."

263 - Olam Haba (Part-7)

We've been discussing the process of what the Torah authorities outline to us happens after we leave this world. As discussed, after one dies and departs from this world, one needs to go through a cleansing process called chibbut hakever, where there is some form of suffering that one needs to experience in one's burial place. And as the Torah authorities outline to us, there are many levels of what that pain and suffering might be, dependent on the severity and extent of our sins.
Again, let us remind ourselves that the only reason Hashem created the world in the first place is just to give us pleasure, and God forbid, never was there an objective in mind to punish us, just for the sake of punishing us. But if we have committed sins, we do need to be cleansed. And depending on the severity and magnitude of our sins will be the extent of how hard we will need to be scrubbed to be cleansed. But again, let us remind ourselves, this is not a fairy tale for children that one can make jokes about. The Torah commentaries discuss that one moment of suffering after we die is much greater than any atrocity that we might have experienced or even heard about, and imagine that terrible act, continuing for 120 years without a break; one moment of suffering after we depart from this world is much worse than that. 
But we are so privileged to have been given such a tremendous gift from Hashem, called teshuva, that as we are taught, it doesn't matter what one has already committed, there is the possibility to repent for anything and everything. And let us remind ourselves of what the Gemara says, that if we truly repent out of love for Hashem, for even the greatest of sins that we might have committed, not only are those sins erased from our record, but they actually change to become mitzvos, and we now get points for those aveiros that we might have committed, because Hashem in His great kindness is so proud of us for repenting for those sins that He actually changes them to be considered mitzvos. 
Of course, there are many levels of what it means to do teshuva. One might repent for 10 seconds and one might spend 3 hours repenting about a certain act, and the more serious we might feel that we have committed a certain act, the more time we might be required to fully repent. But let us remind ourselves of what many Torah commentaries teach, that although there are many levels for repentance, but it is certainly invaluable beyond any words that we could be able to describe, to even take a few moments to just contemplate on an avarice that we might have committed. The basic steps of teshuva are to take a few moments and acknowledge the transgression that I committed, and express to Hashem my regret for having done so. And if there is something practical to do right now to rectify what has been done, such as if I have stolen money and the like, then certainly to go ahead and return that money. And thereafter, to say to Hashem that I am going to try my best in the future not to commit this transgression again, and of course to do one's best in the future. 
Sometimes, some transgressions are so difficult for us to stay away from that we almost feel insincere to do teshuva and repent for these things. As we are taught from the Torah commentaries, this is very much the wrong approach, because Hashem understands that we are limited by our human nature, and the fact that we are not able to repent in a way that we are sure that we will never come back to this sin is no reason for us not to repent, God forbid. But exactly the opposite. We are able to say, "Hashem, please help me that I shouldn't commit this sin again. But the truth of the matter is that, Hashem, I know I'm going to come back to speaking Lashon Horah probably tomorrow again. And although I want to repent for this act, I'm concerned that I'm being insincere. Please Hashem, help me that I shouldn't speak badly about other people tomorrow, and my repentance should be considered sincere in Your eyes." And again, if this is the best that I can do, even though I know I might even probably commit this transgression tomorrow, but the fact that I have even asked Hashem to help me is a tremendous, tremendous level. 
And similarly, if a woman got dressed in an immodest manner, and perhaps was looked at inappropriately by others, she might say, "Hashem, I'm really sorry for not following Your commandments and dressing immodestly. I regret what I did, and I'm going to try my best from tomorrow to dress in a much more modest manner, the best that I can. But at the same time, Hashem, You know that it is really hard for me, from the way I have been brought up and the way I'm accustomed to dress in a certain way. Please, can You help me to be able to dress in the way that Your Torah prescribes." And again, even though I know that I might not be able to live up to the standard, but if I am doing the best that I can, and just asking Hashem to help me, that is certainly extremely valuable in Hashem's eyes, and will work wonders for us, for our eternal place in Olam Haba.