(א) .... שֶׁאִם לֹא יִקְנֶה פֹּה חָכְמָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים אֵין לוֹ בְּמָה יִזְכֶּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת ט י) "כִּי אֵין מַעֲשֶׂה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וְדַעַת וְחָכְמָה בִּשְׁאוֹל". וְאִם עֲזַבְתֶּם אֶת יקוק וּשְׁגִיתֶם בְּמַאֲכָל וּבְמִשְׁתֶּה וּזְנוּת וְדוֹמֶה לָהֶם מֵבִיא עֲלֵיכֶם כָּל הַקְּלָלוֹת הָאֵלּוּ וּמֵסִיר כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת עַד שֶׁיִּכְלוּ יְמֵיכֶם בְּבֶהָלָה וָפַחַד וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לָכֶם לֵב פָּנוּי וְלֹא גּוּף שָׁלֵם לַעֲשׂוֹת הַמִּצְוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁתֹּאבְדוּ מֵחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא וְנִמְצָא שֶׁאִבַּדְתֶּם שְׁנֵי עוֹלָמוֹת. שֶׁבִּזְמַן שֶׁאָדָם טָרוּד בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בְּחלִי וּבְמִלְחָמָה וּרְעָבוֹן אֵינוֹ מִתְעַסֵּק לֹא בַּחָכְמָה וְלֹא בַּמִצְוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶן זוֹכִין לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא:
(1) .... And if he does not acquire wisdom and good deeds here, he will not have with what to merit [the Life of the World to Come], as it says, as there is no act or reckoning or knowledge or wisdom in the grave (Ecclesiastes 9:10). And if you abandon the Lord and err in food and drink and licentiousness and similar things, He brings all of these curses upon you and removes all of the blessings so that you end all of your days in confusion and fear, and your heart will not be available and your body will not be sound to do the commandments, so that you perish from the Life of the World to Come - and it comes out that you have lost both worlds. Since when a man is occupied in this world with sickness and war and famine, he does not engage in either wisdom or commandments, through which we merit the Life of the World to Come.
The World-to-Come is not like this world.
In the World-to-Come there is no eating, no drinking,
no procreation, no business negotiations,
no jealousy, no hatred, and no competition.
Rather, the righteous sit with their crowns upon their heads, enjoying the splendor of the Divine Presence, as it is stated:
“And they beheld God, and they ate and drank” (Exodus 24:11), meaning that beholding God’s countenance is tantamount to eating and drinking.
(17) For the LORD your God is God supreme and Lord supreme, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who shows no favor and takes no bribe,
(ו) ואמת ורב אמת, מאריך אפיה וגבי דיליה, כאמרם ז''ל (שם) ועון עצמו אינו נמחל וכאמרם אשר לא ישא פנים אין אברהם מציל את ישמעאל ולא יצחק מציל את עשו, ולא יקח שוחד שאין מצוה מכבה עבירה:
(6) ואמת, the adjective רב, “abundant” mentioned in connection with the attribute חסד also applies to the attribute אמת. The mention of the attribute אמת is important as if we had only known about G’d’s patience with the sinner, i.e. ארך אפים, we might have concluded that the sinner might eventually get away with his sin. The attribute אמת is a reminder that if the sinner who enjoyed G’d’s patience did not use it to repent, his sins will catch up with him. G’d does not wipe out the sin. It also refers to what our sages described as the meaning of Deuteronomy 10,17 that G’d does not show favoritism, i.e. an illustrious’ father such as Avraham cannot save his son Yishmael from punishment, nor a Yitzchok his son Esau. Similarly, it includes the fact that G’d does not accept “bribes,” and that sins cannot be offset by good deeds so that the sin goes unpunished.
(17) God heard the cry of the boy, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heeded the cry of the boy where he is.
(יז) את קול הנער מִכַּאן שֶׁיָפָה תְפִלַּת הַחוֹלֶה מִתְּפִלַּת אֲחֵרִים עָלָיו וְהִיא קוֹדֶמֶת לְהִתְקַבֵּל (בראשית רבה):
(17) את קול הנער THE VOICE OF THE LAD — From this we may infer that the prayer of a sick person is more effective than the prayer offered by others for him and that it is more readily accepted (Genesis Rabbah 53:14).
(יז) באשר הוא שם לְפִי מַעֲשִׂים שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה עַכְשָׁיו הוּא נִדוֹן, וְלֹא לְפִי מַה שֶׁהוּא עָתִיד לַעֲשׂוֹת (ראש השנה ט"ז) לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת מְקַטְרְגִים וְאוֹמְרִים רִבּוֹנו שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מִי שֶׁעָתִיד זַרְעוֹ לְהָמִית בָּנֶיךָ בַּצָּמָא, אַתָּה מַעֲלָה לוֹ בְּאֵר! וְהוּא מְשִׁיבֵם עַכְשָׁיו מַה הוּא, צַּדִּיק אוֹ רָשָׁע? אָמְרוּ לוֹ צַדִּיק אָמַר לָהֶם לְפִי מַעֲשָׂיו שֶׁל עַכְשָׁיו אֲנִי דָנוֹ, וְזֶהוּ בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא שָׁם וְהֵיכָן הֵמִית אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּצָּמָא? כְּשֶׁהֶגְלָם נְבוּכַדְנֶצַר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, מַשָּׂא בַּעֲרָב וְגוֹ' לִקְרַאת צְמַא הַתָיוּ מָיִם וְגוֹ' (ישעיהו כ"א), כְּשֶׁהָיוּ מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתָם אֵצֶל עַרְבִיִים, הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים לְשׁוֹבֵיהֶם בְּבַקָּשָׁה מִכֶּם הוֹלִיכוּנוּ אֵצֶל בְּנֵי דוֹדֵנוּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל וִירַחֲמוּ עָלֵינוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אֹרְחוֹת דְדָנִים (שם) - אַל תִּקְרִי דְּדָנִים אֶלָּא דּוֹדִים - וְאֵלּוּ יוֹצְאִים לִקְרָאתָם וּמְבִיאִין לָהֶם בָּשָׂר וְדָג מָלוּחַ וְנוֹדוֹת נְפוּחִים כִּסְבוּרִים יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁהֵם מְלֵאִים מַיִם, וּכְשֶׁמַּכְנִיסוֹ לְתוֹךְ פִּיו וּפוֹתְחוֹ, הָרוּחַ נִכְנֶסֶת בְּגוּפוֹ וּמֵת:
(17) באשר הוא שם WHERE HE IS — According to the actions he is now doing shall he be judged and not according to what he may do in future. Because the ministering angels laid information against him, saying, “Master of the Universe, for him whose descendants will at one time kill your children with thirst will You provide a well?” He asked them, “What is he now, righteous or wicked?” They replied to him, “Righteous.” He said to them, “According to his present deeds will I judge him.” This is the meaning of what is written: “[For God hath heard the voice of the lad ] באשר הוא שם in that condition in which he now is” (Genesis Rabbah 53:14). Where did he (Ishmael) kill Israel with thirst? When Nebuchadnezzar carried them into exile — as it is said, (Isaiah 21:13, 14) “The burden upon Arabia … O ye caravans of Dedanites, unto him that is thirsty bring ye water! etc.” When they were bringing them near the Arabians the Israelites said to their captors, “We beg of you bring us to the children of our uncle, Ishmael, who will certainly show pity to us”, as it is said, “O ye caravans of the Dedanites (דדנים)”; read not דדנים but דודים, kinsmen. — These indeed came to them bringing them salted meat and fish and water-skins inflated with air. The Israelites believed that these were full of water and when they placed them in their mouths, after having opened them, the air entered their bodies and they died (Eichah Rabbah 2:4).
(יח) וַיְהִ֛י בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י וַיָּ֣מָת הַיָּ֑לֶד וַיִּֽרְאוּ֩ עַבְדֵ֨י דָוִ֜ד לְהַגִּ֥יד ל֣וֹ ׀ כִּי־מֵ֣ת הַיֶּ֗לֶד כִּ֤י אָֽמְרוּ֙ הִנֵּה֩ בִהְי֨וֹת הַיֶּ֜לֶד חַ֗י דִּבַּ֤רְנוּ אֵלָיו֙ וְלֹא־שָׁמַ֣ע בְּקוֹלֵ֔נוּ וְאֵ֨יךְ נֹאמַ֥ר אֵלָ֛יו מֵ֥ת הַיֶּ֖לֶד וְעָשָׂ֥ה רָעָֽה׃ (יט) וַיַּ֣רְא דָּוִ֗ד כִּ֤י עֲבָדָיו֙ מִֽתְלַחֲשִׁ֔ים וַיָּ֥בֶן דָּוִ֖ד כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת הַיָּ֑לֶד וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֧ד אֶל־עֲבָדָ֛יו הֲמֵ֥ת הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ מֵֽת׃ (כ) וַיָּקָם֩ דָּוִ֨ד מֵהָאָ֜רֶץ וַיִּרְחַ֣ץ וַיָּ֗סֶךְ וַיְחַלֵּף֙ שמלתו [שִׂמְלֹתָ֔יו] וַיָּבֹ֥א בֵית־יקוק וַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁאַ֕ל וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ ל֛וֹ לֶ֖חֶם וַיֹּאכַֽל׃ (כא) וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ עֲבָדָיו֙ אֵלָ֔יו מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֑יתָה בַּעֲב֞וּר הַיֶּ֤לֶד חַי֙ צַ֣מְתָּ וַתֵּ֔בְךְּ וְכַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ מֵ֣ת הַיֶּ֔לֶד קַ֖מְתָּ וַתֹּ֥אכַל לָֽחֶם׃ (כב) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בְּעוֹד֙ הַיֶּ֣לֶד חַ֔י צַ֖מְתִּי וָֽאֶבְכֶּ֑ה כִּ֤י אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ מִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ יחנני [וְחַנַּ֥נִי] יקוק וְחַ֥י הַיָּֽלֶד׃ (כג) וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ מֵ֗ת לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ אֲנִ֣י צָ֔ם הַאוּכַ֥ל לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ ע֑וֹד אֲנִי֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ אֵלָ֔יו וְה֖וּא לֹֽא־יָשׁ֥וּב אֵלָֽי׃
(18) On the seventh day the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell David that the child was dead; for they said, “We spoke to him when the child was alive and he wouldn’t listen to us; how can we tell him that the child is dead? He might do something terrible.” (19) When David saw his servants talking in whispers, David understood that the child was dead; David asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” “Yes,” they replied. (20) Thereupon David rose from the ground; he bathed and anointed himself, and he changed his clothes. He went into the House of the LORD and prostrated himself. Then he went home and asked for food, which they set before him, and he ate. (21) His courtiers asked him, “Why have you acted in this manner? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but now that the child is dead, you rise and take food!” (22) He replied, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought: ‘Who knows? The LORD may have pity on me, and the child may live.’ (23) But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will never come back to me.”
(5) since the living know they will die. But the dead know nothing; they have no more recompense, for even the memory of them has died.
(ה) כי החיים יודעים שימותו . ואולי ישובו אל לבם יום המיתה וישובו מדרכם אבל משמתו אינם יודעים מאומה ואין עוד להם שכר פעולה שיעשו מן המיתה ואילך אלא מי שטרח בערב שבת יאכל בשבת :
And perhaps they will return to their heart the day of death and return from their path, but when they die they do not know anything and they have no more reward for action that they can do from death and onward, rather one who works on the eve of the sabbath will eat on the sabbath
(ה) יודעים שימותו. ומתפחדים אם כן מן הדין ומתחרטים על פשעם:
They know they will die: And are afraid therefore from judgment and regret their wrongdoing
(ה) אינם יודעים מאומה. רוצה לומר אין להם מה לדעת ואין תועלת בידיעה, כי אחר המיתה אין מועיל חרטה:
They do not know a thing: That is to say they do not have anything to know and there is no purpose in knowing because after death there is no purpose in regret
(ה) ואין עוד להם שכר. אין מקום לעשות עוד מצות לקבל שכר פעולה:
And they have no reward: there is no place to do more good deeds to receive reward of an action
(ה) כי נשכח זכרם. אלא נשכח זכרם, כי כשהאדם חי ומתחרט על פשעו או עושה מצוה נזכר אז לטובה מה שאין כן המתים:
Because their remembrance was forgotten: Rather their remembrance was forgotten, because when a person lives and regrets their wrongdoing or does good deeds it is then remembered for good, which is not so for the dead.
(כב) ... ואמר ולא מקח שוחד הוא כמו שאמר ג"כ בתורה אשר לא ישא פנים ולא יקח שחד ואין ענינו שלא יקח שחד להטות הדין כי זה מן השטות שירוחק מן הש"י מה שלא יצוייר ואף לא ידומה כי איך יצוייר לו שחד ומה יהי השחד אבל ענינו מה שבארנו שהוא לא יקח שחד הטובות כמו שיעשה אדם אלף טובות ורעה אחת שלא ימחול הש"י מעבירה ההיא לרוב טובותיו ויחסר לו מאלף טובותיו טובה אחת או יותר אבל יענש על זאת הרעה האחת ויגמלהו על הטובות ההם כולם וזהו ענין לא יקח שוחד והוא כמו לא ישא פנים שיענש הגדול במעלות על דבר מועט כמו שנענש משה רבינו ע"ה על חטא הכעס כמו שבארנו בפרקים הקודמים וגמול עשו הרשע על כבוד אב ואם ונבוכדנצר על כבוד הש"י כמו שהתבאר בסנהדרין וזהו ענין ולא משוא פנים...
Maharam Chalavah, 14th century Torah scholar - disciple of Rashba
אין ספק בדבר כי לא יועיל ולא יציל מה שיעשה בשביל אדם אחרי מותו, כי כל אדם נדון לפי מה שהוא בעת מותו, כי לפי מעלתו והשגתו כשתפרד גופו מנפשו ישיג מעלה ויזכה לאור באור החיים, ואין לה תוספת מעלה ותועלת במה שיעשו אחרי כן להועילו...
There is no doubt that what one person does for another after their passing is of no benefit or aid, for each person is judged according to what they are at the time of their death. In accordance with the person’s level and attainments at the time that his soul departs from his body, so will he attain elevations and merit light with the Light of Life, and there is no additional elevation or benefit in that which others do afterwards to benefit him… (Maharam Chalavah, Responsa, #17)
Rashba cites a responsum from Rav Sherira Gaon
..ולזכותו למתן שכר אין ביד אדם כל עיקר, ואין מעלתו וגדולתו והנאתו מזיו השכינה אלא לפי מעשיו, ואפילו כל צדיקי עולם בקשו עליו רחמים וכל צדקות נעשו לזכותו, אין מועילין לו בזאת...
A person cannot merit someone else with reward; his elevation and greatness and pleasure from the radiance of the Divine Presence is only in accordance with his deeds. Even if all the righteous people in the world were to seek mercy for him, and all the righteous acts were to be done in his merit, it would be of no help to him… (Rashba, Responsa, Vol. 7 #539)
דברים אלו דברי הבל שאין לסמוך עליהן. ואיך יעלה על לב כי שכרו של זה של מעשים טובים שעשה זה לזה? והלא הכתוב אומר צדקת הצדיק עליו תהיה וכן אמר ורשעת הרשע עליו תהיה, כשם שאין אדם נתפס בעון זולתו, כך אין אדם זוכה בזכות זולתו. היחשוב כי מתן שכר של מצות דבר שישאהו אדם בחיקו וילך כדי שיתן זה מתן שכרו לזה?
These concepts are nonsense and one should not rely upon them. How can one entertain the notion that the reward of good deeds performed by one person should go to another person? Surely the verse states, “The righteousness of a righteous person is on him,” (Ezek. 18:20) and likewise it states, “And the wickedness of a wicked person is upon him.” Just as nobody can be punished on account of somebody else’s sin, so too nobody can merit the reward of someone else. How could one think that the reward for mitzvos is something that a person can carry around with him, such that he can transfer it to another person? (Maharam Alashkar, Responsa #101)
R. Papa replied: The tradition that a sin offering the owner of which died must be left to die, is applicable only to the offering of an individual, but not to that of a congregation — because a congregation does not die.
A son confers privileges on his father, but a father confers no privilege on a son. For it is written, Neither is there any one that can deliver out of my hand: Abraham cannot deliver Ishmael, [and] Isaac cannot deliver Esau.
Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg (1150 – 22 February 1217[1]), also called HeHasid or 'the Pious' in Hebrew, was a leader of the Chassidei Ashkenaz, a movement of Jewish mysticism in Germany considered different from kabbalistic mysticism because it emphasizes specific prayer and moral conduct.
But how can a deed atone for someone who did not perform that deed while he was alive? …However, thus stated the Holy One: A son provides merit for the father. For example, if the father was a sinner, but ensured that his son studied Torah and performed good deeds, then since it was due to the father that the son thus merited, the son provides merit to the father. If the parents instruct the children to perform [good] deeds after their passing, then when the children perform these deeds, it is as though the parents performed them. (Sefer Chassidim 101)