Soul Talk

"Greater is the day of death," declares King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes, "than the day of birth." At first glance, this seems a curious statement, especially for a life-celebrating philosophy and religion such as Judaism. But the Chassidic masters insist that this is no contradiction. The time of a person's passing, they explain, is the culminating moment of his or her mission in life. This is the moment at which the
The time of a person's passing is the culminating moment of his or her mission in life sum-total of his or her achievements in this world come to fruition. Physically, one may be in a diminished state, but spiritually, this is our moment of highest potential.

The moment of yetziat neshamah ("departure of the soul") is a most lofty moment, and should be utilized by the dying person (or, when this is not possible, by those present with him or her) for two fundamental actions: 1) The affirmation of G-d's unity with the saying of Shema; 2) Teshuvah, repentance and "return."

1) The Shema

If there is a single sentence that encapsulates the faith and life-mission of the Jew, it is the words of the Shema. Shema yisrael, Ado-nai E-loheinu, Ado-nai echad -- "Hear O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is one." We say these words every morning and evening of our
Jews strove to depart life as they lived it--with the words of the Shema on their lips lives, and they express the ultimate goal of our every deed and activity: to make real the truth that G-d is one. That G-d and the created existence, G-d and our lives, are not two separate entities, but a unity, for everything is an emanation and expression of the Divine oneness.

And these are the words the Jew proclaims at life's culmination. We proclaimed them facing the crusader's sword or the ovens of Auschwitz; we cried out these words when death came suddenly and violently, or peacefully in bed. Throughout the ages, Jews strove to depart life as they lived it--with the words of the Shema on their lips.

2) Teshuvah

According to Jewish tradition, we can repair, enhance and put to rights any aspect of our lives --as long as we still live.

Through deep regret and firm resolve, we have the power to literally "return" in time to past iniquities and failings. In a single soul-wrenching moment, we can repair the damage and fill the lack.

In a single moment teshuvah, we can repair the damage and fill the lack An important component of the Teshuvah process is the Vidui--confession of sins--that acknowledges to G-d our failures and seeks that G-d heal them and their results and make us whole.

Teshuvah can be achieved at any and every point in life, but at no time is it more opportune and necessary than in life's closing moments. In the words of the Sages, "If not now, when?"