Virtue And  Morality 

תוקף ומוסר

Just before they died, Sages of Israel would convey their last will and testament as well as words of encouragement. These incorporated central principles of their personal philosophy.  

When Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai fell ill, his students entered to visit him. Upon seeing them, he began to cry. His students said to him: Lamp of Israel, the right pillar, the mighty hammer,<footnote data-num="55"/> why are you crying?  

He said to them: If they were leading me before a king of flesh and blood, who is here today and in the grave tomorrow; who, if he were angry with me, his anger would not be eternal; if he imprisoned me, his imprisonment would not be eternal imprisonment; and if he killed me, his killing would not be for eternity,<footnote data-num="56"/> and I would be able to appease him with words or bribe him with money, nevertheless, I would cry. Now that they are leading me before the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, who lives and endures forever and all time: If He is angry with me, His anger is eternal; if He imprisons me, his imprisonment is eternal imprisonment; if He kills me, His killing is for eternity; and I am unable to appease Him with words or bribe him with money; and moreover, I have two paths before me, one to the Garden of Eden and one to Gehenna, and I do not know on which they are leading me, how can I not cry?  

His students said to him: Our teacher, bless us. He said to them: May it be God’s will that the fear of Heaven shall be upon you like the fear of flesh and blood. His students said to him: Is that all?<footnote data-num="57"/> He said to them: If only one could achieve that level of fear. Know that when one commits a transgression, he says to himself: I hope that no man will see me.<footnote data-num="58"/>  

At the time of his death, Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai said to them: Remove the vessels due to the ritual impurity,<footnote data-num="59"/> and prepare a chair for Hizkiyahu king of Judea, who is coming to accompany me to the World to Come.  <source>(<i>Berakhot</i> 28b) </source>