When r. Jochanan ben Zakkai fell ill, the disciples came to see him. At the sight of them, tears flowed from his eyes.
- Teacher! - they started talking. - Light of Israel! Pillar of the people! Mighty hammer! What are you crying about?
Answered R. Yochanan:
- My children! If I were taken to a mortal king, who is here today and in the grave tomorrow, and whose wrath is not eternal; and if he imprisons me, it will not be forever, and if he executes me, then that execution will not be eternal; and you can appease him with words, and appease him with gifts - even then I would cry. Especially now, when they lead me to the King of kings, holy and blessed is He, alive and existing forever! If He is indignant at me, this indignation will be eternal, and if He imprisons me in prison, this imprisonment will be eternal; He will execute me - my execution will become an eternal execution. And I cannot appease Him with words and I cannot appease Him with gifts. And not only that: two paths lie before me - one to heaven, the other to hell, and I don’t know which of the two paths will lead me. How can I not cry?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru