The Rebbe once spoke to a man and quoted the Talmudic edict, “Repent one day before your death” (Avot 2:10; Shabbat 153a). The Rebbe stressed the words, one day, drawing them out at great length.
Yesterday and tomorrow are man’s downfall. Today you may be aroused toward God. But yesterday and tomorrow pull you back. No matter where a man stands, he suffers reverses. The man who dwells on yesterday and tomorrow will surely fall away.
“Before your death” is your entire life. During your entire lifetime, you may only be worthy of one day of repentance. This one day is more precious than every treasure (Proverbs 24:4). For what does man gain from all his effort? (Ecclesiastes 1:3). Nothing remains of all your life other than this one day of repentance before God. “Repent one day” – even one day – “before your death” – during your sojourn here on earth. Forget about yesterday and tomorrow. This one day is everything (see “His Praises” #14). Understand this.
שָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁפַּעַם אַחַת אָמַר לְאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּזוֹ הַלָּשׁוֹן (אָבוֹת ב שַׁבָּת קנג.): 'שׁוּב יוֹם אֶחָד לִפְנֵי מִיתָתְךָ', וְדָחַק וּמָשַׁךְ תֵּבַת יוֹם אֶחָד.
The Rebbe once spoke to a man and quoted the Talmudic edict, “Repent one day before your death” (Avot 2:10; Shabbat 153a). The Rebbe stressed the words, one day, drawing them out at great length.
וְכַוָּנָתוֹ הָיָה לְעִנְיַן מַה שֶּׁמַּפִּיל אֶת הָאָדָם מַה שֶּׁקָּדַם לוֹ וּמַה שֶּׁלְּאַחֲרָיו. דְּהַיְנוּ מַה שֶּׁרוֹאֶה שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים מִתְעוֹרֵר קְצָת לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, אֲבָל קֹדֶם וְאַחַר כָּךְ הָיָה מַה שֶּׁהָיָה, כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עַל כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ. וּמֵחֲמַת זֶה נוֹפְלִים רַבִּים מֵעֲבוֹדָתָם כַּיָּדוּעַ.
Yesterday and tomorrow are man’s downfall. Today you may be aroused toward God. But yesterday and tomorrow pull you back. No matter where a man stands, he suffers reverses. The man who dwells on yesterday and tomorrow will surely fall away.
וְעַל זֶה אָמַר רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, לְהָאִישׁ הַנַּ"ל וְגָעַר עָלָיו וְאָמַר: שׁוּב יוֹם אֶחָד לִפְנֵי מִיתָתְךָ.
The Rebbe therefore stressed, “Repent one day before your death.”
כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ אִם לֹא תִּזְכֶּה כָּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ קֹדֶם שֶׁתָּמוּת כִּי אִם לָשׁוּב לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ יוֹם אֶחָד בִּלְבַד גַּם זֶה טוֹב מְאֹד וְיָקָר מִכָּל הוֹן, כִּי מַה יִּתְרוֹן לְאָדָם מִכָּל עֲמָלוֹ וְלֹא יִשָּׁאֵר לוֹ מִכָּל יְגִיעָתוֹ כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו כִּי אִם זֶה הַיּוֹם שֶׁשָּׁב לַה'. וְזֶהוּ "שׁוּב יוֹם אֶחָד לִפְנֵי מִיתָתְךָ" כַּנַּ"ל וְהָבֵן.
“Before your death” is your entire life. During your entire lifetime, you may only be worthy of one day of repentance. This one day is more precious than every treasure (Proverbs 24:4). For what does man gain from all his effort? (Ecclesiastes 1:3). Nothing remains of all your life other than this one day of repentance before God. “Repent one day” – even one day – “before your death” – during your sojourn here on earth. Forget about yesterday and tomorrow. This one day is everything (see “His Praises” #14). Understand this.