A certain man had three friends, two of whom he loved dearly, but the other he lightly esteemed. It happened one day that the king commanded his presence at court, at which he was greatly alarmed, and wished to procure an advocate. Accordingly he went to the two friends whom he loved; one flatly refused to accompany him, the other offered to go with him as far as the king's gate, but no farther. In his extremity he called upon the third friend, whom he least esteemed, and he not only went willingly with him, but so ably defended him before the king that he was aquitted.
In like manner, every man has three friends when Death summons him to appear before his Creator. His first friend, whom he loves most, namely, his money, cannot go with him a single step; his second, relations and neighbours, can only accompany him to the grave, but cannot defend him before the Judge; while his third friend, whom he does not highly esteem - his good works - goes with him before the King, and obtains his aquittal.
(This thought is one of the Parables and Legends found in the Talmud. It was translated in a beautiful book that my late grandmother gave me entitled "A Book of Jewish Thought" Selected and arranged by the Chief Rabbi Dr J.H. Hertz, Londong, 1926)
May the above thought help you to value the kind deeds that you do and inspire you to increase in goodness and kindness, especially as we move towards Rosh HaShanah
In like manner, every man has three friends when Death summons him to appear before his Creator. His first friend, whom he loves most, namely, his money, cannot go with him a single step; his second, relations and neighbours, can only accompany him to the grave, but cannot defend him before the Judge; while his third friend, whom he does not highly esteem - his good works - goes with him before the King, and obtains his aquittal.
(This thought is one of the Parables and Legends found in the Talmud. It was translated in a beautiful book that my late grandmother gave me entitled "A Book of Jewish Thought" Selected and arranged by the Chief Rabbi Dr J.H. Hertz, Londong, 1926)
May the above thought help you to value the kind deeds that you do and inspire you to increase in goodness and kindness, especially as we move towards Rosh HaShanah
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