Adult Ed in the World to Come for my father Herbert Loewenthal z"l, niftar 20 Tevet 5775

(9) Moses, and Aaron, Nadav, and Avihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up (10) and they saw the G-d of Israel; and under His feet was the like of a paved work of sapphire stone, and the like of the very heaven for clearness. (11) And upon the nobles of the children of Israel He laid not His hand; and they beheld G-d, and they ate and drank.

Rav had a favorite saying: "The world-to-come is not at all like this world. In the world-to-come there is no eating, no drinking, no procreation, no commerce, no envy, no hatred, no rivalry; the righteous sit with their crowns on their heads and enjoy the radiance of the Shekhina (Divine Presence), as it is written (Ex. 24:11) 'And they saw G-d and they ate and drank.'"

"...and they ate and drank:" they became satiated from the splendor of the Shekhina: it was as if they ate and drank.

(16) Rabbi Jacob used to say: This world is like a vestibule before the world-to-come. Fix yourself up in the vestibule so that you may enter the banqueting hall. (17) He would say: Better one hour spent in repentance and good deeds in this world than the whole life in the world-to-come. And better one hour of bliss in the world-to-come than the whole life in this world.

If two are sitting, studying Torah, Shekhina is with them.

Rabbi Yokhanan said: Everyone who exerted oneself in Torah study in this world, in the world-to-come will not be set down to sleep, but rather will be led to the Beit Midrash of Shem and Eveir, and of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses, and Aaron. From where do we know this? From (II Samuel 7: 9) "[I was with you wherever you did go, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.] Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth."