Parshat Acharei Kedoshim Rabbi Chaim Brovender

Let us learn a posuk with Rashi


Chapter 18 verse 5
You shall observe my decrees and My judgments,
Man shall observe them,
And live by them
I am Hashem.

The third phrase, "and live by them" was considered by Rashi. He says that these 
words refer to the reward in the next world, for if you say that the reference is to life in 
this world, isn't it true that man's destiny is to die".

For Rashi the phrase means; As a result of observing the decrees and judgments, 
you will live. The verb is a stative form describing an ongoing situation. Since the 
situation of "live by them" cannot extend forever in this world, the reference must be 
for the next world.

This informs Rashi's interpretation of the last phrase; I am Hashem, faithful to pay 
reward. Naturally, reward which describes the situation is G-dly only in the next world 
where reward is the word that describes reality and not an extra addition to the same 
reality.

Though the reward is only in the next world, it is always true that life has sanctity and 
that should be protected. We do not say that since the true reward is in the next 
world life in this world has no real meaning. The Torah insists vehai bahem means 
that life takes priority of even the mitzvot of the Torah. True life is the next world; life 
in this world is what gives us hope for the next world and its eternal reward.

The Kotzker found an interesting way to bridge this gap between the two worlds. He 
said: "do the mitzvot with full life, each time as though they are new, and not in the 
manner of habit". For him the mitzvot of this world can have an otherworldly aspect. 
The "forever" of the next world is reflected in the "new and original" of this world.

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