                The Purpose of the Life of a Jew
Not what we Achieve, rather How we Live it 
                     by Gershon Ben Shabtai
                       December 19, 1991

       How is one to understand the fragile thing called human life?  The miracle of birth is
beyond comprehension.  We watch a tiny, helpless creature, gradually develop into a real
person.  He develops relationships with others and, hopefully, contributes to society in his own
particular way.  Then he dies.
       When one loses a parent, a spouse, a relative, or a close friend, he cannot help but
ponder the reason why this loved one was taken from him.  In the course of our every day
living, we seldom think about our own mortality.  We seem to take it for granted that we will
be here to enjoy tomorrow, although no one really knows how many tomorrows we have. 
       Rabbi Meir Kahane, z"l, lived his life in such a way as to demonstrate his true
understanding of the purpose of the life of a Jew.  He not only spoke of the World to Come as
the "real" world, he had contempt for anything and anyone in this world who dared to try and
place stumbling blocks before him in his quest for it.  When faced with the choice in a military
court to back down on his principles and go free, or refuse and go to prison, not only did he
not hesitate to choose prison, he hastened to inform the judge that he made this choice
because he knew that one day he would stand before the Dayan HaEmet and would have to
answer to Him.  
       It was as if he lived every moment of the precious gift of life to prepare his place in
the eternal World to Come.  He studied Torah with a passion, and then dedicated himself to
living its commandments with total submission to his Creator.
       While those of us, who cannot comprehend how is was possible that such a devoted
man who gave all of himself to help his people could possibly be subject to human mortality,
are still dumbfounded at our terrible loss, we must take his example as our lesson for living.
       We must become more cognizant of our own mortality, and thus dedicate ourselves
to better utilizing the little time we have on this earth to serve our Creator with a pure heart. 
While it is certainly frustrating and discouraging to note our limitations and inabilities, we
must never let anything prevent us from doing the best we can.  As Rabbi Kahane would say,
"It's no mitzvah to succeed, but it's an avera (a sin) not to try".  Success is not the measure of
a Jew.  The way he lives his life is.  That is what makes our Torah such a precious gift.  It
shows us how to live our daily lives to the fullest.  If we follow its path we are guaranteed the
fullness of the eternal World to Come.  And that no mortal can take from us.