A Holy Place in the World to Come

The Gemara wonders who could possibly be so great. Is it simply the fact that someone was executed by the government that makes him great? The Gemara suggests that it must be referring to Rebbe Akiva and his chaveirm. They made a tremendous kiddush Hashem by not forsaking the Torah even on the pain of death. Rebbe Akiva never stopped teaching Torah. Even while being tortured by the Romans, Rebbe Akiva did not budge an inch. It must be that someone who died such a momentous death and made an unbelievable kiddush Hashem achieves an unfathomable place in the World to Come. Yet, the Gemara challenges that position. Rebbe Akiva was the gadol hador. He persevered and rose from humble beginnings to become the Torah bearer for his generation. Moreover, the Gemara cites numerous examples of his extraordinary kind deeds. Surely, he would have achieved a lofty place in Olam Haba even if he was not executed.

Therefore, the Gemara says what Yosef heard must have been referring to those killed by the government in Lod. Rashi explains that the Gemara is referring to an incident recorded very briefly in Taanis (18b)

Trajan’s daughter was murdered. Trajan did not know who committed the murder. However, in his mind, he was sure that the Jews were responsible. He sought to annihilate the entire Jewish community as retribution. Luleyanus and his brother Pappas falsely admitted to the heinous crime to spare the Jewish community. The ruse worked and the Jewish community was saved, but sadly Luleyanus and his brother Pappas were executed. It is these brothers who selflessly gave their own lives to save the Jewish community who are granted a lofty place in the World to Come. Even the tzaddikim of the generation cannot enter their canopy.

The Lev Shalom asks, “Why did the Gemara have to retract from its original suggestion? Yes, Rebbe Akiva achieved a lofty position in Olam Haba even without his execution. However, there were other great Tanaim and tzaddikim in his generation. Perhaps, Rebbe Akiva only achieved a loftier place than other tzaddikim because he died al kiddush Hashem?”

The Mishareis Moshe answers that, in truth, the Gemara could have used that explanation. However, the Gemara wanted to stress that this tremendous, elevated status is not only granted to people who were otherwise great tzaddikim, like Rebbe Akiva. Even people of lesser stature who are not gedolei hador achieve this lofty perch in Olam Haba if they were executed by the government. It would seem that Pappas and Luleyanus were not known as the greatest tzaddikim of their generation, yet, no one of their generation can enter their canopy because of their self-sacrifice they made protecting Jews.

Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, zt”l, the famed mashgiach of the Mirrer Yeshiva, said that this Gemara applies to our soldiers protecting Eretz Yisrael. Those soldiers that gave their lives protecting other Yidden achieve a lofty place in Olam Haba where other tzaddikim may not stand. Rav Asher Weiss, shlita, noted that while some parts of Sichos Mussar perhaps were not written by Rav Chaim himself, these words were. Rav Chaim in his own notes said that the above Gemara applies to Israeli soldiers. Moreover, he said that the Torah mandates that we show gratitude to someone who opens a door for us. Certainly, we must show gratitude for those who put their life on the line protecting us. Therefore, Rav Chaim wrote (during the Yom Kippur War) that it is our obligation to daven for these soldiers “bli gevul,” without limit.

Rav Yitzhak Pinchas Goldwasser, shlita, commented that he does not know in these times how anyone cannot cry and pour out his heart for these soldiers. (Hasicha vol 26)

Hashem should listen to our tefillos and bring peace to Eretz Yisrael and may we merit the ultimate redemption speedily. (Vol 26 of Hasicha with the quotes from Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz and Rav Yitzhak Pinchas Goldwasser is available by sending an email to this author.)