EVEN THE BODIES OF TZADDIKIM RETURN TO DUST BEFORE THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
August 30, 2013The deceased replied to Rav Nachman: I am Achai bar Yoshiya. Rav Nachman asked: How is it that your body has not decomposed? Indeed, Rav Mari has said: Even the bodies of tzaddikim are destined to become dust in the grave. * Source materials compiled by Rabbi Shloma Majeski.
Presented by Boruch Merkur
There were once some diggers who were digging on Rav Nachman’s property. [They unwittingly came upon a corpse, that of Rav Achai bar Yoshiya, a sage who had died generations earlier. Having been disturbed in the grave, the body of] Rav Achai bar Yoshiya snorted at them. Frightened] those who had been digging returned and told Rav Nachman: A [dead] man snorted at us! Rav Nachman approached the gravesite and asked the corpse: Who are you?
The deceased replied to Rav Nachman: I am Achai bar Yoshiya.
Rav Nachman asked: [How is it that your body has not decomposed?] Indeed, Rav Mari has said: [Even the bodies of] tzaddikim are destined to become dust [in the grave].
Rav Achai bar Yoshiya responded: Who is Rav Mari? I do not know him [and therefore, I pay no heed to his teachings].
Rav Nachman answered: But Rav Mari quotes a verse [in support of his position]. Indeed, it is written in Scripture, “And the dust shall return to the earth as it was.” [The natural process of decomposition is intended to turn the corpse into dust in the grave. How is it that your body has not done so?]
Rav Achai bar Yoshiya replied: He who has taught you Koheles evidently did not teach you Mishlei. For [you apparently are unaware of] the verse [that] states, “The rotting of bones is [caused by] envy” (Mishlei 14:30) – implying that the bones of anyone who has envy in his heart will rot, whereas the bones of anyone who does not have envy in his heart will not rot. [Rav Achai bar Yoshiya was claiming that since he had not been guilty of jealousy throughout his life, his body remains preserved, free of the mortal fate of bodily decomposition.]
Rav Nachman touched the corpse and determined that it was indeed real [and not an illusion]. He told the corpse: Let the master arise and come to my house.
Rav Achai bar Yoshiya replied: Now you have demonstrated that you [are not merely ignorant of Mishlei but also] you are not well-versed in Navi, where it is written, “You will recognize that I am G-d when I open your graves”** [indicating that it is only G-d Who may bring forth the dead; unless He grants permission, the dead may not do so on their own].
[Going back to the question of how Rav Achai avoided decomposition] Rav Nachman said to him: Is it not written, “For you are dust and to dust shall you return” (B’Reishis 3:19) [suggesting that everyone must return to dust, even those who did not succumb to jealousy].
Rav Achai responded to Rav Nachman: [With respect to tzaddikim] that verse speaks about [what will take place in the Messianic Era] a moment before the Resurrection of the Dead*** [but until then, the bodies of tzaddikim will remain preserved in their graves].
(Maseches Shabbos 152b)
NOTES:
* I.e., the bodies of tzaddikim will eventually rot and become dust, just like the bodies of other persons. (See Rashi ––Note 18 of the Artscroll Schottenstein Edition)
**Yechezkel 37:13. I.e., G-d will bring forth the dead during the Messianic Era; until then, we are not granted permission to arise. (Rashi ––Note 26 of the Artscroll Schottenstein Edition)
***I.e., the bodies of the righteous will not decompose until just before the Resurrection; at that moment, they will return to dust so that their bodies may be resurrected like all others. (Iyun Yaakov, words beginning with “Rav Mari said to him”; cf. Maharal ––Note 29 of the Artscroll Schottenstein Edition)
Reader Comments (1)
B"H
I must say I was shocked to read the article in the weekly column MOSHIACH & GEULA in the Erev Rosh HaShana issue of Beis Moshiach entitled "Even the bodies of the Tzaddikim return to dust before the resurrection of the dead". What was the purpose of this article, that the Rebbi had to die, G-d forbid?! Does the author not know the Rebbi himself edited the very words that the author brings in the article from the maamar "Beela mahves lihnetzach" (Sefer Ha'maamorim – Meluket – vol. B) and in the footnote (36, and writes that "rather this purification can be through self-nullification of "My soul should be like dust to all" and thus doesn't need to return to dust in the ordinary manner"?
Furthermore, to let us know way ahead of time that everything is under control and is happening in an organized matter, the Rebbe, in 5727 blessed the Tmimim on Yom Kippur before Kol Nidrei (Likutei Sichos Vol. IX, page 381) and said: "… we must bring close and reveal the Geula …thru the Moshiach.." He edited on the word "reveal" and wrote: Medrash Bamidbar Rabah (11,2) nigleh vnichseh etc. (revealed and hidden etc.) and in the Rambam, Laws of Kings, end of ch. 11 "bhezkat etc. bvadai"(apparent or most likely etc. certain)."
If we think for a few seconds of the implications of all this, and how many years before Gimmel Tamuz the Rebbi said and wrote this, we can only say "Gevalt", "Ad mohsai" and "We want Moshiach now, we don't want to wait!" - but still "Chai vkiyam" and ”Who goaleinu". DG, Nachalas Har Chabad