The Gemara in Gittin recounts a wondrous story:
Onkelos bar Kelonimus was Titus’s nephew. He wished to convert to Judaism. He went and conjured up the spirit of Titus, and asked him, “Who is prominent in the other world?” Titus answered, “The Jewish people.” He asked, “Would you say it is worthwhile to join them?” Titus answered, “Their [mitzvah] matters are many, and you won’t be able to keep them. Go struggle against them in the other world, and you will become a leader, as it says, ‘Her oppressors came to the fore.’ Anyone who oppresses the Jewish people becomes a leader.” He asked, “What is your judgment?” Titus answered, “As I sentenced myself: every day they gather my ashes and judge me, then they burn me and scatter it over the seven seas.”
This is amazing. Titus was subjected to a horrible, awful punishment for oppressing the Jewish people. And he admits to the fact that in the World of Truth, the Jewish people have the prominence. Nonetheless, the advice he gives his nephew Onkelos is to make trouble for the Jews! The Gemara goes on to recount that it was just the same with Bilaam, when he was asked.
We learn from this an awesome lesson. If a person has a certain outlook during his lifetime, if he holds certain false views and opinions, this outlook will stick with him forever. This is really shocking. Imagine a Jew sitting in Gan Eden next to R. Akiva Eiger, and instead of speaking to him in Torah, he tries to tell him a joke.
Therefore, “More than any guarding, protect your heart.”
How should we handle this?
R. Yochanan ben Zakkai fell ill, and his disciples came to visit him. When he saw them, he began to cry.
He cried, and that is the eitzah. When a person is facing the day of judgment, and he is in fear of Gehinom, this means he intellectually recognizes the fact that there are two paths, one to Gan Eden and the other to Gehinom, and he cries over it. This is the way to come out with a good judgment.
The days of Elul are yemei ratzon, “days of favor.” Just open your heart and cry and plead. “Hashiveinu Hashem eilecha v’nashuvah – Bring us back to you, Hashem, and we will return!”
In this way we will, with Hashem’s help, be written and sealed for the good.
