Living Long Because He Was Not Yet Complete

Living Long Because He Was Not Yet Complete

My grandfather, Rav Meir of Kretchnif zy”a, related shortly before his petirah that we learn from the verse (Bamidbor 17:28): “Whoever comes the closest to the Mishkan of Hashem dies! Have we been consigned to die?” that anyone who wants to draw close to Hashem must be prepared to risk his life and to sacrifice himself at any time. But one can ask: Have I been consigned to die? Have I already done everything I possibly can in this world?

In this vein, Rav Shimon of Yaroslav zy”a (quoted in Raza D’Shabbos, Parshas Korach) explains the pasuk (Eicha 3:22): “The kindness of Hashem never ceases” to mean that it is a kindness of Hashem that we do not cease to have a purpose in this world, which allows us to live a long life.