Shabbat 153A

ונשמתו עולה, ושוב אינה יורדת.

and his soul ascends to its place beneath the Throne of Glory, and does not descend anymore.

אמר רב יהודה בריה דרב שמואל בר שילת משמיה דרב: מהספדו של אדם ניכר אם בן העולם הבא הוא, אם לאו. איני? והאמר ליה רב לרב שמואל בר שילת: אחים בהספידא, דהתם קאימנא! לא קשיא: הא ⁠— דמחמו ליה וחאים. הא ⁠— דמחמו ליה ולא חאים.

Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, said in the name of Rav: From a person’s eulogy it is apparent whether or not he has a share in the World-to-Come. If the listeners are pained and brought to tears during the eulogy, it is clear that the person was righteous. The Talmud asks: Is that so? Didn’t Rav say to Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat: Stir the hearts of those gathered during my eulogy, for I will be standing there and listening to your words? Even a person as great as Rav needed to give instructions about his eulogy. The Talmud answers: This is not difficult, for this statement, which maintains that those who merit a share in the World-to-Come can be identified by their eulogies, is referring to a situation in which they attempt to stir the listener and he is stirred; while that statement is referring to a situation in which they attempt to stir the listener and he is not stirred. That is an indication that the deceased person was not righteous.

אמר ליה אביי לרבה: כגון מר דסנו ליה כולהו פומבדיתאי, מאן מחים הספידא? אמר ליה: מיסתאי את ורבה בר רב חנן.

Abaye said to Rabba: In the case of the Master, i.e., Rabba, whom all of the inhabitants of his city, Pumbedita, hate, who will be stirred during his eulogy? He said to him: It is sufficient for me if you and Rabba bar Rav Ḥanan are stirred.

בעא מניה רבי אלעזר מרב: איזהו בן העולם הבא? אמר ליה: ״ואזניך תשמענה דבר מאחריך לאמר זה הדרך לכו בו כי תאמינו וכי תשמאילו״. רבי חנינא אמר: כל שדעת רבותינו נוחה הימנו. ״וסבבו בשוק הסופדים״, בני גלילא אמרי: עשה דברים לפני מטתך, בני יהודה אמרי: עשה דברים לאחר מטתך. ולא פליגי: מר כי אתריה, ומר כי אתריה.

R' Elazar raised a dilemma before Rav: Which type of person has a share in the World-to-Come? He said to him: We can derive this from the verse: “And your ears should hear a word behind you, saying: This is the path, walk on it, when you turn to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). In other words, if people eulogize one by saying that others should follow in his path, he must have a share in the World-to-Come. R' Ḥanina said: Anyone with whom our Rabbis are pleased has a share in the World-to-Come. In interpreting the verse: “And the eulogizers walk about the marketplace” (Ecclesiastes 12:5), the people of the Galilee say: Do things that you will want people to say at your eulogy in front of your bier. The people of Judea say: Do things that you want people to say at your eulogy behind your bier. The Talmud remarks: And they do not disagree; this Sage expressed it according to the norm in his place, and this Sage expressed it differently according to the norm in his place. The custom in the Galilee was that the eulogizers would stand before the bier and the custom in Judea was that eulogizers would stand behind the bier.