Siman - Shabbos Daf 151
- A flute brought by a gentile
The next Mishnah states that flutes brought by a gentile on Shabbos for a Jew to bewail with at a funeral, may not be used. Rashi writes that the Rabbonon banned using such flutes permanently. This was done as a penalty, as it is obvious that the gentile brought these flutes from outside the techum on behalf of the Jew, as flutes are not brought for any other purpose.
- Closing the eyes of a dying person
It was taught in a Baraisa המעצמו עם יציאת הנפש הרי זה שופך דמים – Whoever closes the eyes of a dying person at the moment of death is a murderer. This can be compared to the flame of a candle that is flickering and is about to go out. If a person places his finger on it, it is immediately extinguished.
- Give tzedakah while you can
It was taught in a Baraisa, Rebbe Shimon ben Elazar says עשה עד שאתה מוצא – perform tzedaka while you can still find someone to receive it from you, ומצוי לך – and while you still have the money to give, ועודך בידך – and while you are still in your control, meaning while you are still alive.
The Gemara says that the above statement is like what Shlomo Hamelech stated in his wisdom, וזכר את בוראיך בימי בחורתיך עד אשר לא יבאו ימי הרעה – And remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come; which the Gemara interprets to mean אלו ימי זקנה – these are the days of old age. והגיעו שנים אשר תאמר אין לי בהם חפץ – And those years arrive of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; which the Gemara explains to mean thatאלו ימי המשיח שאין בהם לא זכות ולא חובה – these are the days of Moshiach, when there will be no merits or demerits.
Rashi explains that in the days of Moshiach there will be universal prosperity so there will be no opportunity to acquire merits through giving tzedakah, and there will be no test of being hard-hearted and refusing to give.
