End of (Our) Days
Yaakov had great foresight and was always looking ahead to the future. In fact he even had a glimpse into the “End of Days,” the times of Mashiach and wished to share what he knew with his children.
The beginning of the Parsha is completely סתומה, closed. The Midrash comments that this is because:
שבקש לגלות את הקץ לבניו ונסתם ממנו
He sought to reveal the end of days to his sons and it became “closed” to him.
When he does deliver his final words to his sons, he even begins with words that suggest exactly that:
את אשר יקרא לכם באחרית הימים—that which will befall you at the “End of Days.”
Once again says the Midrash—בקש לגלות את הקץ ונסתלקה שכינה ממנו והתחיל אומר דברים אחרים. He wished to reveal the end but the Divine presence evaded him.
Yet although Yaakov was not permitted to share his knowledge of the End of Days for all mankind, he does not lose sight of the end that is soon to befall him, his own mortal demise. He diligently prepares for his death by telling his sons exactly what he want to happen. He instructs Yosef and later all the brothers that he is not to be buried in Egypt but he is rather to be brought back to Canaan to be buried in the Cave of Machpela with his forefathers and his wife Leah.
Yaakov does not allow his thoughts about the ultimate “End of Days” to distract him from these important decisions that he knows he must confront.
Discussions about illness and end of life issues are generally uncomfortable. No one wants to talk about their wishes for when they are gone. We all want to live well indefinitely.
But the reality is that our time is limited and we do not always know when the end will be. I would like to use this opportunity to bring to everyone’s attention a few matters.
There are several halachic considerations that take place, both in the case of illness and death.
Halachic Will
According to Torah law a first born son gets double and a daughter does not receive inheritance. Going back many centuries the Rabbis recognized that people wish to divide their estate in a different manner.
Here is a link to a document that can guide you in implementing a halachic will:
http://www.rabbis.org/documents/Halakhic%20Will.pdf
I am available for consultation should you wish to discuss any general or specific questions.
Halachic Living Will/Health Care Proxy
With regards to illness, the Torah has guidelines of how a person is to be treated with end of life decisions. We understand that life is not ours to decide when it should end. It is God’s soul that he put into our body, and it will be taken when God ordains it to be so.
Don’t misunderstand: For the most part the positions of modern medicine and those of halacha are in accord. While there is a range of opinions, there is a general consensus that heroic measures need not be taken when they will provide minimal results if not outright pain. It’s not life at all costs, whatever the consequences.
But there are parameters, with one guiding principle being to distinguish between actively ceasing a treatment versus passively letting a treatment lapse or withholding a treatment. There is a difference between caring for a person’s basic needs and letting nature take its course versus taking measures to hasten the onset of death.
Every case is different and requires communication between the family, the medical team, and a Rabbi that the family can turn to for halachic guidance. It is highly recommended to make these recommendations in advance.
Here is a link to a Health Care Proxy:
http://www.rabbis.org/pdfs/hcp.pdf
And here is a link to halachic considerations for advance directives:
http://www.rabbis.org/pdfs/hcpi.pdf
Once again, I am available to discuss any general or specific questions.
Burial
And then there are matters to be dealt with after one is gone— to make sure the burial is done according to halacha. In a Jewish cemetery; with a Tahara performed by the Chevra Kadisha; not, God forbid, to be cremated, which is against the Torah.
The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, directed by Rabbi Elchonon Zohn (who has conducted numerous trainings for the Chevra Kadisha of Kansas City) has several forms available for pre-planning as well.
http://www.shared.nasck.org/burial-wishes.pdf#zoom=75
Their website also has many other helpful links to such other resources such as a national registry for Halachic Living Wills and their newest campaign, the EMES card, that can be attached to one’s driver’s license. Visit www.nasck.org/
Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
These are not comfortable topics they are important. There are many eventualities that we can not plan for; we may not know when the End of Days will arrive, though we pray for a time when בלע המות לנצח, death will be forever eradicated. Until such time, we can learn from our forefather Yaakov how to plan properly for what faces us, G-d willing, after 120 years.
Addendum– here is a great resource for shiurim on related topics http://torahestateplanning.
(thanks to David Horesh for the link)