Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma said: Once I was on a journey and I encountered a man. We greeted one another. Then he said to me: ‘Rabbi, where are you from?’ I replied to him: ‘I come from a great city of sages and scribes.’ He then said: ‘Rabbi, if you are willing to dwell in our place, I will give you a thousand thousand gold dinars and gems and pearls.’ I replied to him: ‘Were you to give me all the world’s silver and gold and gems and pearls, I would not live save in a place of Torah. As David King of Israel wrote in the Book of Psalms: “Your Torah is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.” (119:72) Moreover, when we die it is neither silver nor gold nor gems nor pearls that accompany us, but Torah and good deeds only.
From “Chapters of the Fathers” In Gates of Prayer, Chaim Stern, ed. (New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1975), 28.
Matters of Interpretation 
2 responses to “Shabbat shalom”
Very interesting what Rabbi Kisma said about the end of time. Considering Rabbi Kaduri and Shoshani’ prophecies have come true. The torahcalendar.com is accurate and showing the 6001st year soon approaching. The book of truth is open, as promised in daniel11
LikeLike
I don’t think I’m familiar with those prophecies … but sounds interesting, so thank you for that. Certainly this comment about Torah and good deeds seems like it came from the book of truth, eh?
LikeLike