Chukas 19:14 · unit 4 — do not refrain from Torah even at the hour of death

Parashas Chukas · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 14

The Complete Passuk

זֹ֚את הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אָדָ֖ם כִּֽי־יָמ֣וּת בְּאֹ֑הֶל כָּל־הַבָּ֤א אֶל־הָאֹ֙הֶל֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּאֹ֔הֶל יִטְמָ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃

This is the Torah: when a man dies in a tent, all who come into the tent and all that is in the tent shall be unclean seven days.

Chabad.org — 19:14

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Shabbos 83b — Rabbi Yonasan said: A person should never refrain from words of Torah even at the hour of death, as it is said “This is the Torah: a man who dies in a tent” — even at the hour of death one should be engaged in Torah.

Sefaria — Shabbos 83b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן, לְעוֹלָם אַל יִמְנַע אָדָם עַצְמוֹ מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה אֲפִלּוּ בִּשְׁעַת מִיתָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה אָדָם כִּי יָמוּת בְּאֹהֶל, אֲפִלּוּ בִּשְׁעַת מִיתָה תְּהֵא עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה.

English: Rabbi Yonasan said: A person should never refrain from words of Torah even at the hour of death, as it is said “This is the Torah: a man who dies in a tent” — even at the hour of death one should be engaged in Torah.

Type of Learning

Homiletic derivation urging continuous Torah study.

What Is Learned

One should remain engaged in Torah study even in the final moments of life.