Rebbi Yaakov said: ‘This world is a Hallway before the world to come. Prepare yourself in the Hallway so that you can enter the mansion.’

The Mishnah seems to leave us with more questions than information:

1. What exactly are we supposed to do in order to prepare ourselves in this world? 

2. ⁠Is there no redemption for one who has not prepared himself in this Hallway to enter GD’s mansion?

3. What is the connection between the content of the Mishnah, and R’ Yaakov himself?

R’ Yaakov was the grandson of Elisha Ben Avuya, also known as Acher. Elisha / Acher was a sage of the Mishnah who was so pained by the lack of apparent justice in this world, that he walked away from his belief in Amighty GD and His Torah.

His life and his challenges generate much midrashic and Talmudic discussion. Even after his passing his destiny remained an enigma and a challenge. In the end, he makes it into Gan Eden.

מקורת

פרקי אבות פרק רביעי משנה ט״ז רבי יעקב אומר

תלמוד בבלי מסכת קידושין דף ל״ט ע״ב

תלמוד בבלי מסכת חגיגה דף ט״ו ע״א וע״ב

תורת מנחם התוועדיות חלק י״ג דף 67 הובא בביאורים לפרקי אבות ע״י כ״ק אדמו״ר מליובאוויטש שע״י היכל מנחם דף רל״ה