17 Sep ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS AND BUCKET LISTS

“0 – 2.”
That was the defiant
tweet former
President Trump
posted shortly after an
assassination attempt
on his life earlier this
week, the second in less than three
months.
The first time, Trump came within inches
of losing his life and while the second
time the would-be assassin didn’t get off
a shot, Trump couldn’t help but feel he
escaped death yet again. Reflecting on
the incident, one of his sons said, “My
father is running out of lives.”
The truth is one doesn’t need to be a
former president, a current candidate, or a
target of assassins to be concerned with
mortality. Many people experience the
mortality alarm in mid-life, triggered by

the loss of a parent, a diagnosis, a near-
death experience or just general “FOGO,”

fear of growing old. As we age (and for
some even in our youth) when we think
about the dangers of this world, the
uncertainty of life, the risk of illness,
natural disasters, terrorist attacks and

more, one can’t help but spend their life
thinking about their eventual death.
While confronting mortality and
contemplating the fragility of life can be
debilitating and anxiety-producing, it can
also be enormously motivating and
inspiring.
The Gemara (Berachos 5a) teaches:
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: One
should always incite his good inclination
against his evil inclination…If one
succeeds and subdues his evil inclination,
excellent, but if he does not succeed in
subduing it, he should study Torah…
If he subdues his evil inclination,
excellent; if not, he should recite Shema…
If he subdues his evil inclination,
excellent; if not, he should remind himself
of the day of death.
As human beings with an animal soul, we
are drawn to the material, physical world
around us. We struggle with desires,
drives and appetites that relentlessly
tempt us. Our rabbis teach when we feel
we are in the throes and the grip of our
alter ego, our animal impulse and instinct,

we should follow a formula. First, try to
show discipline, employ your positive
inclination. If that isn’t successful,
engage in Torah study to ground you and
calm you. If that doesn’t work, say
Shema, contemplate before Whom we
must give an accounting. If we are still
tempted, struggling and on the verge of
indulging, the last resort is to
contemplate the day of death.
(The Vilna Gaon says that the Rebbe
Shimon Ben Lakish’s advice is alluded
to in the verse rabos machshavos b’lev
ish, v’atzas Hashem hi sakum. The Gra
notes that “sakum” is the acronym for
Torah, kerias shema and misa.)
Death is a motivating factor. Thinking
about our mortality, considering the
finality of death, serve to remind us to
live and live life to its fullest. Perhaps
that is why Yom Kippur, the holiest day
of the year, is in some ways a dress
rehearsal for our deaths. From Kapparos,
the death of a chicken to atone for our
mistakes, to the wearing of the kittel,
the white garment that we will literally
be buried in, to the Torah reading of
Acharei Mos, “after the death” of the
two sons of Aharon, the day is replete
with references to death. We read of the
asara harguei malchus, the ten holy
martyrs murdered by the romans. We
recite Viduy, the confession that is also
said by someone on their deathbed. We
abstain from eating, drinking and
physical comforts and pleasures as if we
are already only a soul devoid of a body.
The Talmud says that Yom
Ha’Hakippurim atzmo m’caper,
u’misah m’chaperes, Yom Kippur and
death atone for our mistakes.

Yom Kippur, like every encounter with
death, urges us into the fullness of living.
It should not be the most depressing day
of the year, but rather can be our happiest
if we use it to inspire our best year, a year
in which we cross things off our bucket
list. A bucket list is a list of goals and
objectives to accomplish before we kick
the proverbial bucket and it is too late.
There are many books, websites and apps
that encourage and promote people to
create their own lists of what we want to
do before we die.
There are classic lists, adventure lists,
food lists, indulgent lists, and everyday
lists like make someone smile, dance in
the rain. Some want to skydive and others
make a handmade quilt. Some want to
travel to exotic locations and others taste
unusual foods.
Our lists reveal a great deal about us.
Confronting mortality means considering
the question, what is on your list? What
do you want to achieve or experience
before it is too late? Does your list
include making a million dollars, or
making a difference? Does it include
finishing a TV series or finishing Shas?
Does it include spending time on
vacations and trips or spending time with
spouses and children?
Once you identify what is on your list,
ask yourself, why haven’t you done it yet,
what is holding you back or what is in
your way?
You don’t need to be shot at to think
about mortality. Considering death
should inspire our best life. Write your
bucket list and more importantly, start
checking things off.