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By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon

This Shabbos we read Parshas “Acharei Mos” – which speaks about the events that took place after the sudden passing of the young sons of Aharon – and I would like to speak about a sensitive topic: Life insurance.

I am writing objectively –  as I am obviously not a life-insurance salesman and I am not endorsing any specific company or policy – as someone who has seen the very unfortunate stories of young men and women who have passed away.

I want to start by addressing a very important issue: None of what is going to be written below is supposed to be taken as an affront to any specific person that passed away without life-insurance and it is truly heartwarming to see the tremendous Ahavas Yisroel that is shown time and time again when the community gives money to a legitimate campaign that supports the continued needs of the family. This should be taken in an objective way and in the spirit of “Vehachai Yitten El Libo,” i.e., a lesson that we can all take in our own lives.

A few years ago, I received a disturbing call from an acquaintance of mine. There had been a tragic passing of someone our age and I had reached out to a few friends to see if they would be willing to donate to the campaign that was set up to help the family. This person called me up and responded coldly: I am not sure why I should pay anything, as that person should have had life insurance! I told him – quite emotionally – that now is not the time to make those calculations as the family needs help.

This conversation made me think about the whole idea of obtaining life-insurance for myself. At first I heard from people that the Rebbe was against life-insurance. They quoted the Sicha of 13 Tammuz 5711: “The concept of selling life insurance is a business from the side of Kelipa. Instead of going and announcing to people that they can purchase life, he announces on the contrary that one is to already now to arrange what will happen after 120 years, and therefore everyone should buy a policy through giving a small amount each year and thus being secure that when the time come they will take care of him monetarily. This job requires great effort and is contrary to logic: Why does one need to speak with others about what will happen after 120 years when he can speak to him about joyful matters. The Rebbe Rashab once told a Chassid who desired to write a will which included giving money to charity, that he should give the money now to charity and not wait for later.”

I did some research on the concept and spoke to Rabbanim and Mashpiim. The Rabbanim all told me that certainly halachik’ly there is no issue. They quoted a famous Igros Moshe (Orach Chayim 2:111): “The Gemara [Sota 48b] states that anyone who has money in his pocket and states, ‘How will I live tomorrow?’ is amongst those that have little faith. From here it is possible to learn that one should not worry about what will happen after 120 years. On the other hand, the same way one is to continue working each day even though he has money in the bank to last him until tomorrow, so too he should make a life insurance policy. The Gemara’s words mean to say that one should not worry about the issue, however certainly one is to place physical effort to achieve tomorrow’s pay.”

The Mashpiim that I spoke to explained to me that they did not feel that the Rebbe was against anyone buying a policy, but rather bringing out the point of focusing on what is important to do in the here and now. They did not know of stories (and there definitely could be!), stories in which the Rebbe encouraged – or discouraged – people from buying such policies. They did feel that in today’s times – where policies are not expensive for young people and it could really protect a family – a policy should be bought.

Besides bringing this to the attention of individuals, I would like to finish by turning towards the community activists and people that are looking to be helpful towards shluchim and educators: It might be time that there are people that sponsor life-insurance policies for all Chabad eductors and Shluchim. You can take upon yourself to sponsor an entire school or an individual can sponsor an individual shliach or educator. Just think: The amount of money that is raised in a single campaign for an individual family, could have paid for hundreds of policies for people in the community.

Obviously, we daven that none of these policies should ever have to be used and we merit the revelation of the Rebbe MH”M and all death will be removed from this world, forever.

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Rabbi Gershon Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well-sought-after speaker and lecturer. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above by sending me a R’ Avtzon email: [email protected].

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