“… Know from where you came (mei’eiyin basa) and where you are going (ul’an atah holech) …”
The Satmar Rov questions the difference in the first part of the phrase as compared to the second. He notes that the Tanna stated “mei’eiyin basa” and he should therefore have continued “ul’an tehalech”. Why did the Tanna add the word “atah – you” without just conjugating the verb?
The Satmar Rov offers a profound insight for our consideration. He explains that when a person does an aveiroh, he transforms his neshamah and his essence into a bad entity. He is no longer the person that he used to be.
Therefore, the Tanna is admonishing the individual to bear in mind that after 120 years, when one goes up to Shamayim and stands before the Heavenly Court, he should aspire to be the same pure neshamah that he was when he descended into the world. He does not chas v’sholom want to present before the bais din shel maaloh with a different defective soul.
