A daily kavanah

I said: you are angelic, you are sons of the Most High. However, like men you shall die. (Tehillim 82:6-7)

In Tiv HaTehillos, Rabbi Gamliel HaCohen Rabinowitz commented:

“You, Jews, have the ability to rise to the level of angels and “sons” of the Most High. On one condition, though: “however, like men you shall die,” i.e. provided you always reflect upon the day of death, and you do not distract your thoughts from this. With this power, you will conquer the yetzer hara, as our Sages advises us in the Talmud (Berachos 7b): “If you conquer it, good for you – but if not, remind yourself of the day of death!” Remembering the day of death is a weapon of singular power, with which one can crush the yetzer hara completely, so as to rise higher and higher to the highest levels of spirituality.”

In order to ingrain this teaching into your daily life, take a moment before putting on your tallis each morning and reflect on the thought that the tallis you are holding is the only physical possession (aside from your kittel) that you will be allowed to take with you to the grave.