Why Death Is Good and the Hidden Heh of the Sixth Day

"And God saw all that He had made, etc." The word "good" was said concerning the creation of the first man, just as it was said concerning all the works that came before. And because all the other works were created only for the sake of man, therefore He included them in the goodness together with him: "and behold, it was very good." Measure for measure, for the Holy One, blessed be He, judges His creatures only according to their measure. In the Torah of Rabbi Meir they found written: "and behold, death is good" — because death is fitting for the righteous, to find rest for their souls; and it is fitting for the wicked, that they not increase sin, as it is said, "There the wicked cease from raging, etc." (Job 3:17) — from provoking before their Creator. "And there the weary in strength are at rest" (ibid.) — these are the righteous, for all the time that they are alive they are weary from fighting against the evil inclination, which seeks to make them sin. "The sixth day." Why was a "heh" added to "the sixth," which was not written concerning the other days? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, stipulated with all the work of creation that if Israel accept the Torah, which is five (heh) books, they will endure; and if not, the world will return to formlessness and void (tohu va-vohu), as it is said, "From heaven You caused judgment to be heard; the earth feared and was still" (Psalms 76:9). After the evening and morning of the sixth day passed, the Lord rested from His work, and the sixth day became a dedication (hanukkah) for the seventh day. Therefore it is said, "and they were finished" (va-yechulu) — for the six days were completed and their work was finished, they and their offspring, so that nothing was lacking, to fulfill what is said, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).