Three men approach death. Each begs their family for something to bring to the next world. According to the Chronicles of Jerahmeel, a 12th-century Hebrew chronicle compiled by Jerahmeel ben Solomon, the results are devastating for two of them and glorious for the third.
The farmer says, "Give me some of my labor, so I do not go empty-handed." His family replies, "You worked the field, but the earth and its fullness belong to God. You own nothing." The goldsmith makes the same request. His family answers, "You worked in silver and gold, but Scripture says, 'Mine is the silver and Mine is the gold.' You have nothing of your own to bring."
Then the Torah scholar asks. His family responds differently: "How can we give you the fruits of your labor? You spent your life studying the law. God Himself will grant you your reward. The ministering angels will come to greet you and say, 'Come in peace.' Your light shall break forth like the morning."
Rabbi Jose draws a lesson from Adam. He was given one easy commandment and failed to keep it. The punishment cascaded through every generation. How much more, then, will reward cascade for those who study Torah and perform good deeds?
The text then reveals a strange detail about the afterlife. The dead can see one another. Each soul appears to the other dead exactly as they last appeared in life: some as young, others as old, depending on when the observer died. This prevents anyone from thinking a person has lived forever. The angel appointed over the dead reshapes each soul so everyone recognizes it. But those condemned to Gehinnom (the place of spiritual purification after death) are wrapped in smoke and brimstone so that others cannot witness their punishment. The only exception: those who publicly humiliated others in life are publicly shamed in death.