“Before the dead, only the words of the dead are said” (Berachot 3b). Interpretation: When the dead is lying before them, only things related to the matters of the dead man are said. RASHI interpreted that since everyone must speak of them, and the dead is still, it is to him “Mocking the poor before his Maker.” Rabbi Aba Bar Kahana said, “We did not speak but only of matters of Torah, but worldly matters do not belong here.” Others say, “Rabbi Aba Bar Kahana said, ‘We did not speak even of matters of Torah, all the more so concerning worldly matters.’”
This is perplexing. Why is it forbidden to speak of worldly matters? After all, it is not a must that he should speak of worldly matters.
To understand this in ethics, “dead” means during the fall. At that time, he is in a state of “The wicked in their lives are called ‘dead.’” Then, when he is told words of Torah from others so he will wake up and return to work, it does not help him. It is called “Mocking the poor,” since he is not impressed by others saying Torah.
However, if he is told the words of a dead man, meaning what he himself said when he was in ascent, regarded as when he was alive, and he is told, “Look what a great state you had,” and that he had vitality of Kedusha [holiness], and “Look what words of Torah you said then,” from this he can be resurrected. But if he is told words of Torah that others said, it does not impress him.
“Worldly matters do not belong here.” “World [or worldly]” means faith. It is possible to speak with him about faith also from others, who encourage him and tell him, “Look, this and that person have fear of heaven, while you remain as still as dead.” He might be inspired and come back to life when he hears matters of faith pertaining to others. Thus, even in worldly matters, only his own words should be said to him.
According to RASHI, this is perplexing. He says that everyone must speak words of Torah, and he is still. Therefore, it is regarded as mocking the poor. But with worldly matters, not everyone must speak, so why is it regarded as mocking the poor?
The reason it is forbidden to speak of worldly matters pertaining to faith, for faith is called “world” (as it is written in The Zohar in several places), since Alma [Aramaic: world] comes from the words He’elem [concealment] and Hester [hiding], which is faith. Therefore, they think, according to the view that some people say, that in matters of faith he will also not listen, that he will not be impressed by what others say.
But from the words of the dead, meaning from what he himself did in matters of faith during his life, it is possible that the Reshimot [recollections] will awaken in him and will revive him. But from others, even concerning faith, it will also not work.
Thus, when speaking to him of worldly matters that others do, he will not listen. Thus, he would be mocking the poor because all the words will be in vain. Hence, only his own Reshimot can awaken him. This is called “from the words of the dead himself,” from when he was alive, when he was in a state of ascent.