Beliefs Of Judaism On The Afterlife
Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world and its beliefs on life after death have changed over time. In Jewish theology, death is a transitional state that exists between this world and the afterlife, and various beliefs exist on what happens in the afterlife. According to Orthodox Judaism, resurrection of the dead is a core belief and individuals who are faithful in life will experience bodily resurrection on the day of judgement. Other beliefs include a reward-based system in the afterlife that is based on the manner in which that person has lived their life.
Understanding Biblical Text
The Torah, or the Jewish Bible, is the foundation of Jewish beliefs on the afterlife, and is integral to understanding the ideas being communicated in Judaism. Many of the beliefs held by Jews come from a literal interpretation of the bible and passages from the book of Job and Ecclesiastes. According to these passages, the dead don’t experience anything, and are unaware of their existence to either a very limited or no extent. Some of the prophets, including Daniel and the Ezekiel, however, somewhat contradict the notion of a lack of consciousness after death.
The Location of The Afterlife
In the Jewish texts, the afterlife is described as an abode located in the depths below, known as Sheol. The Tanakh (protestant and Christian Bible) also makes reference to a physical underworld, described as a ‘place of darkness’ where the wicked will be punished while the righteous will be rewarded. This idea is further reinforced in other Jewish texts and the Talmud. According to these texts, the righteous will be resurrected and will experience a soulful physical life in the world to come.
The Judgement Day
In Jewish belief, the righteous will experience a physical resurrection on the day of judgement. This judgement day, known as ‘Yom HaDin’ or ‘The Day Of Judgement’, is said to be a period of judgement and sentencing, where both the wicked and the righteous are judged. While the wicked will be annihilated and sent to Gehenna (the Jewish version of hell), the righteous will gain admittance to heaven and an existence of everlasting life.
Transformation of Personality
Jewish texts describe a transformation of personality with the transition from life to death, with a person’s personality and characteristics altering. Jewish philosopher Ovadia Yosef proposed that the transition from this earthly existence to another was represented by qualities – positive, negative and neutral – associated with the mental state of being. It was suggested that the ‘positive qualities’ remained and improved, while ‘neutral qualities’ remained as they were, and ‘negative qualities’ were stripped away.
Salvation Through Merit
Some Jewish scholars believe that salvation in the afterlife is attainable through merit. Scholars have tried to use a combination of stories found in the Bible and Talmud to explain a system by which the righteous may deserve entrance to paradise, if they live their lives doing good deeds, such as studying the Torah and charity. It is believed that such Holocaust victims were granted direct access to the world to come, as it was deemed impossible for them to complete religious obligations.
Expression of Love For The Living
While many Jews look to the promise of life in the world to come for comfort, there are other ways to express love for the living. The Jewish practice of ‘tahara’, or honoring the dead with proper care, is paramount in the Jewish faith. The practice includes caring for the body, washing it with warm water and wrapping it in a shroud. This is done to show love, respect and compassion for the deceased and to let them know that they are not forgotten. The practice reinforces the Jewish belief that all life is precious and to be respected, even after death.
Intercession Of Souls Of The Departed
In Jewish folklore, the souls of the departed have the power to intercede on behalf of the living. This idea is based on the notion that the departed retain some knowledge of what is occurring in the living realm and are able to act in their behalf. This belief dates back to ancient times and is seen in various aspects of contemporary Jewish life, including memorials for the dead on religious holidays.
Commemoration Of Departed Relatives
Jewish people also commemorate their departed relatives with special prayers and visits to their graves. Prayers are said on their anniversary of death as well as annually on Yom Kippur. Visiting the grave is a way to show respect and to acknowledge that the soul still resides there. It is believed that the souls of the departed watch over their living relatives and are there to help guide and protect them when needed.
Eschatology In Judaism
Eschatology is a form of theology which explores the concept of the “end of days”, referred to as the ‘Messianic Age’ in Jewish culture. It is believed, from a Jewish perspective, that the Messianic Age will bring about the resurrection of the dead, the rise of a righteous leader and the advent of peace on earth. The Jewish texts talks about a time of judgement when the wicked are destroyed and the righteous are rewarded for their faithfulness.
The Concept Of Redemption
The concept of redemption is a core belief in Judaism, the fundamental idea being that the physical world has been created with a divine purpose and that ultimately, good will conquer evil and humans will be redeemed. It is believed that the Messianic Age will bring about ultimate redemption and that individuals who lived a righteous life will be rewarded with eternal life.
Soul Reincarnation
Soul reincarnation is another belief held by some Jewish sects. This belief holds that the soul can reincarnate in different forms, a process known as ‘gilgul neshamot’, meaning ‘the cycle of souls’. This belief suggests that the soul can exist after death, be reawakened in a new body and continue to live many lifetimes. This notion of soul reincarnation is accepted by some branches of Judaism, including Kabbalistic and Hasidic Judaism.
Immortality Of The Soul
According to Kabbalistic beliefs, the soul is said to be immortal and indestructible. It can never die, but instead lives on forever, even in death. This belief is supported by the Jewish texts, which view the soul as a spark of divine energy, with the spiritual body being far greater than the physical body. Kabbalah teaches that the soul has the potential to transcend physical death and live forever, with the physical body being unimportant and passing away.
Heaven And Hell In Judaism
Judaism does not believe in a literal heaven or hell, but rather a continuum of spiritual existence in the afterlife. Jews believe that they will be judged and rewarded according to their actions in life and that they will experience a different spiritual existence depending on the deeds they have done. Some Jews have a more literal understanding of this concept, believing that there will be a ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’, but the Orthodox view is that these are simply metaphors for a spiritual state of existence.
The Final Judgement
The idea of the final judgement is a standard feature of Jewish eschatology, with Jews believing that on the day of judgement all people will be judged for their deeds in life. Many Jews believe that this judgement will be personal and individual, with individuals’ deeds being weighed and measured. Those who have done righteous deeds in life are said to experience eternal life while those who have done wicked deeds are said to be punished.
The Impact Of Judaism On The Afterlife
The afterlife continues to be an important part of the Jewish faith and the beliefs of the afterlife. From a historical perspective, there has been a continuous transformation of beliefs over time as more is discovered about death and the afterlife. While the Tanakh and Talmud have had a major influence on Jewish beliefs, modern scholars have provided a more expansive view of the afterlife, one that is more diverse and open to interpretation. The various interpretations of the afterlife and the focus on the acquisition of religious merit are undoubtedly the most influential aspects of Judaism on the afterlife.
