It is uncommon to find a religion or culture that does not hold a view on what happens to us after death. For some, it is the prospect of meeting their maker, or ‘going home’. In Judaism, life after death is a significant and core part to its beliefs and teachings. Judaism does not accept the finality of death but envisions humans continuing their spiritual existence and relationship with God in the afterlife.
In Judaism, the afterlife is a spiritual place where people receive rewards for how they lived their life on Earth, with the aim of each soul to become unlearned, purified and receive priestly status in the World to Come. The details of the afterlife vary across different rabbinical traditions, but a common theme and understanding is that life on Earth is a journey and a test, it is something to be treasured, while the afterlife is a permanent home.
This idea of an eternal existence after death is often referred to as the ‘World to Come’ and is described in the Babylonian Talmud and other rabbinical writings. It is described as a deeply meaningful place and continuous state of bliss where a person is free of physical needs, pleasant thoughts, and perfect partnership with the divine. In Jewish scripture, it is further described as a source of clarity and understanding, with individual souls reaching a greater enlightenment.
Traditional rabbinical commentary and interpretative scripture, as well as philosophical approaches to Jewish practice, emphasize the importance of preparation for the afterlife. The focus on physical death is then rendered secondary to the more important task of preparing for everlasting life, and it is argued that the ultimate reward for a life of piety and hard work is a place in the world to come. This idea is reflected in the phrase ‘distinguish yourself in this world, and the world to come will be yours’, which is a popular saying found across rabbinical literature.
Throughout history, Jews have always had the hope of paradise after death and the ultimate reward of being reunited with God in the world to come. Indeed, Orthodox Judaism takes this promise of eternity one step further, by teaching that the souls of the righteous already inhabit the world to come while they are alive on this earth. In Kabbalistic thought, the world to come is related to a hidden, spiritual dimension that already exists in some capacity within this world.
Jewish scripture further describes the afterlife in a positive light, with the promise that in the world to come, Israelites will be physically and spiritually perfect and wholly focused on worshipping God. It also emphasizes that the righteous will receive a reward for the hard work and dedication to their faith during their lifetime, which is a key theme in the Prophets and throughout Hebrew Bible.
Judaism has always taught the importance of belief in life after death. It is seen as an integral part of Jewish identity and a core belief that serves as motivation and consolation in times of trouble and uncertainty. In particular, the promise of eternal life which is spoken of in Hebrew scripture and rabbinical literature, provides hope that in spite of physical death, inner peace and closeness to God will ultimately remain.
Resurrection of the Dead
Essential to Judaism is the idea that resurrection of the dead is a necessary aspect of the messianic coming. This is referenced in the belief that those who lived and died according to the creed of their faith, will ultimately experience a form of resurrection from the dead. This idea is particularly strong in the Jewish community, and is often related to the nation’s role in the world. Jews believe that by living in solidarity as a people, and honoring their faith, death will be a mere transition to a far better state of being.
This is further advanced in the doctrine of the Olam Ha-Ba (“World to Come”) which focuses on a person’s afterlife experiences. The source of this doctrine in rabbinical literature suggests that the physical remains of the righteous will be raised to join the souls in paradise, and it is also said that the righteous dead will be resurrected with perfect physical health and mental acuity. Accordingly, the doctrine of resurrection of the dead is integral to Jewish belief and religious practice.
Moreover, the promise of resurrection of the dead is a key tenet of Judaism’s eschatology, and is seen to represent a form of empathy, providing comfort to those who have lost loved ones. This idea is an anchor for many Jews who grieve for the dead, allowing them to believe that eventually their lost loved ones will be resurrected and, in that sense, remain living.
It is evident that for Jews, death is by no means an end. Rather, life after death is promised in the form of resurrection and other spiritual teachings. Jews thus envision death as a transition from this world to the next, from physical life to the spiritual. This spiritual promise, which focuses attention on life beyond the physical, provides comfort, hope, and a spiritual purpose.
Life after Death
Judaism posits that living a righteous life and making moral choices will ensure eternal life, be it as part of a collective soul in the afterlife or as resurrected beings. This eternal life is an important aspect of faith in Judaism because it grounds and reinforces the notion that life has a higher purpose beyond the material. In Judaism, life is a test, and life after death is an opportunity to continue this test and be rewarded for it by God.
To this end, Judaism emphasizes that the sole purpose of this world is the spiritual development of human beings, and life must be lived in harmony with God’s laws and commandments. Death is thus seen as a gateway for the individual to pass through, into a place beyond the material and freely attain a higher spiritual level. This is only achievable through devotion to faith and a commitment to living in a manner that honors the commandments of God.
Additionally, belief in life after death is fundamental to Jewish faith and provides a sense of comfort to many. It encourages the idea that an individual’s spirit will not be forgotten, but will remain within the collective consciousness forever. This is synonymous with the widely held notion that an individual’s purpose in life is to leave a legacy of good deeds and spiritual growth to be carried on by others in their wake.
While the faithful dead may come and go in earthly life, God will never forget or abandon them even in death. This is evidenced in the Talmudic dictum, ‘The righteous will never taste death’, which implies that the righteous are never truly gone, but rather continuing a life of eternal greatness, in service of the divine.
Heaven and Hell
In Jewish thought, the afterworld is often spoken of in terms of divisions between heaven and hell. Jewish faith teaches that those who lived righteous lives shall be rewarded in the afterlife with a place in heaven, while those who acted unrighteously shall be punished in the afterlife with a place in hell. Accordingly, life after death is both a place of reward and punishment; in essence, a weighing of a person’s actions in life which will decide their ultimate fate in the afterlife.
This idea is found across rabbinical literature, with several commentators suggesting that heaven and hell are inhabited by the same spiritual being, just in different capacities. Furthermore, Jewish thought posits that upon death, God releases the soul into the heavens, where it will be welcomed by angels and other spiritual beings. Meanwhile, in hell, souls are relegated to the depths of darkness, with its inhabitants suffering the pains of punishment for the sins of their lifetime.
That being said, in Kabbalistic thought, heaven and hell are not viewed as being irrevocably distinct realms, but rather two extremes of the same continuum. Moreover, the idea of punishment in hell is not so much a reflection of God’s wrath, but rather a natural consequence of the physical laws of the universe, in which humans reap what they sow.
According to Jewish source, heaven is a place of eternal joy, while hell is a place of suffering and torment. Put simply, this adherence to the spiritual laws of the universe is seen as a form of cosmic justice, in which souls are rewarded with a place in heaven if they lived in a righteous and pious manner, and punished with a place in hell if they did not lead lives of virtue and obedience to divine commandments.
The Judgment of Souls
Belief in life after death and the promise of eternal reward heavily relies upon the idea of the judgment of souls. This refers to the judgement of a person’s deeds in life, which will then determine their destination in the afterlife (i.e. heaven or hell). On judgment day, it is taught that humans will be held accountable for their actions and judged by God, who will then decide the final outcome of their soul.
This verdict is said to reflect the idea of cosmic justice, and is based upon the notion that God is aware of all things and will never forget or abandon a single soul. As such, it is argued that the judgment of souls upon death simply marks the culmination of an individual’s spiritual journey, whereby the ultimate reward (i.e. heaven) or the ultimate punishment (i.e. hell) is determined by their actions in life.
In Jewish thought, the hope of eternal life and the promise of a better place in the afterlife is heavily dependent on the idea of Judgment Day. This is why preparation for the afterlife is essential in Jewish practice, with faith providing the backbone of the spiritual path. It is here that the notion of living a pious and righteous life is emphasized, so that when death comes, one can be sure of a favorable outcome in the afterlife.
Reward and Punishment
The reward and punishment that awaits in the afterlife is an important concept in Judaism. It is taught that each person’s destiny in the afterlife is based upon the deeds and merit accumulated in life. In the afterlife, it is said that the righteous shall be rewarded with a place in paradise, and those who acted unrighteously shall be punished with a place in hell. This principle extends from the belief in a merciful God who, despite the injustice of death, will never abandon nor forget anyone who lived an honest and decent life.
To this end, life in the afterlife will be one of bliss for the righteous, but for those who did not live a virtuous life, the afterlife will be far from pleasant. As such, the afterlife is seen as a place of reward and atonement, in essence, a time of spiritual growth and development. This is perhaps what is meant when the Talmudic dictum ‘Salvation and punishment are in the hands of God’ is invoked, and it is a reminder of Jewish faith’s eternal promise that virtue shall be rewarded, and evildoers shall be punished.
Indeed, in Judaism, life after death is an extension of this world, and as such, one is expected to live in service of the divine and act virtuously so as to fully realize the promises of eternal life. Through this, the afterlife is seen as a place of both reward and punishment; wherever a person goes, be it heaven or hell — their
