Political Crossfire Forums

dtwizzy2k5 · Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 467

Do they? ive heard that they dont but im not sure. if not, do u believe in different levels of heaven or something? who gets to go to the different levels and what is the jewish perspective on afterlife?

Mailech · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 2531

I am sure the Duchifas will soon post a link in jewfaq.org that explains what I am about to write in a more suscinct and complehensive manner.

But for my two cents.

Yes we believe in hell. Though it is not such a clear cut definition. For most people hell is a cleansing ground. Our sinning in this world makes our soul dirty so to speak. Hell is a place where we are punished for the sins and cleansed of this dirt so that we can then recieve the reward for the good things that we did in this world. For the most people the tenure in hell is finite and there are very few people who will escape this stay, though the difficulty of the stay will vary greatly from one person to the other. Just like the reward after will vary greatly from one to the other.

There are those whose souls are so bad that they just cease to exist. but that is something that I am even less clear on.

As for levels of Heaven, well I guess you can say that the more good things that you do in this world, the better prepared you are to recieve the blessing of heaven and so the more gratifying and enjoyable it will be.

I guess as for who gets to go, well anyone who is worthy, Jew and non-Jew alike.

As for what is Heaven, it is a chance to bask in the Glory of G-d

Duchifas · Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Posts: 9950

The promised linkL

http://jewfaq.org/olamhaba.htm

:)

Mailech · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 2531

Duchifas wrote: The promised linkL

http://jewfaq.org/olamhaba.htm

:)

:lol: ha I knew it

Saf · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 377

My two cents... I won't claim to speak for anyone but during my readings/study of the Tanakh it seemed that it is more focused on the here-and-now and how one lives one's life on Earth than on salvation. Christianity, on the other hand, is so obsessed with salvation that some groups forgo social work altogether in favour of evangelising (Jehovah's Witnesses).

Mailech · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 2531

Saf wrote: My two cents... I won't claim to speak for anyone but during my readings/study of the Tanakh it seemed that it is more focused on the here-and-now and how one lives one's life on Earth than on salvation. Christianity, on the other hand, is so obsessed with salvation that some groups forgo social work altogether in favour of evangelising (Jehovah's Witnesses).

Very true. You will find no direct mention of heaven or hell in the Tanach, it is only hinted at.
I just heard an interesting lecture where the guy said, while G-d views that our role in this world is to attain the reward of Heaven, our view should be that our role in this world is to follow the word of G-d. And that is the focus of the Torah. If we reach Heaven so much the better, but just following the word of G-d is an end in and of itself.