I've heard that Jews believe in hell, but it's not forever. Depending on the seriousness of one's sins one may stay a day, a year, etc. Explain please? If hell is temporary, can one repent after death? Does this determine how long one stays in hell? Where does one go after being released from hell? Reincarnation? Annihilation? Heaven? Jesus spoke of hell, he was Jewish. So I'd like to understand what he may have meant by hell. Thanks.
2007-01-27 10:12:44 · 5 answers · asked by Joni DaNerd 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
The burning hell with fire is a christian invention. God uses the afterlife to provide ultimate justice and for the wicked to seek some sort of final redemption. We are focused on life and how to live it on earth, and to make it a heaven by loving our neighbor, which is really hard sometimes, or we can make it a living hell here on earth. We don't believe that Hell is a punishment, but a process of refinement for the soul to rinse free of all the wrong choices and so that it can enter a state of paradise. In world war two, many who experienced the holocaust by the Nazis with the atrocities, "Now that was really HELL" and now their souls are be in resting in "Heaven"
Thomas Toivi Barton-Cook
2007-01-27 12:10:09 · answer #1 · answered by Davey Boy Smith #1 Fan- VACATION 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here is what Wickipedia says about hell from the Jewish perspective.
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"Hell" is the traditional translation of two Hebrew words: Gehenna and Sheol.[1]
Rabbinic Judaism does not have a specific doctrine about the afterlife, but it does have a tradition of describing Gehenna. Gehenna is not hell, but rather a sort of Purgatory where one is judged based on their life's deeds. The Kabbalah describes it as a "waiting room" (commonly translated as an "entry way") for all souls (not just the wicked). The overwhelming majority of rabbinic thought maintains that people are not in Gehenna forever; the longest that one can be there is said to be 12 months, however there has been the occasional noted exception. Some consider it a spiritual forge where the soul is purified for its eventual ascent to Olam Habah (heb. ×¢××× ×××; lit. "The world to come", often viewed as analogous to Heaven). This is also mentioned in the Kabbalah, where the soul is described as breaking, like the flame of a candle lighting another: the part of the soul that ascends being pure and the "unfinished" piece being reborn.
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You are overlooking one important fact. There are several different types of Judaism. There is a joke that id your ask 10 jews their opinion you will get 11 answers
Now the several types of Jews.
There are jews because they were born a Jew but do not practise Judaism.
There are Jews because they have converted to Judaism.
There is the reform Judaism
There is orthodox Judaism
There is ultra orthodox Judaism, These are the people who spend most of their life memorizing the 613 laws of Moses and trying diligently to live according to those laws.
There is mystical Judaism who follow the Kabbalah.
The quote from Wickipedia above mentions Gehenna. Gehenna is not the Jewish name for hell, Gehenna was the place where Jews dumped their garbage that burned 24/7 during Jesus' time.
The Kabbalah teaches reincarnation, and that is how the soul is purified. So according to the Kabbalists interpretation of hell; we are in hell right now.
I sincerely hope this has been of help.
2007-01-28 05:25:49 · answer #2 · answered by Rev. Two Bears 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pn more secular Jewish teachings the definition of hell varies from what is commonl;y referred to in the Protestant & Catholic teachings.Hell in the Jewsih faith literally means an absense of any relationship with God.Wheras in the the Christian faith Hell is a physical place where one is rendered to spend eternity in a state of eternal unrelenting fear and torment and pain and suffering with the evil and wicked,there is no finality with Hell it is eternal as Heaven is to the Just followers of the faith.
2007-01-28 23:25:17 · answer #3 · answered by Alex H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jews do not teach the concept of hell nor is it mentioned in the torah/old testament.
Jews believe you die.....and then the righteous are raised when the messiah arrives on eart to live in heaven on earth. The evil never awake to live again....period.
Jews do not need thr threat of hell to tow the line....christian teaching not jewish.
2007-01-27 18:43:53 · answer #4 · answered by tk 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A couple of Jewish views on Hell can be found at: http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?scope=6198&kid=9562
Other information, links and teachings can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell
2007-01-27 23:02:11 · answer #5 · answered by Nuttie Nettie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋