DO THE JEWS BELIEVE THAT AFTER THEY DIE- THEY WILL GO TO HEAVEN?
2007-01-28 15:46:27 · 13 answers · asked by jim f 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ask Rabbi Simmons -- Afterlife in Judaism
http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_afterlife.htm
Question
What do Jews believe about the afterlife? Do we have spirits? How will we be resurrected when the messiah comes? Is there a heaven and hell? What is hell like?
Answer
The creation of man testifies to the eternal life of the soul. The Torah says, "And the Almighty formed the man of dust from the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the SOUL of life" (Genesis 2:7). On this verse, the Zohar states that "one who blows, blows from within himself," indicating that the soul is actually part of God's essence. Since God's essence is completely spiritual and non-physical, it is impossible that the soul should die. (The commentator Chizkuni says this why the verse calls it "soul of LIFE.")
That's what King Solomon meant when he wrote, "The dust will return to the ground as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:17)
For anyone who believes in a just and caring God, the existence of an afterlife makes logical sense. Could it be this world is just a playground without consequences? Did Hitler get away with killing 6,000,000 Jews? No. There is obviously a place where good people receive reward and bad people get punished. (see Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith)
2007-01-28 15:51:10 · answer #1 · answered by Mouse 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Since we don't really believe in the concept of original sin, we believe that pretty much everyone has a right to Paradise after we die as long as we were good people while we were on earth--this goes for Jews and non-Jews. Gentiles need to follow the 7 Noachide laws and the 10 commandments and the laws of the land they live in (to a point) as well as basic morality. Jews must follow all this plus the 613 mitzvot.
We also focus more on this life than on the afterlife. We don't really have a hell, we have Gehenna, which is distance from G-d. The most you can stay there is 12 months, depending on what you did in this life to deserve it. After that you go on to Olam HaBa a clean being. So yes, we believe that we will go to heaven, and so will anyone else who deserves it, regardless of religion. Those who don't deserve it won't ever get there and simply remain unconscious a long, long way from G-d.
2007-01-28 15:59:34 · answer #2 · answered by LadySuri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jews believe that when they die, they will be purified - similar to the Roman Catholic Purgatory. They will be punished for up to one year (sometimes less). All those who followed the God of Israel will be resurrected to live in Olam HaBa (The World To Come, the Jewish concept of a perfected earth) upon the heralding of the Messiah. Nonbelievers and the evil will simply remain unconcious for eternity.
That is the traditional Jewish belief. Many Reform and Conservative Jews have a belief in Heaven instead of the traditional belief of resurrection and perfection.
2007-01-28 15:50:51 · answer #3 · answered by Nowhere Man 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jews believe that they do not actually die but move on until they are with God. The literal belief can be reincarnation (as was popular in Christs time), or a kind of limbo/purgatory, heaven (Sorry Jewish people I know that's a bad description! just trying to draw parallels!) thing like old catholic beliefs or other versions. This is why they don't usually have hell like Fundy Christians, cuz they believe in Gehenna (sp) a place of fire and purification that last for a period (sometimes 11 years) and you emerge "clean". At least that's how it was explained to me....
*remember there are many forms of Judaism!
2007-01-28 16:02:55 · answer #4 · answered by Tirant 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
definite I do count number on it. i trust that there are quite some places interior the bible that discuss reincarnation, yet someone ought to be open minded adequate to truly look. Reincarnation is the in uncomplicated words way that i will make experience of the delivers of God. A loving Father might want to offer us all more effective than one danger to get something top. Christianity and the conception in reincarnation do no longer ought to oppose one yet another. God Bless!!
2016-10-17 03:56:31 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that theres a sketchy line about afterlife in judaism, but i'm not sure. I don't think there is a hell, but just because someone is Jewish doesn't mean they automatically agree with all aspects of the religion.
2007-01-28 15:50:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
OMFG. I cannot believe someone just said Jesus would put the jews in hell. What a wonderful christian statement THAT was.
2007-01-28 15:50:29 · answer #7 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many Jews today are turning to Christ. But in the past, Jews believed that they were being held responsible for the death of Jesus, and are still being persecuted for it. Many of them, therefore, still reject Him for this reason and for other historical reasons. For the most part, Jews do not believe that they go to heaven as we know it after death.
2007-01-28 15:54:14 · answer #8 · answered by Heaven's Messenger 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
yes, however they do not believe in Hell
By the way...Jews are the chosen people according to the old testament....they have a free ticket.
2007-01-28 15:49:55 · answer #9 · answered by bandit 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am jewish. Jews do belive in it going to gan eden.
2007-01-29 01:20:59 · answer #10 · answered by adinarosemiller 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋