Is the Jewish Gehenna, the same (in theory) as the Catholic Purgatory?

Question

The majority of rabbinic thought maintains that
people are not tortured in hell forever; the longest that one can be
there is said to be 12 months. It is a spiritual forge where the soul
is purified for its eventual ascent to Gan Eden [Heaven], and where
all imperfections are purged.

Gehenna (or gehenom or gehinom (גהינום)) is the Jewish hell or purgatory. In Judaism hell is a place of purification[1] and fire for the wicked, most being punished there up to a year but some for eternity.

Gehinom (Gehenna), according to rabbinic literature, is a place or state where the wicked are temporarily punished after death. “Gehenna” is sometimes translated as "hell", but the Christian view of hell differs from the Jewish view of Gehenna. Most sinners are said to suffer in Gehenna no longer than twelve months. Those who are too wicked to reach paradise are sometimes said to be punished forever.[7] Other accounts reject the idea that a merciful God would punish anyone forever,[8] in which case those too wicked for purification are destroyed (see annihilationism).

I am not asking what the bible teaches about purgatory, or whether you believe in purgatory or not.

I am asking if the concept of purgatory could have arisen from the then pope's knowledge of judaism's gehenna. Which clearly has the ideology that Hell is not truly permanent, and there is a temporary holding place for people who need to become purified. That is why their children are instructed to pray.

Whether or not you think purgatory was created as a money maker is not the question.

Answer 1

Purgatory is a state, though it is similar in concept to the Jewish Sheol.

Answer 2

The word “Gehenna” comes from the Hebrew words geh hin·nom′, meaning “valley of Hinnom,” which lay to the west and south of ancient Jerusalem. In Jesus’ day, the valley had become a place for burning refuse, including the bodies of vile criminals who were considered undeserving of a decent burial. Gehenna got its name from a garbage dump located outside of ancient Jerusalem. Dead bodies and garbage were burned there. The dead whose bodies were thrown there were considered by the Jews to be unworthy of a burial and a resurrection. Gehenna represented complete destruction without hope of a resurrection. So the word “Gehenna” was a fitting symbol of complete destruction.

Gehenna is not the same as Purgatory. Purgatory isn't even mentioned in the Bible.

what the Bible teaches about the soul conflicts with the teachings of purgatory and hellfire. The Bible often speaks of the death of souls. “The soul that is sinning—it itself will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4; compare the King James and Catholic Douay versions.) According to the Bible, the dead are unconscious, unable to feel pain. “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) The hope that the Bible holds out for the dead is that of a future resurrection. When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Jesus compared death to sleep. Lazarus’ sister Martha expressed the hope taught in the Bible when she declared: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus confirmed that hope for mankind.—John 5:28, 29; 11:11-14, 24, 44.

Answer 3

No, Gehenna is the Christian 'Hell' or the Greek Hades.
The place of eternal punishment, whatever the name. Purgatory is not eternal, it is the place that accomplishes what the Book of Hebrews says, that one must be holy to see God. Few it would seem leave this life perfectly prepared.

Answer 4

Rabbis are the descendants of the Pharisees. They got it wrong in Jesus' day, so why should their misinterpretations be credible today?

Biblical Gehenna and Catholic Purgatory are totally different in concept.

Purgatory is a wonderful way to institute Indulgences. It is a monetary engine for a cash-strapped religious organization.

Answer 5

No, Gehenna is not purgatory nor is it the mythological character call Hel, daughter of Loki, ruler of the underworld. Greek and Norse Mythology.

Answer 6

No.

Purgatory doesn't exist.

There is heaven, and then there is the eternal lake of fire. There is no third destination. The only way to be saved and go to heaven and not eternal hell is by belieiving the truth that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose again.

Answer 7

No.
Gehenna is eternal destruction.

Answer 8

We don't have purgatory.