The Afterlife

Beliefs about the Afterlife in Judaism

General Beliefs

• While the afterlife isn’t a primary focus in Judaism, it does contain concepts of life after death.
• Jewish scripture leaves open questions about what happens after we die and there are multiple interpretations.
• Jewish thought incorporates beliefs in resurrection, judgement, heaven, and hell, while some Jews see life after death as continuing through one’s descendants on earth.

Olam Ha-Ba (The World to Come)

• Many Jews believe in Olam Ha-Ba, translated as ‘the world to come’.
• This concept can be interpreted both as a messianic age on earth and as a heavenly afterlife.
• A key belief is the righteous, regardless of their faith, will have a share in Olam Ha-Ba.

Resurrection of the Dead

• There is the belief in the resurrection of the dead, intertwined with the coming of the Messiah and Olam Ha-Ba.
• Some Jews believe this resurrection will be physical, while others understand this symbolically.

Judgement After Death

• Many Jews believe in the concept of a Divine Judgement after death.
• The righteous are said to be inscribed in the Book of Life, while the wicked are damned.
• However, Judaism stresses the importance of earthly life and moral conduct over concern with the afterlife.

Heaven and Hell

• Judaism has concepts similar to heaven and hell known as Gan Eden (The Garden of Eden) and Gehinnom.
• Gan Eden is described as a state of spiritual perfection, while Gehinnom is a place of moral purgation rather than eternal damnation.

Reincarnation

• Some Jewish mystical traditions, especially within Kabbalah, propose a belief in reincarnation - that souls return to earth in new bodies for further learning and spiritual growth.
• This belief, known as gilgul neshamot, isn’t universally accepted but has been influential particularly among Hassidic Jews.