Eschatological beliefs and teachings

Eschatological Beliefs and Teachings in Judaism

Concept of the Messiah

• The Messiah refers to the future Jewish king from the Davidic line, who will rule during an era of world peace.
• Different Jewish denominations have different perspectives on the characteristics and role of the messiah.
• Orthodox Jews await the arrival of the messiah, while some Liberal and Reform Jews interpret the concept symbolically.

Life after Death

• Not all Jews believe in life after death, as the Tanakh (Jewish Bible) provides no clear teaching.
• However, belief in an afterlife became prominent in the Rabbinic period (200 CE onwards).

Resurrection and World to Come

• The idea of resurrection is mentioned in the Mishnah. Some Jews believe in bodily resurrection at the end of days.
• The World to Come (Olam Ha-Ba) is a term used to refer to heaven or a revived Earth, a world of justice, peace, and the unity of all humans under the rulership of God.

Judgement Day

• In Jewish eschatology, the Day of Judgement happens every year on Rosh Hashanah, where God examines people’s lives for the past year.
• On a grander scale, Jews also believe in a final Day of Judgement where all humans will stand before God.

Restoration of Israel

• Many Jews believe in the restoration of Israel, wherein all Jews will return to the land of Israel. Some associate this with the coming of the Messiah.

The Role of Humans

• Judaism teaches that every individual action matters and contributes to how the world will be transformed.
• Each person has a role in bringing about the ‘messianic age’ - a time of peace and righteousness. This is called Tikkun Olam, or ‘repairing the world’.