eschatological beliefs

• olam ha-ba


  Jewish term for the afterlife.
• neshamah


  Jewish word for soul.
• The soul -Genesis 2:7


  "The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the Earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being"
• Resurrection - Daniel 12: 2-3


  "Many of those that sleep in the dust of the Earth will awake, some to eternal life and others to everlasting abhorrence".
• Eternal life with God - Macabees 7:9


  "The King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life".
• Judaism does not have any specific teachings on the relationship between body and soul as it is not considered to be important.
• Body and soul relationship compared to that of God and the world.

  "Just as the Holy One of blessings fills the world, so does the soul fill the body."
• Jewish beliefs on the soul:

  • leaves body at death but is eventually reunited at the end of time.
  • body cannot survive without soul but soul can without body
  • soul leaves the body during sleep to draw refreshment from Heaven.
• Jews mainly believe that it is more important to live a good life now and that the ways of God are not for humans to understand.
• What is Gehenna?


  (Orthadox) it is a place of purification for the wicked after death.
• Many Reform Jews do not believe in Gehenna. They believe that God punishes and rewards in our current lives not after.
• Sheol

  A place of darkness where the dead go.
• Reform jews do not believe in Sheol.
• Orthodox Jews are less likely to speculate life after death.
• What is Gan Eden?

  It is a second garden of Eden that appears at the end of time. Home of those who have been resurrected.

  (orthodox) rabbis are usually less likely to speculate this.
• Reform jews may not believe in Gan Eden.
• Judgement day refers to a future time when God will judge every creature including humans.
• Orthodox jews believe God judges them every year on ROSH HASHANAH.
• Reform jews do not believe in a literal judgement by God or a bodily resurrection, however, they still celebrate ROSH HASHANAH and YOM KIPPUR.
• The TORAH states nothing about resurrection.
• Moses Mendelsohn rejected bodily resurrection and believed that it is metaphorical about the immortality of the soul.
• Orthodox jews believe in resurrection. They insist dead people are buried intact and may not agree to organ donation and autopsies. (PIKUACH NEFESH may trump this).
• Reform jews adopt the view of Moses Mendelsohn and the only eternal survival of the soul. References to resurrection are taken out of their prayers.