www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Do the Jews believe in Hell or an afterlife?

I was viewing a documentary on TV about Hell and the after life and was surprised to learn that the Jews especially conservative Jews do not belief in Hell or the after life. I find this troubling and puzzling to say the least.

Is this a recent phenomenon or was this always believed?

JoeS

Joe

Actually this is not really so problematic is the way you think. The Jews believe in Sheol. Now, if you recount the Biblical story of Lazarus outside the rich man's door, you will remember that Lazarus is in a place better then the rich man, but in the same 'place' nonetheless.

While the story does not necessarily reflect the Christian afterlife the way we would today, it nonetheless recounts the Jewish view of the afterlife.

Hades, Greek, comes to be similar to Sheol, Hebrew. The closest that the Christian can get to these ideas is the Western Church's teaching of the purgatory of the Fathers, not the same as Purgatory in the West. Of course, in the various Byzantine Churches, we use the term Hades. Theosis, Kenosis, and Deification (Not Purgatory and Redemptive Suffering) even here on the Earthly pilgrimage (which the West similarly, though distinctly has Redemptive suffering and Purgatory) of man pervades Eastern Christian Theology.

Purgatory in the West is a place where one is for Purification. The Fathers purgatory is where righteous men went.

Hence the teaching that Christ did not actually go to hell and take sinners from hell. Rather, Christ went to Hades or Sheol and saved and preached to those who were righteous, Adam and Eve and all those righteous who died before His coming.

They can't pin down heaven and hell, but interestingly enough, Jews believe in purgatory.
(Which, after posting, I see Laka already elaborated for you.)

What one Rabbi says:
http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_heavenhell.htm

A Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_eschatology

Another view, more nuanced:
http://www.biblehistory.com/Hell%20Jewish.html

And another:
http://www.600000men.com/book/heaven.html

And one that appears to be a little more official:
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/ideas_belief/afterlife/AE_Afterlife_TO/AE_HeavenHell_Rose.htm

Joe,

To clarify, you have to understand that Judaism has not always been monolithic. This of course leads to several different 'views' or opinions on certain matters. Sheol, Heaven and Hell seems to be one of them.

The current form of we know and love Judiam is Rabbic Judaism that is based on Old Pharisaic Judaism.

To be sure though, there are various Jews: Orthodox, Hasidic, Conservative, Reform, etc.

I am a convert from Judaism, and while I don't claim to be a definitive authority on the subject I would offer my own observations here:

Judaism, traditionally, has downplayed the concept of the afterlife, reward, and punishment, certainly compared to Christianity. Traditional Orthodox Judaism does clearly affirm that there is an afterlife and some form of reward and punishment but has generally not hammered out the details with any specificity. I don't think Eternal Hell is generally affirmed, but I don't know that it's ruled out either. But there definitely is an afterlife of some kind.

Non-orthodox forms of Judaism, those which have come into existence during the past 200 years, generally have evolved at this point that they either ignore or reject the concept of an afterlife.

Is anyone familiar with this work:

[b]The River of Fire by Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros[/b] [orthodoxpress.org]

I find the concept here not only fascinating, but much in line with the idea that God is love.

The basic premise is that God has redeemed all mankind back to Himself through the work of Jesus the Christ. While one might object that this removes the concept of punishment and retribution for evil, it actually does not. All souls will be brought into the presence of God, for where is that place in the universe that God is not?

However, for the wicked, the presence of God will be a torment. They don't want Him, they don't want His love, and the fire of that love will torment them forever.

Only for those who are the righteous will the presence of God be an ever growing and never ending comfort.

Comments on the article?

Thank you.

Brother Ed

Dear Altar Boy,

I read the first part of the article and found it appalling. Actually I couldn't finish it. It left such a past taste in my mouth...certainly not a good sign. It seems to be written with only one intent, to denigrate the Western Churches. :rolleyes:

For one, he mentions how most people are athiests, yet athieism existed predominantly in Eastern Europe, that is why in the past century, communism was able to take hold in that part of the world. Yet not in Poland which was Catholic. It wasn't until recently that Western Europe became athiestic...so it sems to me all his concepts are off.

As for the afterlife, I did read one Orthodox theologian say that heaven is seeing and being in God's light, while hell is feeling only the heat coming from that light.

Zenovia

Dear Brother Ed,

I hope I didn't offend you, and if I did I apologize, but to be honest, couldn't the article merely project his viewpoint and beliefs without mentioning the beliefs, real or perceived of other denominations. I'm sorry, but it became such a turn off for me that I couldn't read the article. :rolleyes:

Is his purpose therfore to present what he or the Orthodox Church believes in the afterlife, or rather to do everything in his power to keep the Churches from uniting because of self love, fear or who knows what?

Zenovia

Actually this is what the author said:

Alice

Dear Alice,

The other night while switching channels I came across some dancing 'Rebbe'. They were Hassidic Jews dancing, and it was phenominal. Well I couldn't switch off the channel, because I wanted to wait to see if they would start dancing again...and they did again and again. Once the mayor of Los Angelos came and danced with them. A marvel to see.

Well, during this program which was for a charity, (a Mitvah, I believe), the afterlife was referred to quite often.

I only wrote this you know so that I could mention the dancing Rebbe. They were great...with hats, beards and long black coats.

Zenovia

Every Friday an Orthodox Jewish 'Rebbi' comes to visit my bosses to say Shabbat prayers.

His wife bakes a wonderful homemade Challah bread which he brings as a gift to my bosses, and which I have been fortunate to have been treated to.

He is a nice guy, but I don't think I can imagine him dancing!

Shalom!
Alice

Thank you Robster, this is the crux of what Ive been told and you have answered my question quite well.

Thank you all for your responses they were all very informative and enlightening on the Jewish belief of the afterlife.

My friends are very Orthodox Jews who live in Jerusalem. They tell me that they believe in Sheol, the place of the dead, but they don't believe in heaven or hell or really sweat the details of the after-life much.

These friends tell me that you obey the Commandments and do well and do mitzvahs and show kindness, charity and love to others because that is what the Big Fellah (they don't say His Name) wants us to do. They just trust that it will work out okay because we're His and He has a plan for us. Fear of going to hell doesn't motivate them, nor does hope of reward in the after life. Being obedient to the Almighty is the motivation.

What fascinates me is how good and kind and loving these friends are, with no fear of hell to scare them. Everything they see in nature or in other people that is good they give thankful prayers for. Everything that is bad, they pray for guidance or meaning or comfort.

And they do pray for the dead, btw. It's not like they think "hey, that's it - game over." They just don't have the same view. My husband finds this odd, because he figures many people are motivated by fear of hell and desire for heaven. But, no, these friends are motivated by desire to do His will just because it is His will and they just trust in Him.

Oops - I forgot to mention at the end: They do hope to exist in His presence. (Which we'd call heaven, but they would not.) Why else would you pray for the dead? But they don't really define how all that after-life works, other than to point to Sheol.