Unit 2: Judaism and Jewish view of Death and the Afterlife

What is the Torah in Judaism?

The foundational text of Judaism, comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It includes laws, narratives, and teachings, and is traditionally believed to be revealed to Moses.

What is the Mishna?

The first major written collection of Jewish oral traditions, complied around 200 CE. It forms the basis of the Talmud and outlines laws and ethical teachings.

What is Gehenna in Jewish belief?

A spiritual realm associated with purification or punishment after death. It is not equivalent to eternal hell, but more like a temporary state for the soul

What is Rabbinic Judaism?

The mainstream form of Judaism that developed after the destruction of the Second Temple, centered on the teachings and interpretations of rabbis.

What is the Talmud?

A central text of Rabbinic Judaism, consisting of the Mishnah and the Gemara. It contains legal discussions, ethics, philosophy, and folklore.

Who was Moses Maimonides?

A medieval Jewish philosopher, physician, and legal scholar (1138-1204), known for works like The Guide for the Perplexed and his codification of Jewish law.

What are mitzvot?

Commandments in the Torah. There are traditionally 613 mitzvot, covering religious, ethical, and ritual obligations.

What are the good and evil inclinations in Judaism?

Yetzer ha-tov is the inclination toward good and moral behavior; yetzer ha-ra is the inclination toward selfish or harmful desires. Both are part of human nature.

What is Kabbalah?

A mystical tradition within Judaism that explores the nature of God, the universe, and the soul. It includes symbolic interpretations of scripture and spiritual practices.

What is the Tanakh?

The Hebrew Bible, consisting of three parts: Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). It is canonical Jewish scripture.

What is Halakhah?

Jewish law derived from the Torah, Talmud, and rabbinic literature. It governs religious practice, ethics, and daily life.

What is the Zohar?

A foundational text of Kabbalah, written in Aramaic. It offers mystical commentary on the Torah and explores divine mysteries.

What is the Gemara?

The component of the Talmud that contains rabbinical analysis and commentary on the Mishnah. It completes the Talmud.

What is Sheol in Jewish thought?

An ancient concept of the underworld or grave where souls reside after death. It is often depicted as a shadowy, neutral place.

What is Hasidic Judaism?

A spiritual revival movement that began in 18th century Easter Europe. It emphasizes joy, mysticism, and close relationships with a rebbe (spiritual leader).

What are the main books of Jewish scripture, and how do they relate to the Written and Oral Torah?

Jewish scripture is composed of the Tanakh:

• Torah (Law): Genesis - Deuteronomy

• Nevi’im (Prophets): Historical and prophetic books

• Ketuvim (Writings): Poetry, wisdom, and narratives

The Written Torah refers primarily to the Torah but can include the full Tanakh. The Oral Torah includes rabbinic interpretations and laws—Mishnah, Gemara, Talmud, Midrash—that explain and expand on the Written Torah

What are the main characteristics of Rabbinic Judaism, and why is it important for Jewish development?

Rabbinic Judaism is based on the belief that Moses received both the Written Torah and the Oral Torah from God. Key features include:

• Emphasis on Torah study and interpretation

• Authority of rabbis as spiritual and legal leaders

• Central texts: Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash

• Development of Halakhah (Jewish law)

It became dominant after the destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE), replacing Temple-based worship with text-based religious life. It shaped Jewish identity, ethics, and practice across centuries

What is Sheol according to Ancient Israelite religion?

Sheol is the underworld or realm of the dead in the Hebrew Bible. It is described as a place of stillness and darkness where all the dead—righteous and wicked alike—go after death. It was not a place of reward or punishment, but rather a shadowy, neutral existence. Over time, interpretations evolved, and Sheol was sometimes seen as having compartments or as a precursor to ideas of heaven and hell

How did the Greek occupation under Antiochus Epiphanes IV influence Jewish views on death and the afterlife, and which group’s view became dominant?

Antiochus IV’s persecution of Jews and desecration of the Temple (167 BCE) sparked the Maccabean Revolt and led to a shift in Jewish thought. The rise of martyrdom prompted belief in resurrection and divine justice. Two major groups shaped the debate:

• Sadducees: Rejected resurrection and afterlife; focused on Temple rituals.

• Pharisees: Believed in resurrection, judgment, and the immortality of the soul.

The Pharisaic view prevailed, forming the basis of Rabbinic Judaism, which embraced resurrection, Gehenna (purification), and the World to Come (Olam HaBa)

What is the Talmud’s official position on resurrection, and how does it relate to Gehenna?

The Talmud affirms resurrection of the dead as a core Jewish belief, especially in Sanhedrin 90a, where denying it is said to forfeit one’s share in the World to Come. Resurrection is linked to divine justice at the end of days. Gehenna is viewed as a temporary place of purification or punishment for the wicked after death. Those who are righteous or repent may be resurrected and enter Olam HaBa (the World to Come), while others may pass through Gehenna before redemption.

Who was Moses Maimonides, and how did he interpret Jewish views on death and resurrection?

Moses Maimonides (1138–1204) was a leading medieval Jewish philosopher and legal scholar. He included resurrection of the dead as the 13th of his Thirteen Principles of Faith, calling it a fundamental truth of Judaism. He taught that resurrection would occur after the coming of the Messiah, and those who deny it forfeit their share in the World to Come (Olam HaBa). Though he rejected the idea that the Messiah himself would raise the dead, he strongly affirmed resurrection as a divine act.

How do Kabbalah and Hasidic Judaism interpret death and the resurrection of the body?

Kabbalah views death as a spiritual transition. The soul undergoes tikkun (rectification) and may reincarnate until fully purified. At resurrection, the body returns with only the rectified parts of the soul, sharing in eternal reward for mitzvot performed. Hasidic Judaism, rooted in Kabbalistic thought, affirms bodily resurrection as a divine act during the Messianic Age. The soul reunites with the body, emphasizing joy, divine connection, and the soul’s ascent toward unity with God.