����ý

The word eschatology refers to beliefs about the afterlife. Non-Jews are often surprised that Jewish scripture has very little to say on matters of life after death. This is because Judaism puts a far greater focus on people’s actions and purpose in their earthly lives than on speculating about what might happen after people die. For many Jews, it is not important to think about whether there is reward or punishment after death, or even any sort of afterlife at all.

Judaism does have views on the afterlife. However, unlike in some other religions, no one view on life after death has ever been officially agreed upon in the Jewish faith.

Earthly life as a preparation

The Hebrew term olam ha-ba is used to refer to ‘the world to come’ and carries a sense of this world being something to look forward to with excitement. It is a word that can be used to refer to the afterlife as well as to the Messianic Age on Earth.

A passage in the Mishnah says: This world is like a lobby before the Olam Ha Ba. Prepare yourself in the lobby so that you may enter the banquet hall (Pirkei Avot 4:21). This teaches Jews that this life is a preparation for the next.

Judgement

Jews believe that God judges how good or bad people have been in order to decide their destiny in the afterlife. Many Orthodox Jews believe that the Day of Judgement, or Yawm ad-Din, will occur after the coming of the Messiah.

On this day, some Jews believe that everyone will be resurrected so that they can be judged. Other Jews believe that only those who are morally good will be resurrected. The Book of Daniel says: Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2)

Some Jews, usually Reform Jews, who may not accept the idea of a personal Messiah, believe that they will be judged as soon as they die. Some believe they will be judged twice: firstly by God when they die, and secondly by the Messiah on the Day of Judgement.

Many Jews believe that God’s judgement is based on how well they have lived according to the mitzvot. These Jews believe that in the afterlife they will be rewarded or punished accordingly.

Resurrection of the dead

Orthodox and Reform Jews disagree on the idea of resurrection:

Sheol, Gan Eden and Gehenna

When the early Jewish scriptures were written, many Jews believed that after death, all people would descend to a dark place called Sheol.

As Jewish teachings developed, the ideas of Gan Eden and Gehenna emerged:

• Gan Eden is the Hebrew term for the Garden of Eden and represents paradise for people who have lived righteously, according to God’s law. It is the Jewish equivalent of the Christian Heaven.
• Gehenna developed as an idea of a place of punishment for those who had lived immoral lives. It is the Jewish equivalent of the Christian Hell.

As these concepts developed, Sheol came to be understood as a temporary place of waiting, where a person’s soul could either be purified and sent on to Gan Eden or condemned to Gehenna.

Many Jews accept the idea that there will be punishment or reward in the afterlife based on the way a person has lived. However, it is important to remember that not all Jews believe this. Also, there are no clear teachings in Judaism on the exact nature of Gan Eden (Heaven) or Gehenna (Hell).

Judaism teaches that what is important is how a person lives their life and that what happens after death should be left to God. Good deeds should be done for their own sake. The Mishnah says: Be not like servants who serve their master for the sake of receiving a reward (Ethics of the Fathers 1:3).