beliefs and teachings: different jewish beliefs about the afterlife Flashcards
jewish beliefs about life after death are what?
ambiguous so beliefs are unclear and different between orthodox and reform jews
what does judaism pave?
they pave great emphasis on how life should be lived as it teaches what happens in the next life in the hands of god so is important to focus on this life as a preparation for the life to come
what is afterlife in judaism called?
olam-ha-ba - world to come
what are there many beliefs about?
there are many different beliefs about what the world to come will be like
why is there only clear reference about the afterlife in talmud?
as there is no specific teachings in the torah
what are 2 sources of authorities relating to the after life?
“the world is like a lobby before the olam Ha-Ba”
“this world is like the eve of shabbat, and the olam ha-ba is like shabbat. those who prepare for shabbat will have good food to eat”
what is the place “Sheol”?
mentioned in the torah
it is a physical place where the dead go but its nature is not clear
what are jewish uncertain about and why?
life after death because humans can never fully understand the ways of god.
there are many different opinions among jews, but there is general agreement that death is not the end
what does orthodox believe about resurrection?
they have a belief that the dead will come back to life with a physical body as it stated in daily prayers and at funerals affecting jews attitudes to cremation, organ transplants and autopsies as they believe they must be buried complete so they can be resurrected whole
what do rabbis argue about the resurrection?
resurrection of the dead will occur during the messianic age
why do jews believe in some form of judgement?
god has provided jews people with his laws
their actions and how well they have followed the laws will be taken into account and this can lead to either reward or punishment
where is the reward?
in eternity in gan eden - heaven
where is the punishment?
in eternity in Gehenna - hell
what does reform jews believe about resurrection?
reject it
references of it have been taken out of prayer books and worship
they allow cremation to take place as emphasis is placed on the immortality of the soul
what does reform jews believe about the soul?
that the soul will live on after death
body remains on earth and only the soul goes to heaven
