Eschatological Beliefs

Question 1

What does eschatological mean?

Answer 1

What happens at the end of our lives

Question 2

Beliefs about the soul? What is it called?

Answer 2

• The neshamah - however no teachings surrounding the body and souls relationship

Question 3

Jews deciding on burial or cremation?

Answer 3

Orthodox - body and soul req for afterlife, body will one day be resurrected + reunite with soul, BURIAL

Reform - soul req for afterlife, no ref in Torah abt resurrection of body, CREMATION

Question 4

SOA for the existence of the neshamah?

Answer 4

‘God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath for life; and man became a living soul’ (Genesis)

Question 5

Beliefs about judgement?

Answer 5

Orthodox + Reform put importance on Rosh Hashanah (Jewish new year), God judging their actions, important for O to amend lives and relationship w/ God between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (day of atonement)

-Reform, believe God holds human beings account for actions, do not believe in literal judgement as they don’t believe in bodily resurrection

Question 6

SOA for judgement?

Answer 6

‘The righteous of all nations will inherit the world to come’ (Plsams)

Question 7

What is Sheol? What do Jews believe about it?

Question 8

What is Gad Eden? What do Jews believe about it?

Question 9

What is Gehenna? What do Jews believe about it?

Question 10

SOA for the existence of Gad Eden and Gehenna?

Answer 10

‘Those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to everlasting shame’ (Daniel)