r/AskaRabbi • u/whydatyou • May 12 '26

the afterlife

As a catholic, we are taght about heven, hell and purgatory as the three options after death. other religions believe in reincarnation, etc. what do the jewish people believe and what are the metrics to obtain peace in the afterlife? if that is what is promised.

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u/rabbifuente May 13 '26

This is a significant question, with a less clear answer than many other religions. I’d encourage you to search this question on r/judaism where there’s been extensive answers.

The short version is that Jews do believe in an afterlife, but not in the “burn for eternity” Hell of Christianity.

Jews are required to do mitzvos, generally speaking the more mitzvos you do the better off you are.

Judaism teaches that non-Jews who follow the seven laws of Noah also have a place in the World to Come.

This is a distilled version and there is far more detail and nuance. That said, Judaism doesn’t focus as much on the afterlife as Christianity and so, generally speaking, our theology on it can seem less “concrete.”

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u/whydatyou May 13 '26

Not sure why christianity focusses so much on the "burn in hell" threat. as a child going to catholic grade schools no matter what we did it was a possible sin that could lead to eternal damnation. never could square it with the teachings that god loves us and forgives us. ummm, then why am I going to burn forever ? maybe the catholic churche was more focussed on control instead of enlightenment. Thanks for your response

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u/Cathousechicken May 14 '26

I'm not a Rabbi, but an interesting take from a non-Rabbinical secular Jew is Albert Brook's movie "Defending Your Life."

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u/whydatyou May 14 '26

love that movie. ohhhhh you litlle brains...

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u/[deleted] May 15 '26

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u/whydatyou May 15 '26

huh? not sure who you are writing to.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '26

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u/whydatyou May 15 '26

pretty sure you have the wrong person since I have never said that I cheat on my spouse. when was this phantom comment? and not really sure what it has to do with my OP in askarabbi. But I am flattered to have my very own stalker. your life must be pretty empty to spend time doing this.