Hell: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:59, 14 December 2006

Revision as of 22:53, 20 December 2006

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===Rabbinic Judaism===

[[Gehenna]] is defined in [[rabbi|rabbinic]] literature. It is sometimes translated as "Hell", but this doesn't effectively convey its meaning. The term [[Gehenna]] (also prononuced [[Gehennom]]) is originally taken from the name of a valley (Gai' ben-Hinom - the dry valley of the son of Hinom) in Jerusalem, into whichduring the offeringsisraeli tokings theperiod Templethere thatwere dididolatry notsacrifice qualifypodiums built in the valley and there were thrown.human sacrifice going there

In [[Judaism]], Gehenna is not hell, but rather a sort of [[Purgatory]] where one is judged based on their life's deeds. The [[Kabbalah]] describes it as a "waiting room" (commonly translated as an "entry way") for all souls (not just the wicked). The overwhelming majority of rabbinic thought maintains that people are not in [[Gehenna]] forever; the longest that one can be there is said to be 12 months, however there has been the occasional noted exception. Some consider it a spiritual forge where the soul is purified for its eventual ascent to [[Jewish eschatology#The afterlife and olam haba (the world to come)|Olam Habah]] (''heb.'' עולם הבא; ''lit.'' "The world to come", often viewed as analogous to [[Heaven]]). This is also mentioned in the [[Kabbalah]], where the soul is described as breaking, like the flame of a candle lighting another: the part of the soul that ascends being pure and the "unfinished" piece being reborn.