As to the World to Come, according to classical sources, little can be said about it as it\u2019s wholly other-worldly — a phenomenon that “since the beginning of the world\u00a0men\u00a0have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has (any) eye seen, O God, beside You”\u00a0(Isaiah 64:3). Nonetheless we\u2019re told that three things offer a \u201csample\u201d of it: the Shabbat, sexual intercourse, and a sunny day (though the sages were unsure whether sexual intercourse should be included. since it weakens the body) (Berachot<\/i> 57b).<\/p>\n
There are, though, some things we know about it (though it might be said that the incomprehensible implications of what\u2019s offered detracts from the advantage of having it). We\u2019re told that “In the World to Come there\u2019s no eating, drinking, procreation, commerce, jealousy, antagonism, or rivalry\u2019 which constitute the whole of life, \u201cinstead, the righteous sit with crowns on their head and enjoy the radiance of the Shechina there” (Berachot<\/i> 17a), which is inexplicable.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, \u201call Israel have a portion in the World to Come\u201d (other than those who \u201cmaintain that the resurrection of the dead isn\u2019t a biblical doctrine, that the Torah wasn\u2019t divinely revealed, and heretics”) (Mishna Sanhedrin 10:1); and righteous gentiles also have a place in the World to Come (Tosefta<\/i>, Sanhedrin<\/i> 13:2).<\/p>\n
(c) 2012 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n
Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As to the World to Come, according to classical sources, little can be said about it as it\u2019s wholly other-worldly — a phenomenon that “since the beginning of the world\u00a0men\u00a0have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has (any) … Continue reading