Comments on: Minnesota Mamaleh: Mama, What’s Heaven?

By: Yehoishophot Oliver

Yehoishophot Oliver — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:39:39 +0000

As Jews, we received the Torah at Mount Sinai. In the Torah, Hashem revealed His will to us, including the concepts of reward for performing His Mitzvos (commandments). This includes the belief in Gan Eden, aka heaven, which is discussed at great length in rabbinic teachings, especially the Kabbalah. The answers are available, and the more one learns, the more he will know. I recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Wisdom-Afterlife-Mysteries-Meanings/dp/0978666380/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301546259&sr=1-2

By: Galit Breen

Galit Breen — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:06:18 +0000

cori, hi! i’m so happy to hear from you! yowsers! these BIG questions can be so intimidating, right?! i have *not* figured out the convo around hell (yet) but will let you know if i stumble upon anything! for sure, share with me what you’ve got, too! thanks also for the book recommendation, i’m excited to explore it!

By: Cori

Cori — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 07:02:19 +0000

Wonderful post. I’ve grappled with this question too. And even more with the question of hell. I tell my kids that I believe we live on somehow but I do not know what it is like. We wonder about it often. They seem content with the wondering. If you have an answer for Hell, I’d like to know it. It’s already come up, grrrr, from people who like to tell it to little children. BTW, one of my favorite books on faith is “Who Needs God” by Rabbi Harold Kushner

By: Galit Breen

Galit Breen — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 02:44:12 +0000

rabbi oliver, excellent to hear from you! thank you for sharing your thoughts and link. both are much appreciated! what i know of kabbalah is absolutely beautiful and i’m always open to learning more. thanks for “feeding” that.

By: Yehoishophot Oliver

Yehoishophot Oliver — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:59:28 +0000

In order to understand the nature of souls and what happens to the soul after it leaves the body, it is necessary to study what Torah says on the topic. The reason that one must do this is that these are spiritual realities that cannot be known intuitively. Only those great Tzaddikim (see here: http://tzaddikim.blogspot.com/2009/03/her-faith-in-tzaddikim-saved-her.html ) who are truly holy people and could perceive these realities could share with us, who are like blind people, what they perceived. These teachings are discussed in the works of Kabbalah and Chassidus.