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We are in a Heaven mode here at the God Squad and I can tell you absolutely that one of the most frequent questions I am asked by my dear Christian readers is whether Jews believe in Heaven. Here is an example:

Q: As an evangelical Christian, I am still puzzled: do Jews believe there is a physical Heaven, or not. I admit that I am most moved by the depictions of Heaven in movies rather than sacred scripture. I think the movie “Heaven Can Wait” gets it right. I also find that spiritually what draws me to my assurance of God is the music I hear. I will tell you that when I was diagnosed in July with prostate cancer and before being treated successfully and early I was low and I told my pastor I found a recording of Bob Dylan singing ‘Knocking at Heaven’s Door.’ It for some reason didn’t strike me as morbid but was a morale boost. Rabbi, your column is excellent, and there is no doubt in my mind that Heaven is an actual place. I have no idea what it’s like! – (from W in Merrick, NY)

A: Thanks for the kind words, dear W. When I also depart from Scripture to movie theology, my favorite is Albert Brooks’ movie, “Defending Your Life.” The idea that attracts me most strongly in that flick is that after death, somehow, we are debriefed by angels who have accompanied us through our lives, and then help us to figure out why we missed the mark when we sinned and why we rose to our supreme goodness when we were at our best. The main question the angels would want to answer is “Why were you afraid?” Then after we figure out our life, I believe that our souls are sent along to Heaven to reconnect with those from whom death has separated us. That is what I believe happens to the vast majority of souls who have tried their best to live decent lives here on planet earth. Of course, there are also the souls of the wicked and their destiny is also an essential part of Heaven and Hell. The truly wicked souls are annihilated. It must be that way so that the scales of justice that are imbalanced in this life can be balanced in the next.

As to your question about whether Jews believe in Heaven the answer is absolutely yes! In Judaism Heaven is called The World To Come (Hebrew: olam ha’bah). The belief entered Judaism after the biblical period and entered early Christianity at the same time. Here are just some of the teachings about olam habah in Judaism that helped to broaden the Jewish teaching of God’s love for us:

"This world is just a waiting room for the world to come" (Mishna Avot 4,16). "This world is only like a hotel. The world to come is like a home." (moed katan) "One hour of bliss in the world to come is better than all the bliss in the world that is." (Avot 4, 17). "There is no good thing in this world which is not better in the world to come."

My favorite text affirming the belief in Heaven in Judaism is the blessing we read at the completion of every reading of a part of the Torah. The blessing is, "You are blessed O Lord our God King of the Universe who has given us a Torah of truth and who has implanted within us eternal life." God has implanted within us eternal life for our souls and that life is lived out in the world to come with those we have loved and those we continue to love.

For those who still find it difficult to accept the belief in Heaven as a place beyond this place and this life I offer you this story about Heaven and Hell:

A student asked his master, “What is the difference between Heaven and Hell?” The master answered, “In Hell people are sitting around a table filled with every wonderful food but they cannot bring the food to their lips because their arms are locked straight out in front of them." The student said, "Yes that is Hell and what about Heaven?” In Heaven, he said, people are sitting around a table filled with every wonderful food but they cannot bring the food to their lips because their arms are locked straight out in front of them.” The confused student asked, “Master, what is the difference between Heaven and Hell?” He answered, “Oh you see, in Heaven the people are feeding each other."

So let us feed each other and make of this life a Heaven on earth.

(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including “Religion for Dummies,” co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman. Also, the new God Squad podcast is now available.)

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