https://doi.org/10.26142/stgd-2021-026
Abstract: In Judaism various terms already occurring in the Hebrew Bible are used to define the soul: neshamah, ruah, nefesh, yehidah, hayah. They were adopted by Rabbinic Judaism which had its roots in Biblical Judaism and which, however, is fundamentally different in terms of the soul, its immortality, resurrection and life after death. It was not until the post-biblical times that the immortality of the soul came to be one of the main pillars of faith for the followers of Judaism.
The Talmud points to resurrection as a dogma of faith (Sanh. 10:1; 90b-91a). In accordance with the Mishnah, and then with the Gemara ‘All Israel have a portion in the world-to-come’ (ibidem). But does it not conflict with the basic Rabbinic message of reward for good and punishment for evil based on biblical foundations that show the way to salvation by keeping the commandments?
The Orthodox Judaism maintains both the faith in the resurrection of the flesh as part of the Messianic Redemption and the faith in the immortality of the soul after death. Reform Judaism, however, rejects the literal understanding of the resurrection of the body and is limited to the belief in the spiritual life after death.
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