נטורה של עולם הבא

What It Is — and Is Not

- [Berakhot 17a]: Rav's dictum: «לֹא כָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא» — "The World-to-Come is not like this world." There is no eating, drinking, procreation, commerce, envy, hatred, or competition. Instead: «צַדִּיקִים יוֹשְׁבִין וְעַטְרוֹתֵיהֶם בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶם וְנֶהֱנִים מִזִּיו הַשְּׁכִינָה» — "the righteous sit with their crowns on their heads and enjoy the radiance of the Shekhinah."

- [Bava Batra 75b]: R. Yoḥanan (via Rabbah): The Jerusalem of the World-to-Come differs from that of this world — entry to the latter is open to all, but to the former only those who are specifically invited may ascend.

- [Bava Batra 122a]: The division of portions in the World-to-Come differs from this world, where a person who has a grain field lacks an orchard and vice versa — implying complete allotments in the World-to-Come.

תחיית המתים — Resurrection as Its Foundation

- [Sanhedrin 92a (source 6)]: Rava derives resurrection from Torah: «יְחִי רְאוּבֵן וְאַל יָמֹת» — "May Reuben live" = in this world; "and not die" = in the World-to-Come. Ravina cites Daniel 12:2: «וְרַבִּים מִיְּשֵׁנֵי אַדְמַת עָפָר יָקִיצוּ» — "Many who sleep in the dust shall awake, some to eternal life, some to everlasting contempt."

- [Chullin 142a] and [Kiddushin 39b]: R. Yaakov: every commandment in the Torah whose reward is stated alongside it — the fulfillment of that reward is dependent on resurrection of the dead. Honoring parents promises long days; sending away the mother-bird promises long days — both refer to the World-to-Come, not this world.

- [Taanit 7a]: R. Abbahu: rain is greater than resurrection, since resurrection benefits only the righteous, whereas rain falls on righteous and wicked alike. Rav Yosef disagrees: rain is merely equated to resurrection, which is why it was inserted into the blessing of resurrection (the second blessing of the Amidah).

מי זוכה — Who Has a Share

The Default: All Israel

- [Sanhedrin 90a (Mishnah)]: «כׇּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא» — "All Israel have a share in the World-to-Come," citing Isaiah 60:21.

The World-to-Come Is for the Righteous

- [Yevamot 47a]: When a prospective convert is instructed, he is told: «הֱוֵי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא אֵינוֹ עָשׂוּי אֶלָּא לַצַּדִּיקִים» — "Know that the World-to-Come is made only for the righteous," and that Israel currently cannot receive their full reward in this world.

Specific Practices That Guarantee a Share

- [Berakhot 57a]: One who responds «יְהֵא שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ» is assured of a share in the World-to-Come. - [Berakhot 4b]: R. Elazar b. Avina: one who recites Psalm 145 (Ashrei) three times daily is assured of a share in the World-to-Come. - [Megillah 28b] and [Niddah 73a]: «כׇּל הַשּׁוֹנֶה הֲלָכוֹת» — one who studies halakhot daily is assured of a share in the World-to-Come, from «הֲלִיכוֹת עוֹלָם לוֹ» (Habakkuk 3:6), reading הֲלִיכוֹת as הֲלָכוֹת. - [Ketubot 111a]: R. Yirmeya b. Abba in the name of R. Yoḥanan: one who walks four cubits in the Land of Israel is assured of a share in the World-to-Come. - [Berakhot 9b]: R. Yoḥanan: one who joins the blessing of redemption immediately to the evening prayer (geulah to Amidah) is a "son of the World-to-Come." - [Sanhedrin 92a (source 24)]: A communal leader who leads calmly and honestly merits leading his community in the World-to-Come as well (Isaiah 49:10).

A Single Act Can Suffice

- [Avodah Zarah 10b]: A divine voice declared that Ketia bar Shalom is «מְזֻומָּן לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא» — "designated for the life of the World-to-Come." Rabbi wept and said: «יֵשׁ קוֹנֶה עוֹלָמוֹ בְּשָׁעָה אַחַת» — "there is one who acquires his world in a single hour."

מי שאין לו חלק — Who Is Excluded

- [Sanhedrin 90a (Mishnah)]: Three categories forfeit their share: one who says there is no resurrection derived from Torah; one who says the Torah is not from Heaven; and an apikoros (heretic/scoffer).

- [Sanhedrin 90a (Gemara, source 25)]: The principle of measure-for-measure: one who denied resurrection is denied resurrection himself.

- [Avodah Zarah 18a]: Abba Shaul adds: one who pronounces the Divine Name with its letters (i.e., the Tetragrammaton as spelled) has no share in the World-to-Come.

- [Sanhedrin 105a]: Balaam, Doeg, Ahithophel, and Gehazi — four prominent commoners — have no share. "Balaam" is read as belo am, "without a nation," i.e., without a share with the Jewish people.

- [Sanhedrin 109a]: The people of Sodom have no share — derived from Genesis 13:13: "wicked" refers to this world, "sinners" refers to the World-to-Come.

גיהנם — Gehenna as Counterpart

- [Eruvin 19a]: Those who transgress the will of God — «מַעֲמִיקִין לָהֶם גֵּיהִנָּם» — "Gehenna is deepened for them," and they weep tears like a flowing spring.

שאיפה אישית — Personal Aspiration

- [Berakhot 28b]: When R. Eliezer fell ill, his students asked: «לַמְּדֵנוּ אוֹרְחוֹת חַיִּים וְנִזְכֶּה בָּהֶן לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא» — "Teach us the paths of life by which we may merit the life of the World-to-Come.

References

1. Berakhot.17a:12
2. Sanhedrin.90a:15
3. Sanhedrin.105a:7
4. Sanhedrin.109a:8
5. Eruvin.19a:5
6. Sanhedrin.92a:5
7. Avodah Zarah.18a:1
8. Bava Metzia.85b:3
9. Bava Batra.75b:2
10. Bava Batra.122a:7
11. Zevachim.118b:12
12. Ketubot.111a:20
13. Berakhot.57a:2
14. Berakhot.4b:16
15. Megillah.28b:17
16. Niddah.73a:15
17. Yevamot.47a:15
18. Berakhot.9b:21
19. Berakhot.28b:6
20. Avodah Zarah.10b:15
21. Taanit.7a:2
22. Chullin.142a:3
23. Kiddushin.39b:7
24. Sanhedrin.92a:6
25. Sanhedrin.90a:18