Jewish Views of the Afterlife (Hardcover)

by Simcha Paull Raphael (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"...traces, in a synoptic style, 4,000 years of Jewish thought on the afterlife." -- (Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter, 1996)

"Simcha Paull Raphael is a pathfinder pointing the way for many who want to learn." -- (Rabbi Jack Reimer, 1996) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
This expanded second edition of the classic text on life after death in Judaism includes new material on practical applications of Jewish views of the afterlife, such as funeral, burial, and shiva, as well as an updated look at how views on death and dying have shifted in recent years. Synthesizing traditional Jewish sources with contemporary psychological thought, near-death experiences, and consciousness research, Jewish Views of the Afterlife offers a contemporary statement on ways of understanding the afterlife journey of the soul from a spiritual point-of-view. Both historical and contemporary, this book provides a rich resource for scholars and lay people, for teachers and students, and makes an important Jewish contribution to the growing contemporary psychology of death and dying. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 474 pages
• Publisher: Jason Aronson (April 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876685831
• ISBN-13: 978-0876685839
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,860,268 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating and important read !, December 30, 1997

By A Customer

Most Jews are under the mistaken impression that Judaism does not believe in an afterlife. This is not so, and in fact Jewish texts preserve a rich tradition of how this concept has been understood and taught throughout Jewish history. This book is an excellent introduction and overview of how the afterlife is viewed in The Torah, The Talmud, the medieval works, the Midrash and the books of the Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). One of its special features is that many medieval Jewish texts are presented here for the first time in English!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scholarly treatment of dying,death and the soul's journey, January 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Jewish Views of the Afterlife (Paperback)

The fate of the soul after death is the major focus of Simcha Paull Raphael's beautifully written tome. Culled from 4,000 year of classical Jewish source material it's topics include resurrection, Gan Eden and Gehenna, angels; the, history and tradition of the souls appearance and disappearance from the modern Jewish world, etc. You can start anywhere and skip about to your heart's content. Any good Jewish library is incomplete without it.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific introduction, scholarly and beautifully written, January 5, 2002

By	a reader (Arlington, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jewish Views of the Afterlife (Paperback)

It is rare to find a scholarly book that is a pleasure to read. Simcha Paull Raphael's book is one of these gems. The scope of his knowledge is amazing, and his writing style is a breath of fresh air. The author explores the evolution of Jewish beliefs about life after death from biblical times to the present. This is, without doubt, the best introduction I have seen. It is must read for anyone interested in this topic.