Tree of Souls (Schwartz)

645 texts · Page 31 of 72

Texts from Howard Schwartz's Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism, a landmark anthology gathering myths and legends spanning the full arc of Jewish tradition, from the creation of the world to the coming of the Messiah.

The Scorpions Of Gehenna

Tree of Souls

We often think of fire and brimstone when we talk about hell, but Jewish tradition offers some truly terrifying and imaginative descriptions of the afterlife, or rather, Gehenna. G...

AngelsHeavenHell/GehennaAdam & Eve

The Bridge Over Gehenna

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition has a powerful image for that feeling, a bridge spanning the terrifying depths of Gehenna. Now, Gehenna – sometimes translated as Hell, but more accurately underst...

Hell/GehennaSoul

The Darkness Of Gehenna

Tree of Souls

The Zohar describes Gehenna as a place where the souls of the wicked are tormented by angels of destruction. These angels wield fiery whips and inflict excruciating pain on the sou...

Hell/GehennaMosesNoah & Flood

The Light Of Gehenna

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition has a fascinating, and ultimately hopeful, answer to that feeling. We're talking about Gehenna. It's a name that often gets translated as "hell," but it's not quit...

CreationHell/GehennaMessiahAdam & Eve

The Punishment Of Korah

Tree of Souls

The story centers around Rabbah bar Bar Hannah, a figure known for his… let’s just say, colorful travel stories. One day, as recounted in Bava Batra 74a, a Bedouin approached Rabba...

AngelsHeavenHell/GehennaTorah

The Inhabitants Of Gehenna

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition gives us a pretty vivid, and frankly terrifying, answer: Gehenna. Now, Gehenna – sometimes also called Gehinnom – isn't exactly hell as you might picture it from o...

Hell/GehennaCreaturesSoulHoly Land

The Fate Of The Soul

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition has a lot to say on the matter, and some of it is Let's talk about the fate of the soul, particularly what happens to those who, well, weren't so righteous in life...

AngelsHeavenHell/GehennaNoah & Flood

The Punishments Of Gehenna

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition has a place for them, a place of purification and, yes, punishment called Gehenna. It's not exactly hell, but it's definitely not a pleasant resort. But who's in c...

AngelsHeavenHell/GehennaAdam & Eve

Sabbath In Gehenna

Tree of Souls

A place of purification, and for some, punishment. Now, even in this fiery realm, the Sabbath casts its protective light. It's a concept that speaks volumes about the power and san...

CreationAngelsHell/GehennaTorah