Judgment after Death

Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 91

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

91. Judgment after Death. Yoma, f. 35 b.

Abot de R. Nathan,

ch. 16.

Nissim, f. 17 b.

Kohut, al-Dhamari, App. I, No. 10, p. XI. Farhi, O. P. Ill, f. 63. Adhan, Bineot Deshe, f. 17 b.

Yalk. Sip. I, p. 128. Maase Buch. No. 64. Cod. G. 242, f. 83 a.

Themes

Death Judgment Afterlife

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The Exempla of the Rabbis (1924)Why Yohanan ben Zakkai Wept on His DeathbedRabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai lay dying. He had been one of the greatest of all the sages, the man who, during the Roman siege of Jerusalem, had been smuggled out of Hebraic Literature (1901)Why Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai Wept on His DeathbedWhen Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai lay dying, his disciples came to gather at his bedside. They expected composure from the man they called the Light of Israel, the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on GenesisAdam Will Return From Dust to Face the Great JudgmentThe Torah says simply, "to dust thou shalt return." Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on (Genesis 3:19) refuses to let that be the end. After the dust, the Targumist says,Book of JubileesAdam Died Seventy Years Short of a ThousandTake Adam, for example. The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text that retells and expands upon the stories in Genesis, gives us a fascinating detail about h Book of JubileesPhilistines — David at the Dawn of CreationThis ancient text, considered scripture by some and a fascinating historical lens by others, doesn't mince words. It speaks of destruction, of rooting out, and Book of TobitFaith of TobiBook of Tobit turns to Faith of Tobi. He tells us, in the very first chapter, of his devotion to the dead. "And when I saw the slain of Israel cast forth outsid