Jewish tradition offers some breathtakingly beautiful, and frankly, wild, ideas about the journey of the soul. One particularly vivid picture involves Adam, the first man, acting as a gatekeeper to Paradise.
According to Legends of the Jews by Ginzberg, the souls of all who pass on must journey through the Garden of Eden before reaching their final destination. It’s not a simple stroll through a garden, though. Think of it as an epic quest with multiple levels.
The journey, Ginzberg retells, involves passing through seven portals before arriving in the highest heaven, known as Arabot. There, the souls of the righteous are transformed into angels, eternally praising God and basking in the glory of the Shekhinah — the divine presence.
But how do you get there? The first stop is the Cave of Machpelah, located near Paradise. And who's in charge there? None other than Adam himself! He acts as a sort of celestial bouncer. If a soul is deemed worthy, Adam calls out a welcome. If not... well, things get complicated.
The next hurdle is the gate of Paradise, guarded by cherubim and a flaming sword. Sounds intimidating, right? According to this tradition, unworthy souls are consumed by the sword. Those who pass receive a "pass-bill" allowing them into the terrestrial Paradise. Imagine a glowing VIP pass to the ultimate afterlife lounge!
Within Paradise, a pillar of smoke and light stretches towards heaven. Whether a soul can climb it depends on their character. It's like a divine aptitude test! And this pillar leads to the third portal, Zebul, at the entrance to heaven itself.
If the soul is worthy, the guard opens the portal to the heavenly Temple. Michael, the archangel, then presents the soul to God and escorts it to the seventh portal, Arabot. There, as we heard, the transformation into an angel is complete, and the soul joins the celestial chorus.
But what about the Garden of Eden itself? We often hear about the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. The Zohar tells us that the Tree of Knowledge acts as a protective hedge around the Tree of Life. Only those who have navigated the complexities of knowledge can approach the source of eternal life. This Tree of Life is immense; traversing the diameter of its trunk alone would take five hundred years! Its branches provide shade over an equally vast area.
From beneath the Tree of Life flows the water that irrigates the entire earth, dividing into four great rivers: the Ganges, the Nile, the Tigris, and the Euphrates. This is more than just a beautiful image. It suggests that the source of all life and abundance flows from this central, sacred place.
Interestingly, the Midrash Rabbah points out that during creation, plants relied on earthly waters. But later, God made them dependent on rain, the "upper waters." The clouds rise from earth to heaven, where they are filled with water, which then pours down. Plants only truly flourished after Adam was created and prayed for them. It illustrates the idea that God desires the prayers of the righteous.
In this idyllic Paradise, Adam didn't need to toil. The Torah tells us that God placed him in the Garden "to dress it and to keep it" (Genesis 2:15), but that's interpreted as studying Torah and fulfilling God's commandments.
Six commandments, in particular, were given to all humanity: to avoid idolatry, blasphemy, murder, incest, theft, and to establish laws and order. There was also a temporary command: Adam was initially only allowed to eat green plants. The prohibition on eating meat was lifted for Noah after the flood.
Even then, Adam wasn't deprived of meat. Angels brought him meat and wine, serving him like attendants. The animals were also under his complete dominion, taking their food from his and Eve's hands. The relationship between humans and animals was vastly different before the fall. Animals understood human language, respected the image of God, and feared Adam and Eve – a world transformed after their transgression.
So, what does all this tell us? It paints a picture of a complex, multi-layered afterlife, with Adam as a key figure in judging and guiding souls. It speaks to the importance of living a righteous life, not just for our earthly existence, but for what comes after. And it reminds us that even in Paradise, there are tests, challenges, and a constant need to strive for something higher. A truly compelling narrative, isn’t it?