We're not just talking about harps and halos. Jewish tradition paints a vivid, even delicious, picture of what awaits in the World to Come: a glorious banquet hosted by God Himself!
This isn’t just any potluck. According to tradition, as described in Elliot Wolfson's Tree of Souls, God will prepare a feast of epic proportions for the righteous, featuring… well, let's just say the menu is a little unusual. We're talking about the flesh of Behemoth, Leviathan, and the Ziz.
Now, these aren’t your everyday dinner ingredients. Behemoth is the unconquerable land-monster, Leviathan the mighty sea serpent, and Ziz the giant bird whose wings darken the sun. Imagine the barbeque! As it says in 2 Kings 6:23, "He prepared a lavish feast for them."
But it's not just about the meat. God, in this intimate vision, will personally ask his guests, "Do you want cider or citrus or grape wine?" He'll even leave his "glorious throne" to sit and break bread – or, more accurately, behemoth – with them.
So, who gets a seat at this exclusive table? The Patriarch Jacob, along with esteemed scholars and distinguished students. Talk about good company! And the scale of the feast? According to some accounts, the rest of Leviathan won't be eaten, but rather spread across the walls of Jerusalem. Its radiance, the tradition says, will shine from one end of the world to the other! Imagine the light!
And that's not all. Some say God will even craft a sukkah – a temporary dwelling, like the ones used during the festival of Sukkot – for the righteous, using the very skin of Leviathan! Talk about a unique design!
Other accounts, as found in various sources, suggest that instead of Behemoth and Leviathan, God will serve the Messiah-ox and messianic wine at the banquet. This special ox dwells in Paradise, patiently awaiting its destiny, ready to be slaughtered and served when the Messiah finally arrives.
And the wine? Ah, the wine! This isn't just any vintage. We're talking about messianic wine, preserved from grapes created during the six days of Creation. This is serious stuff! According to tradition, it has only been served once before: when Jacob served wine to his father, Isaac, when he brought him the food that Rebecca had prepared. Since Jacob didn't have any wine with him at that time, an angel is said to have provided him with this very messianic wine.
But why Jacob? Of all the patriarchs, why is he the one who gets to join them at the feast? The answer, according to tradition, lies in his deep connection to the Jewish people. When the children of Israel sin, only Jacob, resting in the Cave of Machpelah, feels defiled. Therefore, when the joy of redemption finally arrives, Jacob will rejoice in it more than any of the other patriarchs, because he alone will be called to the feast.
So, what does this all mean? Is it a literal menu for the afterlife? Probably not. But it's a powerful metaphor. This messianic banquet represents the ultimate reward, a time of unimaginable joy, abundance, and closeness to God. It's a reminder that our actions in this world have consequences, and that striving for righteousness will ultimately lead to a seat at the most exclusive table in the universe. It’s a beautiful, hope-filled vision of the World to Come, isn’t it?