Jewish tradition offers some truly breathtaking visions of the cosmos – heavens piled upon heavens, earths layered upon earths, each teeming with wonders and… well, some not-so-wondrous things too.
Let's start at the very top. According to some accounts, the seventh heaven is the ultimate good place. It's pure beauty, pure perfection. Think of it as the celestial attic, but instead of dusty furniture, it holds all the good stuff: right, justice, and mercy. It's where you find the storehouses of life, peace, and blessing. And get this – it houses the souls of the righteous, the souls and spirits of generations yet to be born, even the very dew with which God will one day revive the dead. Imagine that!
But that's not all. The seventh heaven is also home to the Divine Throne itself. Surrounded by the seraphim (fiery angelic beings), the ofanim (the "wheels," another type of angel), the holy Hayyot (living creatures), and a whole host of ministering angels, it's a scene of unimaginable splendor.
But what about beneath our feet? The idea of multiple heavens is mirrored by the concept of multiple earths. Tradition says God created seven earths, each separated by five distinct layers. Think of it like a cosmic layer cake, with some pretty wild fillings.
The lowest earth, the seventh, is called Erez. Above Erez lie the abyss, the Tohu (void), the Bohu (emptiness), a sea, and then…more waters. It’s a rather soggy basement, cosmically speaking.
Then we arrive at the sixth earth, Adamah, which is described as a scene of God's magnificence. From there, things get a little darker.
Adamah is separated from the fifth earth, Arka, by similar layers. But what does Arka contain? Brace yourself: it’s where Gehenna (hell) is located, along with the "Gates of Death" (Sha'are Mawet), the "Gates of the Shadow of Death" (Sha'are Zalmawet), the "Pit of Destruction" (Beer Shahat), "Clay of the Mire" (Tit ha-Yawen), Abaddon (destruction), and Sheol (the underworld). According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, the souls of the wicked are guarded here by the Angels of Destruction. Cheerful, right?
Next up is Harabah, the "dry" earth. Oddly enough, despite its name, it’s a place of brooks and streams. Go figure! As we find in Midrash Rabbah and other sources, the earth called Yabbashah, the "mainland," contains the actual rivers and springs. It's all a bit topsy-turvy.
Finally, we reach Tebel, the second earth. This is where it gets really interesting. Tebel is the first mainland actually inhabited by living creatures – three hundred and sixty-five different species, all totally unlike anything we have here on our own little Earth. Some have human heads on the bodies of lions, serpents, or oxen. Others have human bodies topped with animal heads. It's a cosmic zoo of bizarre proportions!
But the weirdness doesn't stop there. Tebel is also inhabited by human beings with two heads and four hands and feet. Basically, everything is doubled, except for their trunks. According to Legends of the Jews, these double people apparently have some serious issues sharing food and drink, with each head vying for the best portions. But here's the kicker: despite their double-headed squabbles, these folks are exceptionally pious – quite a contrast to the inhabitants of our own earth!
So, what does all this cosmic geography tell us? Is it a literal map of the universe? Probably not. But it does offer a powerful glimpse into the Jewish imagination, a way of grappling with the vastness of creation, the mysteries of good and evil, and the endless possibilities of life beyond our own limited experience. It's a reminder that the universe, both within us and without, is far more wondrous and strange than we can ever fully comprehend.