Jewish tradition grapples with this question in fascinating ways, especially when it comes to figures as monumental as Moses.

Let's dive into a curious little passage from Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg, a collection pulling together centuries of Jewish folklore and midrashic (interpretive) traditions. It's a kind of cosmic detective story, but instead of a grizzled gumshoe, our investigator is… well, it's not entirely clear who it is! But they are on a mission to find Moses after he's no longer on Earth.

The first stop? The Abyss, that primordial, chaotic void often associated with the depths of the earth and the realm of the dead. Our investigator asks, "Hast thou seen the son of Amram?" (Amram being Moses' father). The answer comes back, chillingly: "I have not seen him, but heard indeed his call." What does it mean to hear his call but not see him? Is it an echo of his earthly authority, lingering even in the deepest darkness? It’s a fascinating image.

Next, the investigator tries Korah's sons, those who, along with their father, met a rather dramatic end. Remember the story? Korah challenged Moses' authority, and as punishment, the earth opened up and swallowed them whole (Numbers 16). They dwell now in the Abyss, a fitting eternal consequence. The question is posed: "Have ye seen the son of Amram?" Their reply: "We have not seen him since the day upon which at Moses' bidding the earth opened its mouth and swallowed us." Ouch. Talk about awkward. Their fate is forever intertwined with Moses, yet even they can't offer any clues to his current whereabouts.

Moving on, the search takes us to the clouds of glory, those radiant, divine manifestations that often accompany God's presence. "Is Moses perchance with you?" the investigator asks. The answer: "He is hid from the eyes of all living." So, he’s there, but hidden. The clouds of glory, a symbol of divine revelation, conceal him. Is this a protective measure? A sign of his elevated status? The text leaves us wondering.

Finally, the investigator ascends to the heavens themselves. "Have ye seen the son of Amram?" And the answer is: "We have not seen him since at God command he mounted to us to receive the Torah" – the sacred law, the five books of Moses. This is perhaps the most telling response. It highlights Moses' defining moment: his ascent to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. It implies that his connection to heaven is through that pivotal event. He hasn't been seen since then.

So, what are we to make of this quest? It seems less about finding Moses' physical body and more about tracing his legacy, his impact on different realms of existence. The Abyss remembers his call, Korah's sons remember his authority, the clouds of glory conceal him, and the heavens remember his ascent to receive the Torah.

It’s a reminder that even after death, great figures continue to resonate, their influence felt in the most unexpected corners of creation. Their stories become woven into the very fabric of our understanding of the world. And maybe, just maybe, that's a kind of immortality in itself.