We do believe in a type of Hell, but not the one found in cartoons and joke books. Hell is not a punishment in the conventional sense; it is, in fact, the expression of a great kindness.
The Jewish mystics described a spiritual place called “Gehinnom.” This is usually translated as “Hell,” but a better translation would be “the Supernal Washing Machine.” Because that’s exactly how it works. The way our soul is cleansed in Gehinnom is similar to the way our clothes are cleansed in a washing machine.
Put yourself in your socks’ shoes, so to speak. If you were to be thrown into boiling hot water and flung around for half an hour, you might start to feel that someone doesn’t like you. However, the fact is that it is only after going through a wash cycle that the socks can be worn again.
We don’t put our socks in the washing machine to punish them. We put them through what seems like a rough and painful procedure only to make them clean and wearable again. The intense heat of the water loosens the dirt, and the force of being swirled around shakes it off completely. Far from hurting your socks, you are doing them a favor by putting them through this process.
So too with the soul. Every act we do in our lifetime leaves an imprint on our soul. The good we do brightens and elevates our soul, and every wrongdoing leaves a stain that needs to be cleansed. If, at the end of our life, we leave this world without fixing the wrongs we have done, our soul is unable to reach its place of rest on high. We must go through a cycle of deep cleansing. Our soul is flung around at an intense spiritual heat to rid it of any residue it may have gathered, and to prepare it for entry into Heaven.
Of course, this whole process can be avoided. If we truly regret the wrong we have done and make amends with the people we have hurt, we can leave this world with “clean socks.”
That’s why our Sages said, “Repent one day before you die.” And what should you do if you don’t know which day that will be? Repent today.
See What Happens After We Die? from the Jewish Death and Mourning section.
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This is a sobering subject, one that puts one in a state of awareness of His presence. It draws me to remember king David’s words,” .,,help us to number our days so to obtain a heart of wisdom…”. It is Hashem who gives us wisdom and knowledge. He is the same today, yesterday, forever. I place my trust in His justice, righteousness and truth. I know that without being cleansed completely prevent one from completing uniting with Him in His majesty and holiness. The cleansing process of return to Him that we experienced after the death of the body has to be relative to the intensity of teshuvah of that experience now in our daily lives. Yes, He will judge and will do according to His wrath and kindness. And we will rejoice in full deliverance, full redemption, and we will sing for He has dealt with us kindly. In that process our sins, the results of disorder, confusion will separate from us as though plummeting into the mighty depths. What exactly wil that feel like? I simply trust Him
Actually, it doesn’t matter. You know it has been a bumpy road so far, the only thing that really matters to me is that I am almost home. He has been there with me every step of the way. It is like a thread, yes, at times a mighty mighty rope pulling me through. When all I could see was confusion darkness absurdity there was a still voice and a quiet light that people who are blind see in their hearts and minds.
My story is our story. You know, sometimes I say to Hashem , “we just love each other, yes, we do, we do.” …
…some day we will all say that in unison….
Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is one.”
Praise God forever!!! I am Christian but I know God called the Jewish people His chosen ones. We may have different experiences with God and visions some of us might get. God has shown and let me feel Heaven and it changed my life. I also go very sick and am dying alone with only one good friend left on this earth but I know God is with me always so I sing Him songs and I talk to Him throughout the day. He comforts my physically broken heart from loosing my only child but I know without a doubt she's in the most beautiful place you couldn't even imagine. May God be merciful and kind to you all.