Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Losing One's Share in The World to Come


  • The Sages say that for three transgressions one forfeits his portion in the World to Come: murder, adultery, and idol worship, and that lashon hara is equivalent to all three. (B. Erchin 15b)
  • The following have no portion therein: he who maintains that resurrection is not a biblical doctrine, the Torah was not divinely revealed,and an epikoros. R. Akiva added: one who reads non-canonical books. Rav and R. Hanina both taught that an epikorus is one who insults a scholar. R. Yochanan and R. Joshua b. Levi maintained that it is one who insults his neighbor in the presence of a scholar. A Tanna explains that when R. Akiva says "non-canonical books", he is speaking about books of the Sadducees. R. Yosef says that it is also forbidden to read the book of Ben Sira. (Sanhedrin 90a)
  • One who talks during the repetition of the amidah is called "a sinner whose sin is too great to be forgiven. (Mishnah Berurah 124:27.)
  • One who converses during Krias ha-Torah is called "a sinner whose sin is too great to be forgiven." (Bieur Halachah 146:2)
  • R. Eleazar of Modin said: One who profanes things sacred, and one who slights the festivals, and one who embarrasses his fellow-man in public, and one who nullifies the covenant of our father Abraham, and one who exhibits impudence towards the Torah contrary to halacha, even though he has to his credit Torah and good deeds, he has not a share in the world to come. (Avot 3:11 or 3:15)
  • Among those who lose their share in the World to Come are those who treat Chol Hamoed disrespectfully, as any other weekday (Rashi to above mishna in Avot.)
  • Hillel used to say: He who makes worldly use of the crown of the Torah shall perish. Thus you may infer that any one who exploits the words of the Torah removes himself from the world of life. (Avot 4:7)
  • Anybody who undertakes to learn Torah all the time, not work, and support himself from charity is desecrating God's Name, disgracing the Torah, extinguishes his Jewish spark, causes bad to befall him and destroys his life in the World To Come, for it is forbidden to benefit from Torah matters in this world. (Rambam Hilchot Talmud Torah 3:10; see also his laundry list in Hilchot Teshuvah.)
I don't for a minute believe that these are anything more than rabbinic hyperbole, but the next time you are accused of being an apikorus destined for Gehinnom, feel free to respond to your accuser with the appropriate passage. (The two "talking" quotes are perfect for your typical Young Israel, and the last quote is ideal as a response to kollel kanoim!)

9 comments:

G*3 said...

Impressive list. They all seem aimed either at establishing Rabbinic Judaism as the only legitimate form of Judaism or at addressing some problem of observance.

Just wondering, what happens to someone who has no share in the world to come? Since Olam Habo includes both Gehenom and Gan Eden, and Gehenom is itself just a stopover on the way to Gan Eden, “no share in the world to come” seems to imply that such a person ceases to exist when they die. Which these days is what most ‘apikorsim’ assume is what’s going to happen anyway.

Anonymous said...

I guess you'ld be in limbo!

Rich said...

Love that last one!

Rich

http://frustratedorthojew.blogspot.com/

jewish philosopher said...

Burning in hell forever!!

http://jewishphilosopher.blogspot.com/2009/06/jewish-heretics.html

Happy said...

Awesome list! Thanks FH!

"Just wondering, what happens to someone who has no share in the world to come?"

This:

Lois Griffin: So, Peter, where shall we go for your week off?
Peter Griffin: Well, I... I was thinking we could all go to Purgatory like we did last year!
[it switches to the Griffins floating in front of a plain white background]
Lois Griffin: This isn't bad... it's not that good, but y'know... it's not that bad.
Brian Griffin: It's so-so.
Peter Griffin: Yeah... more or less...

(Sorry couldn't find the video clip on YouTube)

David said...

I was disturbed to read that people who learn all day and do no honest work will all be burning in Gehennom. I figured that, once I died, I'd at least be rid of them-- now, I'll be stuck with them in Gehinnom? Why? Well, I guess the answer is that it just wouldn't be Gehinnom without them!

Frum Heretic said...

David, I really hadn't considered the company that I'd be keeping in Gehinnom but now it's truly a frightening thought! Thanks for the nightmares...

JB said...

Sorry boys there ain't no world to come. When your'e dead your'e not. I would rewrite the Beatles lyrics to the love you leave behind is the love you give

Yirmiahu said...

Yeah, because an Et Tu fallacy is always such a solid argument for one's position.