Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 6/6/2004

Question
First, thanks in advance for answering my question. I was raised Christian and have always been curious about Judaism, given the relationship between the two faiths. Can you tell me how important the afterlife is to Jews, and whether or not it is a goal for them to attain it through faith or some kind of behavior? Or is this life more important, the community with other Jews based on shared history?

Also, I was always told that Christians are under a "new covenant," but that Jews are still expected to follow the laws in the Old Testament. Is that true, and if so, how possibly to follow so many very specific laws, especially in a society that is so different than the one in which the laws were first observed? Just curious.

Answer
Dear Melinda,

Thanks for writing.

For most of us, the afterlife is truly an after-thought. If it  isn't there, we won't know; if it is, then we will have to deal with it and God's plan. But no one has ever demonstrated conclusively - including God - that it is so; we have just had speculation.

If there is an afterlife and if we are to attain it, then our teachers have all agreed that "right behavior" and obedience to God in how we treat ourselves, our family, our community and the gifts from God will determine if we deservce to be part of God's eternal plan - and in particular if there is a sense of reward.

I can't answer for Christian teaching, but we don't accept any notion of having been transcended with any form of a "new" covenant. Our covenant with God continues for us.

How we are observant is a complicated study - at whichyou hint - of cultures, history, laws and customs. I would suggest that you look at the "Encyclopedia Judaica" in your library to see how Jewish law has continued to evolve, even the notion of "mitzvah" or what God has commanded us to do. We are clearly not ancient Israelites, and our tradition has the tools with which to enable us to mdoernize and adapt as the world evolves around us.

In terms of comparing and contrasting, check out "Judaism and Christianity: The Differences" by Trude Weis Rosmarin for a relatively brief but very readable and accurate presentation.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov