Rabbi Peter H. Grumbacher, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Beth Emeth
I’m asked this question from time to time; actually, in both Introduction to Judaism classes and when I speak to church groups it happens to be one of the questions most asked. And it should be since just about every religion –indeed every religion—has a point of view on the topic of life after death, and sometimes resurrection.
When I’m in a smart-alecky mood I’ll say, “Don’t know, never been there,” but since it is important for some in their personal lives, presenting our view(s) should be a serious endeavor.
The Reform movement had an issue with the subject of the Divine Power in the traditional Gevurot section of the Amidah. There God is praised for m’chayeh meitim, “reviving the dead,” that is, resurrection. In all the various versions of our Reform prayerbooks, both siddurim and machzorim, we find m’chayeh hakol, “who gives life to all.” Pretty innocuous, eh? And of course that was purposeful; while there were some Reform Jews (joining others) who believed in resurrection, most adhered to our 19th century theology that rejected the idea.
Come the Gates of Repentance machzor, we find in the afternoon/mincha section m’chayeh meitim. It appears once, and that was that . . . until our latest siddur, Mishkan Tefillah, and for the Days of Awe Mishkan HaNefesh. “Who revives the dead,” m’chayeh meitim, now in parentheses, makes it an option for the rabbi and congregation.
There are Reform congregations that opt for that reading. There are reasons for the change, but not for me. The liberal theology that eliminated it from worship allows everyone, myself included, to use our imagination. Giving life to all can mean the rebirth of Spring, for example, without getting into resurrection as usually defined.
Now what about the olam ha-bah, the world to come. Boy, if you talk about 10 Jews, 11 opinions, that concept fits the bill. In a nutshell, I view the meaning as whatever your reputation happens to be, that is how you shall be remembered. Your reward or punishment is not in a netherworld, rather by those who live on remembering you positively or negatively.
This surely is not a complete answer to the question. Perhaps in the future I alone, or along with my colleagues, will pursue it further. But for now, “Don’t know, never been there.”
