Exploring Life Beyond: A Journey of the Soul

"Eight years ago, my son, Gedalia Nathan, passed away after a battle with illness at the tender age of 19. Hashem took him, a pure and special flower, to be close in the world of truth. Gedalia was beloved, known for his kindness and devotion to prayer and mitzvot. His absence is deeply felt, and this book is dedicated to his memory." This is how Dr. Baruch Kastner and Orit Martin's book, "The World After," opens, signifying its aim – to gather insights on the soul's journey after death from Jewish sources and personal stories. Just like preparing for a trip, one should understand what awaits beyond the gate of death, something inevitable for all. Supported by research and Jewish texts, it offers an organized and enlightening read.

What Happens After?

"About ten years ago, our 19-year-old son passed away," Kastner recounts, describing the event that led to the book. "Afterwards, my wife and I pondered where our beloved son went: Is he alive in another world? Will we meet again? During shiva, mourners often focus more on the bereaved than the departed. We wanted to understand what was happening to him and his legacy in this world, and where he traveled in the next. This ignited our journey, paralleled by my work as a psychotherapist helping those fearful of death or dealing with loss. Gathering material helped me support them. I dived into our literature – Zohar, Talmud, and other Jewish texts. I also read interesting works by American psychotherapist Michael Newton, who used hypnosis to explore past lives. Over a decade, he interviewed over 1,000 people under hypnosis, all describing similar experiences beyond death. It was astonishing to find consistent themes. However, I felt something was missing. I couldn't reach Newton, as he'd retired, to ask how many Jewish patients he had interviewed. This led me to combine his findings with our sources, structuring the soul's journey from the last 30 days before death through its stages in the afterlife, until possible reincarnation."

How did your collaboration with co-author Orit Martin come about?

"After completing my research, I met Orit Martin, a good friend's wife, Dr. Oz Martin. She asked if I had Zohar sources on the afterlife. I mentioned I was about to publish a book on it, and she was amazed, saying it was exactly what she was seeking. We combined our collections of righteous stories and near-death experiences with complementary material. Dr. Kastner shares that their focus on the afterlife brought great comfort regarding their son's death. "When entering a dark room, we are frightened by the unknown, fearing a potential injury. Once you know what's inside, fear diminishes. When our son passed, we were devastated. Though the pain remains, gaining insight and evidence that he exists elsewhere, progressing spiritually with departed family, provided comfort. Acknowledging Hashem for the brief treasure He gave us was possible because we knew his purpose lay elsewhere. Understanding all this helps us cope better."

Has your lifestyle changed in any way?

"Spiritually, we've grown stronger since his passing. Even as part of a religious community, our faith deepened. We have four other children and could not ignore them. We needed strength to support them fully and not collapse under our grief."

Who Wants to Think About Death?

In her introduction, co-author Orit Martin raises a poignant question: why do we repress thoughts of death? She writes: "Imagine someone embarking on a journey to another land, uninterested in its language, currency, or maps. Foolish, right? We meticulously plan life here, yet ignore future needs as if refusing maps or stories from those who've been. We absurdly claim 'no one returned from there'. Could that naive traveler be us? Sadly, yes. Despite the illogical stance, we behave like ostriches concerning death and the afterlife, relying on vague beliefs instead of seeking clarity."

Dr. Kastner, as a professional, how do you explain this denial Orit mentions?

"It’s like when someone starts their day knowing they have ten tasks—seven enjoyable, three not. Naturally, they'd prefer the pleasant tasks, postponing the unpleasant. Yet, delaying often worsens these issues. I counsel my clients to do something uplifting in the morning to boost their mood, then tackle the tougher tasks early on. This metaphor explains our reluctance: while healthy and successful, who wants to ponder mortality? It's also cultural; we're taught not to discuss loss and death when life offers other topics. The Torah instructs to live, yet I argue the opposite: awareness of the afterlife enhances current life quality. Whether young or old, knowing the soul's existential continuity offers a healthier outlook."

During your book research, were there revelations that surprised you?

"Almost everything in the book was a revelation to me. Dr. Newton's research, along with Jewish sources, contained surprises that motivated me to share the insights in a book for the comfort and enlightenment of others. I wanted others to enjoy the divine presence and knowledge contained within."

You mentioned being religious before, how did you not know this before?

"I had a superficial knowledge. Referenced in Pirkei Avot and some Talmud, my understanding lacked depth."

Did writing this book increase or decrease your fear of death?

"Good question. I fear having limited time to fulfill my life's tasks here. It's unsettling not to accomplish all I wish to. Beyond that, I'm concerned about the accountability in the afterlife for my actions here. Yet, knowing Hashem's compassionate nature, offering lessons for our mistakes, is soothing. Understanding we are judged with kindness offers reassurance, provided I follow Hashem's path."

Meet Orit Martin

Orit Martin, co-author and writer, is also a painter, expressing her spiritual connection through art. "Art is wisdom of the heart," she says. "Art conveys spiritual matters through emotional experience. When the soul visualizes, it can 'hear' melodies of higher worlds. My paintings use earthly materials to illustrate these high lights." The included painting depicts a ladder from our world to the higher, symbolizing spiritual ascent through good deeds as fruits on a tree.