Echoes of Torah: Learning Beyond This World

For those who possess wisdom and awaken from their slumber to study Torah, the sound of their Torah reverberates in Gan Eden. Hashem listens to it, and the righteous souls in Gan Eden ask, "Master of the Universe, whose voice is this?"

And He answers them, "This is the voice of a righteous person, and the sacred soul within that righteous one is engaging in Torah. Therefore, listen all of you, for this voice is more pleasing to me than all the songs and praises sung by angels above."

As written in Shir HaShirim 8:13, "You who dwell in gardens," it is explained that Hashem says to the soul, "You, the holy soul that dwells in that lower world amidst the gardens and muck of the body, yet you engage in Torah at midnight. In Gan Eden, the souls listen to your pleasant voice, and thus, raise your voice in my Torah; I delight in it. By your Torah study, you will be rewarded with kindness in the World to Come."

(Zohar Chadash, Genesis 17:1 "Sweet as Honey" p. 74)

The Power of the Righteous' Torah in the World Above

Once, the soul of a departed person came to the holy Rabbi Shmuel Isaac, a great disciple of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, and asked him to recite some teaching from our Rabbi's Torah. Rabbi Shmuel granted the request, reciting the first sentence of Torah 5 (Part 1 of Likutei Moharan):

"Know that the essence of life is received through prayer, as it is said (Psalms 42:9) 'a prayer to the God of my life.'"

Upon hearing this quote, the departed soul became overwhelmingly enthusiastic, so much so that it ascended higher and higher until it vanished from Rabbi Shmuel's sight.

Stunned and moved, Rabbi Shmuel Isaac ran to our holy Rabbi and recounted what had transpired. The Rabbi listened and laughed:

"What do you think? That in the World to Come they hear my Torah as you hear it in this world?"

In the World to Come, the World of Truth, the greatness of the righteous' Torah is revealed in its full glory. It becomes evident that even a single phrase from their teachings enlightens countless souls and elevates them immensely, reaching the highest of heights.

The Mysteries of Torah and the Fate of Souls

When male souls return from the upper Gan Eden, they bring with them new insights in the mysteries of Torah and present these insights to the head of the yeshiva. On this particular day, ancient secrets once questioned by Moshe Rabbeinu (as explained in Berachot 7a) were revisited, like why a righteous person may suffer while another prospers: If both are righteous, why is their fate different?

It was explained that all souls ascend the scales of the upper tree, Tiferet, before coming into this world. There it is decreed whether one will be rich or poor, strong or weak. Depending on the decree above, that is how they will find their life in this world. If it is known to Hashem that if a person were to be wealthy and comfortable, they might follow their desires and sin, then they are tested with suffering in this world, allowing them to be refined, and deserving to be a righteous person as befitting their soul, hence a righteous person who suffers.

... If a tree doesn’t give off light when lit, it is crushed until it shines, just as a body of a righteous person that doesn't conduct itself worthy of its holy soul is crushed with suffering until the soul shines brightly, uniting body and soul so both illuminate together. This purification allows one’s thoughts to be purified and actions improved, enabling the soul to shine within them. This is why a person may have the soul of a righteous person but suffers, for they do not live up to their soul's value.

... At that time, the spirits hear many new and ancient things before descending to the lower Gan Eden, where they share what they heard with the head of the yeshiva, who explains everything in its proper context. When the spirits ascend above, they shed the garments of the lower Gan Eden, ascending to the upper Gan Eden, and when they descend, they return to their lower garments, known as bodies for the soul’s sake.

(Zohar, Shelach 168, "Sweet as Honey" p. 144-147)

Midnight Torah Learning in Gan Eden

All the souls gather together, and they all engage in the Torah, which is the divine knowledge of Hashem in all the yeshivas there. They have several overseers and many novel insights arise in Torah. Afterward, they all leave the yeshivas and observe when Elijah comes into the chamber of the Patriarchs. When they see Elijah exiting, the souls enter and stand before the Patriarchs, who rejoice with the many holy children around them, all sharing in the joy.

When Hashem enters Gan Eden at midnight, all the righteous souls in Gan Eden stand arranged properly. Their entire pursuit of Torah at midnight is in the Torah innovations from that day... and Hashem delights in them.

Later, all the souls arrange themselves male and female, in the secret unity of the souls of the righteous in Gan Eden, and after Hashem delights in their souls through all their wisdom's secrets, His light reveals itself upon them... and they see in the pleasure of Hashem... then all rejoice greatly until their radiance and light extend widely, spreading the glow and light of joy.

(Zohar, Supplements, Part 3 Sign 10 p. 303, "Sweet as Honey" p. 359-360)

Is There Eating and Drinking in the World Above?

In the World to Come, there is no eating or drinking, and likewise on Yom Kippur – there is no eating or drinking.

(Zohar Chadash – Tikkunim 113, "Sweet as Honey" p. 3)

The Meaning Behind the Feast of the Leviathan in the World to Come

[The Sages said (Berachot 17a): "... In the World to Come there is neither eating nor drinking... but the righteous sit... and enjoy the glow of the Shechinah..." as it is written (Exodus 24) "They saw Hashem, and they ate and drank" and Rashi explains "They were satisfied by the glow of the Shechinah as if they ate and drank"...]

In Bava Batra (75a) we find: "In the future, Hashem will make a feast for the righteous from the flesh of the Leviathan"...]

What is the difference between the term "enjoying" [Berachot 17] and "sustained by" [according to Rabbi Elazar]? Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai explains: "The righteous who did not achieve as much" [in understanding God's presence] simply enjoy that glow... "but those who achieved" a greater level are "sustained by it until fully grasping understanding – and there is no eating or drinking but this"... namely, understanding God. How do we know this is true? From Moses, for it is written: "He was there with Hashem for forty days and forty nights, bread he did not eat and water he did not drink."

[Why?]... Because he was sustained by a different kind of feast, namely, by that upper glow, meaning the glow of the Shechinah, and in a similar manner will be the feast of the righteous in the future.

Rabbi Isaac said: I was before Rabbi Joshua and asked him about this. I said to him, if the feast of the righteous in the future is literally of meat and fish and good wine. [For] it does not fit with my understanding as Rabbi Elazar said that eating and drinking is grasping God's presence!

... It is written in the book Zohar Chai: What is said here about the feast of the righteous with the Leviathan, Shor HaBaar, and aged wine, should not be thought of as mere allegory and parable, for that would be heresy. Rather, the matter is true without allegory or riddles. But this feast and other such feasts will be an intermediate state between the physical and spiritual, which is Rabbi Yochanan’s view, and it is true, not arguing with other sages but explaining their words. This meal will take place several times after the revival of the dead and in the lower Gan Eden in this world, which also is an intermediary between physical and spiritual. The body after revival will be physical but not coarse as it is now, rather like the body of Moshe Rabbeinu. Then, its sustenance and meals will be refined, between physical and spiritual. Through these feasts, they will temporarily overstep physicality and will be sustained by the glow of the Shechinah in deep mysteries they will grasp through the preserved wine. This is enough, for all the words of the sages are enduring, true, and precious more than gold and fine gold.

(Zohar, Toldot 135: "Midrash Ne'elam" "Sweet as Honey" p. 179-183)

How Do Our Prayers Appear in the World Above?

In the book "Surrounded by Light," Betty Eadie, who was deceased for about four hours, shares a miraculous story of her experiences in the world above.

Her testimony regarding human prayers is particularly fascinating:

"I saw the Earth spinning in space. I noticed many torches of light shining on the Earth. Some shot into the heavens as wide, bright beams like lasers, others resembled the light from flashlights, and some were just sparks. I was surprised when my escort told me the beams of light were the prayers of people from Earth.

I saw angels hurrying to respond to prayers. They organized themselves to provide as much assistance as possible. They systematically moved from person to person, prayer to prayer, filled with love and joy during their work. They always answered the brightest and most profound prayers first, then every prayer in its time until all were answered.

I noticed that formulaic prayers that were repeated almost didn’t produce light, and when prayers were powerless and unfocused, they were rarely visible at all.

I was explicitly told that all supplications are heard and answered. When we are in great distress or when we pray for others, beams of light shine directly from us and are immediately seen.

It was made clear that no prayer is greater than a mother's prayer for her children...

Our prayers for others are very powerful, but they will only be answered if they do not harm the free will of others and are not contrary to their needs. If our friends’ faith is weak, our spirit's strength may bolster them. If they are sick, our sincere prayers can heal them, provided their illness is not a test aiding their growth. If they are nearing death, we must request that the will of the Creator be done, or else contradictions between opposing desires may frustrate those about to depart the world. Our possibilities to aid others are infinite. We can help our family, friends, and others far more than we ever imagined."