The Power of the Righteous: Insights into Life After Passing

The Soul of the Righteous - Beneath the Heavenly Throne

The souls of the righteous are hidden beneath Hashem's Throne, as it is written, "And the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Hashem your God."

(Tractate Shabbat 152b).

Midnight Revelries in the Garden of Eden

At the stroke of midnight, Hashem enters the Garden of Eden to take pleasure with the righteous... When the Shechinah, symbolized by Rachel, descends to the Garden of Eden in the World of Creation, it delights in the Torah study of those righteous who rise at midnight to learn. All the trees in the garden sing and praise before it, meaning the sephirot in the World of Creation sing before the Shechinah that descends to their realm.

(Zohar, Lech Lecha).

Continuing Torah Study After Passing

Rabbi Eliezer told his son: "Go tell your mother to place my tefillin in a high and respected place, where I engaged in Torah all my life. After I leave this world, I'll visit and see the tefillin that are my intellect used to serve Hashem." As explained in the Zohar, Pinchas, the righteous visit the places where they studied Torah in this life once they enter the next.

(Zohar, Vayera).

Can the Righteous Resurrect the Dead?

Rabbi Judah said: "In the future, the righteous will... create worlds through new Torah insights and resurrect the dead with the dew of life that Hashem will send down." Rabbi Yossi asked: "But Scripture states, 'There is nothing new under the sun'—how can righteous resurrect the dead, something not possible in this world?" Rabbi Judah replied: "Indeed, the righteous can resurrect here as well, but as long as the wicked exist here, they prevent the righteous from doing so."

(Zohar, Toldot).

Why Does Hashem Sometimes Take Righteous People Early?

For two reasons, righteous people may leave this world before their time. First, because of the sins in a generation; when wickedness spreads, the righteous among them suffer for their sins, and their death can sweeten and correct, atoning for the entire generation. Second, if Hashem foresees they might sin like those around them in the future.

(Zohar, Shemot).

The Souls of the Righteous Protect in Times of Trouble

Hashem designated three realms for the souls of the righteous: one in this world, where they protect the living; their spirit ascends to the earthly Garden of Eden in the World of Formation; their soul reaches the upper Garden of Eden in the World of Creation. When the world needs mercy, the souls on the graves pray, alerting the patriarchs, who advocate and visit in the earthly Garden of Eden. They decree goodness, canceling evil. Hashem fulfills their desires to show mercy.

The souls remain in this world to protect the living, called "Nefesh." The souls on the grave know the troubles and sufferings of the living and act to guard the generation. As the sages say, "The dead know the world’s sorrow," referenced in the Mishnah: "If the soul is cut off, it even cuts off the nefesh on the grave."

(Zohar, Acharei Mot).

The Burden of the Generation on a Righteous Person

The world’s people are like limbs of one body; all souls together form one entity. When Hashem wishes to bring healing to the world, He afflicts a righteous person among them with illnesses, as the righteous uphold the world in strength. How do we know? As mentioned regarding King Messiah: "He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities." Just like in bloodletting, where removing excess blood brings healing, the suffering of the righteous brings atonement to the world.

A righteous person suffers not for personal faults but to bring healing to their generation—a reason there can be "righteous who suffer." The Accuser finds joy in afflicting the righteous rather than the world, as it diverts its evil focus. Job faced such strife, targeted by Satan but ultimately restored and blessed. Unlike suffering, when sins are unbearable, only death can fully atone, bringing healing to everyone.

(Zohar, Pinchas).

The Highest Realm for the Righteous

Rabbi Yitzchak said: "There are many areas designated for the righteous in the afterlife, the seven heavens for the righteous souls in the Garden of Eden. The highest one is for those who truly loved Hashem." This top realm surpasses all due to their devout love for Hashem.

Hashem adorns Himself through the loving deeds of these righteous, and their advocacy allows mercy in the lower world. This unity of divine 'faces' symbolizes the enduring nature of divine love—unextinguished by forces that oppose.

(Zohar, Va'etchanan).

Heavenly Court's Recognition of Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch

A devout Chassid, Rabbi Eliezer of Kovna, recounted a story from a fellow Chassid: On the anniversary of his mother's passing, he fell asleep while studying Mishnah. In a dream, he was visited by his mother and grandmother, who warned him of a heavenly decree threatening his life. Despite family pleas, only seeking help from Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch, highly revered in Heaven, could overturn it. He visited the Rebbe who reassured him, advised fulfilling an incomplete vow, and indeed, the problem dissipated, leading to prosperity.