Moses' Mortality

In Deuteronomy 31:14-17 as Moses is reminded that he will soon "lie with his fathers" the Torah study session focused on Jewish perspectives of the afterlife.

What does it mean to “lie with your fathers”, to “be gathered to your kin” (Gen:25) , to “lie down with your fathers” (Gen:47)? There is definite reference to a description of death relating to a connection with those who came before us but not many details other than that.

In the time of the Prophets there was more descriptions in Isaiah and Job (examples) that give more of an image of an afterlife. It was in Rabbinic times that the concept of an immortal soul became strong.

Maimonedes tried to lead people away from the belief in an afterlife.

There was much discussion on how each year at Yom Kippur we reflect on this aspect of our lives. And even the connection that as one gets nearer to the end of life there seems to be a stronger long term memory of the past.

There is one consistent thought that Jews do not tie the notion of the immortal soul with a reason to act a particular way in life. That is there is no concept of ‘be good so you go to heaven’ in Jewish thought.