Pemikiran Yahudi Daniel 12:2: Duties, Akeidat Yitzchak & For the Perplexed

The prophetical books contain clear indications of reward and punishment in the world to come. The following are examples: "For G-d shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil" (Koheles 12:14). "And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the sole of your feet" (Malachi 3:21). "[behold a day is coming, it burns as a furnace and all the wicked shall be as stubble...] then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves G-d and him that serves Him not." (Malachi 3:18). "And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me; for their worm shall not die. neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an eternal abhorrence unto all flesh" (Yeshaya 66:24). "How great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for them that fear You, which You have wrought for them that trust in You before the children of men" (Tehilim 31:20). "Thus says the L-ord of Hosts, if you will walk in My ways . . .I will give you places to walk among these that stand'" (Zach. 3:7). "Eye has not seen, O G-d, beside You, what He had prepared for him that waits for Him" (Yeshaya 64:3). "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). "Your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the L-ord shall be your reward" (Yeshaya 58:8). And there are many passages to the same effect, too numerous to mention.

Concerning the traditional view that on Rosh Hashanah the righteous are inscribed for life, the wicked for death, and the ones whose conduct is in balance are given grace until Yom Kippur, (based on Yuma 16) the author rejects the usual answers to the vexing problem of "the wicked seem to enjoy a good life, while many of the righteous frequently suffer greatly." The problem is highlighted by our judging from visual observations from the outside only.

However, for a purpose of humanity such as this, the only thing that will bring future generations to this is the keeping of these lofty chukim that are designated to sow the seeds of righteousness. For the heart cannot be transformed except through the emergence of a multitude of actions over the course of many generations which are directed towards a lofty ultimate purpose. And the ultimate purpose, even though it can only be perceived by individuals who understand it, when that time comes when it is proper for the entire nation to inherit it, this impact will be accepted and closely guarded. If so, anyone who keeps the chukim of the Torah is doing (Deuteronomy 33:21) "God’s righteousness", with the whole world in general, and with the Jews especially, and his soul will be filled with light, with the recognition of the greatness of the value of the general goal of the Torah, which can only be completed with the practical keeping of the Torah, that is built with the sagacity of God; (Kiddushin 30a) “I created the evil inclination, and I created Torah as its antidote.” If man's nature is (Genesis 6:5) "only evil all the time", isn’t the Torah a “tree of life” to sweeten [life’s] bitterness? And who is he that takes his share [of responsibility] in this lofty and enlightened future of humanity? Only someone who keeps the Torah. And how great is the shame, and how grievous is the loss, for any soul that can take part of that lofty ultimate purpose, through not separating from the community, and going in the way of life of his nation, even from the aspect of the crass recognition of the masses to recognize the holy mission; how evil and bitter is it when he sees that his own hands have caused him to lose his share in doing the collective good for all of humanity, and for everything that has a living breath. How mighty is that pure feeling of those who see the future purpose. (Malachi 3:18) "Then shall you return, and you will discern between the righteous and the wicked, between he that serves God, and those that do not serve Him;" (Daniel 12:2) "these are for everlasting contempt" and "these are for everlasting life".