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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 22:42:18 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: An Explicit Biblical Source for the Next World

Joseph Adler asks in MJ V29n60
>if the concept of ... the after life is so
>important to Jewish faith, why then does one have to rely on a
>Midrashic-like analysis to prove that the concept of the Messiah is in
>fact Biblical in origin?

A simple answer to 'EXPLICIT statement of the next world' was given
by me in the email group Torah Forum in Apr 97(or 98). The bottom
line is that the Biblical phrase ORECH YAMIM (LONG DAYS) is identical
with the concept of the hereafter (OLAM HABAH) in Rabbinic literature.

Here is a brief synopsis of the argument:

1) The Bible in about a dozen places EXPLICITLY lists the reward
for observing the commandments as ORECH YAMIM.

2) RDQ points out that ORECH YAMIM does not mean (PHYSICALLY) LONG
DAYS but rather (QUALITATIVELY) LONG DAYS (Just as e.g. the word BIG
can refer to BIG size or IMPORTANCE so too can LONG refer to PHYSICAL
LENGTH (long life) or a GOOD LIFE).

3) If you go to a Konkordance and look up the places where ORECH YAMIM
occurs you will see that the reward for the commandments is EXACTLY
what Rabbinic literature describes as the next world. Indeed the Bible
describes this ORECH YAMIM reward as a world where
---we speak about God's wonders
---we find happiness in studying God's law
---we find happiness in honesty and our vocational teachers/peers

I hope this helps in appreciating this difficult but vast concept

Russell Hendel; PHd ASA; Moderator Rashi Is Simple;
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/