27 replies to this topic

[miamigirl]

But she has the Zechus of Torah anyway - נשים במאי זכיין וכו - so when you learn you awaken that Zechus.

What about a woman taking on something in the area of Tznius for a man?

[Rabbi Shapiro]

Men have Tznius requirements too, so that's OK.

[FS613]

What happens to the souls which are not resurrected?

Do they exist forever in some sort of "limbo" ?

Thank you.

They either disappear totally or they stay in Gehennom forever, depending on how bad they were (for the second case, see Rashi Chagigah 16b).

Should a Baal Tshuvah sit Shiva and say Kaddish, keep Yartzeit, and say Yizkor 4 times a year

for a "Reform" Jew parent whose soul either disappears totally or stays in Gehennom forever,

depending on how bad the person was?

Thank you.

[FS613]

1) Would a Torah-observant Ben Noach / Bas Noach merit Tichiyas HaMeisim and Olam Haba?

2) If, instead, a non-Jew is an Xtain, Muslim, etc. at the time of death,

does his/her soul also disappear after death or stay in Gehennom forever, depending on how bad he/she was?

[Moderator #3]

1) Would a Torah-observant Ben Noach / Bas Noach merit Tichiyas HaMeisim and Olam Haba?

2) If, instead, a non-Jew is an Xtain, Muslim, etc. at the time of death,

does his/her soul also disappear after death or stay in Gehennom forever, depending on how bad he/she was?

1) There is some type of Olam Habah for Akum, but it is not the same as the Olam Habah for a Jew.

2) It depends on how bad they were. Part of that is also a disagreement in the Poskim regarding how much of an Aveirah it is to be Muslim or Xtian.

[Rabbi Shapiro]

Should a Baal Tshuvah sit Shiva and say Kaddish, keep Yartzeit, and say Yizkor 4 times a year

for a "Reform" Jew parent

Shiva - If he wants to he can but there is no obligation to do so. (But if saying this to the mourner would hurt him, don't say it. What I'm saying here is the bare-bones Halachah. How to handle this sensitive situation in real life is a different matter altogether.)

Kaddish - There is no obligation, but he should say it anyway.The reason is, because Kaddish is, among other things, a Kapparah for the Neshamah of the deceased, and even a Rasha (especially a Rasha) can use a Kapparah.

Yizkor - He should say it.

[FS613]

Thank you, Rabbi, for the explanation.

I would not intend to pass on the information to anyone mourning for a relative,

because I certainly would not want to hurt him or her;

but I'm asking only for knowledge in this topic:

Regarding saying Kaddish and Yizkor (e.g. saying "Yizkor Elokim" or "Kayl Malay Rachaim" but with Hashem's name, in Davening) for a Nishama that no longer exists (not a Nishama which still exists but C"V is in Gehennom),

wouldn't this be like C"V taking Hashem's name in vain, because there's no Nishama remaining to pray for?

Thank you.

[Rabbi Shapiro]

The Neshama needs a Kappara if it's in Gehennom, and you never know if it's disappeared.