After one-hundred-and-twenty

By Hillel Halkin

Book Description

Drawing from ancient biblical texts to contemporary Jewish thought, this profound exploration reveals how one of the world's oldest religious traditions has grappled with humanity's most universal questions about mortality and what lies beyond.

Hillel Halkin guides readers through centuries of evolving Jewish perspectives on death, mourning, and the afterlife, beginning with the Bible's initial silence on post-mortem existence and tracing how subsequent generations developed rich theological frameworks around personal judgment, bodily resurrection, and even concepts of reincarnation. The journey moves through Talmudic wisdom about grief and burial practices, medieval philosophical developments including Maimonides' contributions, and the mystical insights found in the Zohar.

This thoughtful examination uncovers the historical roots of familiar Jewish customs, including the origins of reciting Kaddish for the deceased, while exploring fascinating beliefs about encountering departed souls through visions and dreams. Rather than offering simple answers, the book presents a nuanced portrait of how Jewish communities have continuously wrestled with questions of meaning, memory, and transcendence across different eras and cultural contexts.

For readers seeking to understand how spiritual traditions address life's deepest mysteries, this work offers valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between ancient wisdom and evolving human understanding. The title itself reflects the Jewish blessing for longevity, honoring Moses who reportedly lived to 120 years, symbolizing a life fully lived and meaningfully concluded.