Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this chapter, the Rambam opens up a window for us to understand the ultimate reward of the righteous, which is the life of the World to Come (Olam Haba). We will learn about the nature of this spiritual existence, where there is no physical body, no eating or drinking, but rather the souls of the righteous basking in the radiance of the Shechinah.
We will also learn about the ultimate punishment of the wicked, which is Kares—the complete cutting off and destruction of the soul. The Rambam guides us to look past the physical desires of this world and understand that the true, eternal good waiting for us is entirely spiritual, far beyond any physical pleasure we can comprehend.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
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הַטּוֹבָה הַצְּפוּנָה לַצַּדִּיקִים וְעוֹנֶשׁ הַכָּרֵת שֶׁל הָרְשָׁעִיםHalacha 1 · The Hidden Reward of the Righteous and the Spiritual Excision of the Wicked
הַטוֹבָהThe goodהַצְּפוּנָהthat is hiddenלַצַּדִּיקִיםfor the righteousהִיאitחַיֵּיis the life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאto comeוְהִיאand itהַחַיִּיםis the lifeשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noמָוֶתdeathעִמָּהֶןwith themוְהַטּוֹבָהand the goodשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noעִמָּהּwith itרָעָה.evilהוּאitשֶׁכָּתוּבis that which is writtenבַּתּוֹרָהin the TorahדבריםDevarimכב22ז7"לְמַעַן"so thatיִיטַבit will be goodלָךְto youוְהַאֲרַכְתָּand you will prolongיָמִים".days"מִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהַשְּׁמוּעָהthe traditionלָמְדוּthey learnedלְמַעַןso thatיִיטַבit will be goodלָךְto youלְעוֹלָםfor the worldשֶׁכֻּלּוֹthat is entirelyטוֹבgoodוְהַאֲרַכְתָּand you will prolongיָמִיםdaysלְעוֹלָםfor the worldשֶׁכֻּלּוֹthat is entirelyאָרֹךְ.longוְזֶהand thisהוּאitהָעוֹלָםis the worldהַבָּא.to comeשְׂכַרThe reward ofהַצַּדִּיקִיםthe righteousהוּאitשֶׁיִּזְכּוּis that they will meritלְנֹעַםto the pleasantness ofזֶהthisוְיִהְיוּand they will beבְּטוֹבָהin goodnessזוֹ.thisוּפִרְעוֹןAnd the retribution ofהָרְשָׁעִיםthe wickedהוּאitשֶׁלֹּאis that notיִזְכּוּthey will meritלְחַיִּיםto lifeאֵלּוּthisאֶלָּאratherיִכָּרְתוּthey will be cut offוְיָמוּתוּ.and they will dieוְכָלAnd allמִיwhoשֶׁאֵינוֹthat does notזוֹכֶהmeritלְחַיִּיםto lifeאֵלּוּthisהוּאheהַמֵּתis the deadשֶׁאֵינוֹwho does notחַיliveלָעוֹלָםforeverאֶלָּאratherנִכְרַתhe is cut offבְּרִשְׁעוֹin his wickednessוְאָבֵדand perishesכִּבְהֵמָה.like an animalוְזֶהוּAnd this isכָּרֵתkaretהַכְּתוּבָהthe writtenבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבמדברBamidbarטו15לא31"הִכָּרֵת"surely cut offתִּכָּרֵתshall be cut offהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulהַהִיא".that"מִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהַשְּׁמוּעָהthe traditionלָמְדוּthey learnedהִכָּרֵתsurely cut offבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisתִּכָּרֵתshall be cut offלָעוֹלָםfor the worldהַבָּא.to comeכְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayשֶׁאוֹתָהּthat thatהַנֶּפֶשׁsoulשֶׁפֵּרְשָׁהthat separatedמִןfromהַגּוּףthe bodyבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisאֵינָהּdoes notזוֹכָהmeritלְחַיֵּיto the life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאto comeאֶלָּאratherגַּםalsoמִןfromהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאto comeנִכְרֶתֶת:it is cut off
This halacha defines the ultimate reward of the World to Come as eternal life free of evil, and explains that the punishment of karet is the total spiritual destruction of the soul.
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הַקִּיּוּם הָרוּחָנִי בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא בְּלֹא גּוּף וּגְוִיָּהHalacha 2 · The Spiritual Existence in the World to Come Without a Physical Body
הָעוֹלָםThe worldהַבָּאthe comingאֵיןthere is notבּוֹin itגּוּףbodyוּגְוִיָּהand physical formאֶלָּאbutנַפְשׁוֹתsouls ofהַצַּדִּיקִיםthe righteousבִּלְבַדaloneבְּלֹאwithoutגּוּףbodyכְּמַלְאֲכֵיlike angels ofהַשָּׁרֵת.the serviceהוֹאִילsinceוְאֵיןand there is notבּוֹin itגְּוִיּוֹתphysical formsאֵיןthere is notבּוֹin itלֹאnotאֲכִילָהeatingוְלֹאand notשְׁתִיָּהdrinkingוְלֹאand notדָּבָרanythingמִכָּלfrom allהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsשֶׁגּוּפוֹתthat bodies ofבְּנֵיsons ofאָדָםmanצְרִיכִיןneedלָהֶןthemבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּה.thisוְלֹאand notיֶאֱרַעwill occurדָּבָרanythingבּוֹin itמִןfromהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsשֶׁמְּאָרְעִיןthat occurלַגּוּפוֹתto the bodiesבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּה.thisכְּגוֹןsuch asיְשִׁיבָהsittingוַעֲמִידָהand standingוְשֵׁנָהand sleepingוּמִיתָהand deathוְעֶצֶבand sadnessוּשְׂחוֹקand laughterוְכַיּוֹצֵאand the likeבָּהֶן.of themכָּךְsoאָמְרוּsaidחֲכָמִיםSagesהָרִאשׁוֹנִיםthe firstגמראGemaraברכותBerachosיז17אa"הָעוֹלָםThe worldהַבָּאthe comingאֵיןthere is notבּוֹin itלֹאnotאֲכִילָהeatingוְלֹאand notשְׁתִיָּהdrinkingוְלֹאand notתַּשְׁמִישׁcohabitationאֶלָּאbutצַדִּיקִיםrighteousיוֹשְׁבִיםsitוְעַטְרוֹתֵיהֶםand their crownsבְּרָאשֵׁיהֶןon their headsוְנֶהֱנִיןand delightמִזִּיוfrom the radiance ofהַשְּׁכִינָה".the Divine Presenceהֲרֵיbeholdנִתְבָּרֵרit is clarifiedלְךָto youשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notשָׁםthereגּוּףbodyלְפִיbecauseשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notשָׁםthereאֲכִילָהeatingוּשְׁתִיָּה.and drinkingוְזֶהand thisשֶׁאָמְרוּthat they saidצַדִּיקִיםrighteousיוֹשְׁבִיןsitדֶּרֶךְby way ofחִידָהriddleאָמְרוּ.they saidכְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayהַצַּדִּיקִיםthe righteousמְצוּיִיןexistשָׁםthereבְּלֹאwithoutעָמָלlaborוּבְלֹאand withoutיְגִיעָה.toilוְכֵןand likewiseזֶהthisשֶׁאָמְרוּthat they saidעַטְרוֹתֵיהֶןtheir crownsבְּרָאשֵׁיהֶןon their headsכְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayדַּעַתknowledgeשֶׁיָּדְעוּthat they knewשֶׁבִּגְלָלָהּthat because of itזָכוּthey meritedלְחַיֵּיto the life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאthe comingמְצוּיָהis presentעִמָּהֶןwith themוְהִיאand itהָעֲטָרָהthe crownשֶׁלָּהֶןof theirsכָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁאָמַרthat saidשְׁלֹמֹהShlomoשירSong ofהשיריםSongsג3יא11"בָּעֲטָרָהWith the crownשֶׁעִטְּרָהthat crownedלּוֹhimאִמּוֹ".his motherוַהֲרֵיand beholdהוּאheאוֹמֵרsaysישעיהYeshayahלה35י10"וְשִׂמְחַתAnd joy ofעוֹלָםeternityעַלuponרֹאשָׁם"their headוְאֵיןand there is notהַשִּׂמְחָהthe joyגּוּףa bodyכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁתָּנוּחַthat it should restעַלuponהָרֹאשׁ.the headכָּךְsoעֲטָרָהcrownשֶׁאָמְרוּthat saidחֲכָמִיםSagesכָּאןhereהִיאitהַיְדִיעָה.the knowledgeוּמַהוּand what isזֶהthisשֶׁאָמְרוּthat they saidנֶהֱנִיןdelightמִזִּיוfrom the radiance ofהַשְּׁכִינָה.the Divine Presenceשֶׁיּוֹדְעִיםthat they knowוּמַשִּׂיגִיןand comprehendמֵאֲמִתַּתfrom the truth ofהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy OneבָּרוּךְBlessedהוּאis Heמַהwhatשֶּׁאֵינָםthat they do notיוֹדְעִיםknowוְהֵםwhile theyבַּגּוּףin the bodyהָאָפֵלthe darkהַשָּׁפָל:the lowly
The Rambam explains that the World to Come is entirely spiritual, and that the Sages' descriptions of sitting and wearing crowns are metaphors for intellectual and spiritual comprehension.
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מַהוּת הַנֶּפֶשׁ בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא וּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּיםHalacha 3 · The Nature of the Soul in the World to Come and the Bond of Life
כָּלEveryנֶפֶשׁsoulהָאֲמוּרָהreferred toבְּעִנְיָןin the matterזֶהthisאֵינָהּis notהַנְּשָׁמָהthe soulהַצְּרִיכָהthat needsלַגּוּףthe bodyאֶלָּאbut ratherצוּרַתthe form ofהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulשֶׁהִיאwhich isהַדֵּעָהthe knowledgeשֶׁהִשִּׂיגָהthat it comprehendedמֵהַבּוֹרֵאof the Creatorכְּפִיaccording toכֹּחָהּits powerוְהֶשֵּׂגָהּand its comprehension ofהַדֵּעוֹתthe intellectsהַנִּפְרָדוֹתthe abstractוּשְׁאָרand otherהַמַּעֲשִׂיםworksוְהִיאand itהַצּוּרָהis the formשֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּwhose we explainedעִנְיָנָהּnatureבְּפֶרֶקin chapterרְבִיעִיfourthמֵהִלְכוֹתof the Laws ofיְסוֹדֵיFoundations ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahהִיאitהַנִּקְרֵאתis that which is calledנֶפֶשׁsoulבְּעִנְיָןin the matterזֶה.thisחַיִּיםLifeאֵלּוּthisלְפִיbecauseשֶׁאֵיןthere is notעִמָּהֶםwith themמָוֶתdeathשֶׁאֵיןsinceהַמָּוֶתdeathאֶלָּאis onlyמִמְּאֹרְעוֹתfrom the occurrences ofהַגּוּףthe bodyוְאֵיןand there is notשָׁםthereגּוּףa bodyנִקְרְאוּit is calledצְרוֹרthe bond ofהַחַיִּיםlifeשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשמואלShmuelאAlephכה25כט29"וְהָיְתָהand shall beנֶפֶשׁthe soul ofאֲדֹנִיmy masterצְרוּרָהboundבִּצְרוֹרin the bond ofהַחַיִּים".lifeוְזֶהוּand this isהַשָּׂכָרthe rewardשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noשָׂכָרrewardלְמַעְלָהaboveמִמֶּנּוּitוְהַטּוֹבָהand the goodשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noאַחֲרֶיהָafter itטוֹבָהgoodוְהִיאand itשֶׁהִתְאַוּוּis that which desiredלָהּfor itכָּלallהַנְּבִיאִים:the prophets
This halacha clarifies that the soul in the World to Come is the intellectual form of the soul, which exists eternally without a physical body.
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הַשֵּׁמוֹת הַשּׁוֹנִים שֶׁל הָעוֹלָם הַבָּאHalacha 4 · The Various Metaphorical Names for the World to Come
וְכַמָּהAnd how manyשֵׁמוֹתnamesנִקְרְאוּwere calledלָהּto itדֶּרֶךְby way ofמָשָׁל.metaphorהַרthe mountain ofה'.Hashemוּמְקוֹםand the place ofקָדְשׁוֹ.His holinessוְדֶרֶךְand the path ofהַקֹּדֶשׁ.the holinessוְחַצְרוֹתand the courtyards ofה'.Hashemוְנֹעַםand the pleasantness ofה'.Hashemוְאֹהֶלand the tent ofה'.Hashemוְהֵיכַלand the palace ofה'.Hashemוּבֵיתand the house ofה'.Hashemוְשַׁעַרand the gate ofה'.HashemוַחֲכָמִיםAnd the Sagesקָרְאוּcalledלָהּto itדֶּרֶךְby way ofמָשָׁלmetaphorלְטוֹבָהfor this goodnessזוֹthisהַמְזֻמֶּנֶתthat is preparedלַצַּדִּיקִיםfor the righteousסְעֻדָּה.a feastוְקוֹרִיןand they callלָהּto itבְּכָלin everyמָקוֹםplaceהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּא:to come
The Rambam lists the biblical and rabbinic metaphors used to describe the spiritual reward of the World to Come.
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עוֹנֶשׁ כָּרֵת וַאֲבַדּוֹן הַנֶּפֶשׁHalacha 5 · The Punishment of Kares and the Destruction of the Soul
הַנְּקָמָהThe retributionשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noנְקָמָהretributionגְּדוֹלָהgreaterמִמֶּנָּהthan itשֶׁתִּכָּרֵתis that will be cut offהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulוְלֹאand notתִּזְכֶּהmeritלְאוֹתָןthoseהַחַיִּיםlivesשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבמדברNumbersטו15לא31"הִכָּרֵתsurely cut offתִּכָּרֵתshall be cut offהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulהַהִיאthatעֲוֹנָהits sinבָּהּ".is in itוְזֶהAnd thisהָאֲבַדּוֹןdestructionהוּאisשֶׁקּוֹרִיןwhat callאוֹתוֹitהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsדֶּרֶךְby way ofמָשָׁלmetaphorבְּאֵרthe pit ofשַׁחַתdestructionוַאֲבַדּוֹןand doomוְתָפְתֶּהand Tophethוַעֲלוּקָהand the leechוְכָלand everyלְשׁוֹןterm ofכְּלָיָהannihilationוְהַשְׁחָתָהand destructionקוֹרְאִיןthey callלוֹitלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהִיאit isהַכְּלָיָהthe annihilationשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noאַחֲרֶיהָafter itתְּקוּמָהarisingוְהַהֶפְסֵדand the lossשֶׁאֵינוֹthat does notחוֹזֵרreturnלְעוֹלָם:forever
This halacha defines the ultimate spiritual punishment of kares as the complete and irreversible destruction of the soul.
הל׳ ו
הַהֶבְדֵּל בֵּין הַטּוֹב הַגַּשְׁמִי לְטוֹב הָעוֹלָם הַבָּאHalacha 6 · The Difference Between Physical Pleasures and the Spiritual Reward of the World to Come
שֶׁמָּאLestתֵּקַלit will be lightבְּעֵינֶיךָin your eyesטוֹבָהgoodnessזוֹthisוּתְדַמֶּהand you will imagineשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notשְׂכַרreward ofהַמִּצְוֹתthe mitzvosוֶהֱיוֹתand being ofהָאָדָםthe personשָׁלֵםcompleteבְּדַרְכֵיin the paths ofהָאֱמֶתthe truthאֶלָּאexceptלִהְיוֹתוֹfor his beingאוֹכֵלeatingוְשׁוֹתֶהand drinkingמַאֲכָלוֹתfoodsטוֹבוֹתgoodוּבוֹעֵלand cohabiting withצוּרוֹתformsנָאוֹתbeautifulוְלוֹבֵשׁand wearingבִּגְדֵיgarments ofשֵׁשׁfine linenוְרִקְמָהand embroideryוְשׁוֹכֵןand dwellingבְּאָהֳלֵיin tents ofשֵׁןivoryוּמִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁand usingבִּכְלֵיutensils ofכֶּסֶףsilverוְזָהָבand goldוּדְבָרִיםand thingsהַדּוֹמִיםthat are similarלְאֵלּוּto theseכְּמוֹlikeשֶׁמְּדַמִּיןthat imagineאֵלּוּtheseהָעַרְבִיִּיםthe Arabsהַטִּפְּשִׁיםthe foolishהָאֱוִילִיםthe sillyהַשְּׁטוּפִיםwho are floodedבְּזִמָּה.with lewdnessאֲבָלbutהַחֲכָמִיםthe Sagesוּבַעֲלֵיand possessors ofדֵּעָהknowledgeיֵדְעוּknowשֶׁכָּלthat allהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsהָאֵלּוּtheseדִּבְרֵיare words ofהֲבַאיnonsenseוְהֶבֶלand vanityהֵםthey areוְאֵיןand there is notבָּהֶםin themתּוֹעֶלֶתbenefitוְאֵינָהּand it is notטוֹבָהgoodnessגְּדוֹלָהgreatאֶצְלֵנוּby usבָּעוֹלָםin worldהַזֶּהthisאֶלָּאexceptמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁאָנוּthat we areבַּעֲלֵיpossessors ofגּוּףbodyוּגְוִיָּה,and physical formוְכָלand allהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsהָאֵלּוּtheseצָרְכֵיneeds ofהַגּוּףthe bodyהֵםthey areוְאֵיןand there is notהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulמִתְאַוָּהdesiringלָהֶםthemוּמְחַמְּדָתָןand lusting for themאֶלָּאexceptמִפְּנֵיbecause ofצֹרֶךְneed ofהַגּוּף,the bodyכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁיִּמְצָאthat it will findחֶפְצוֹits desireוְיַעֲמֹדand standעַלonבֻּרְיוֹ.its healthוּבִזְמַןand in a timeשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notשָׁםthereגּוּףa bodyנִמְצְאוּfound areכָּלallהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsהָאֵלּוּtheseבְּטֵלִים.nullifiedהַטּוֹבָהthe goodnessהַגְּדוֹלָהthe greatשֶׁתִּהְיֶהthat will beבָּהּin itהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַבָּאthe comingאֵיןthere is notשׁוּםanyדֶּרֶךְwayבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisלְהַשִּׂיגָהּto grasp itוְלֵידַעand to knowאוֹתָהּ.itשֶׁאֵיןfor notאָנוּweיוֹדְעִיםknowבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisאֶלָּאexceptטוֹבַתthe goodness ofהַגּוּףthe bodyוְלָהּand for itאָנוּweמִתְאַוִּין.desireאֲבָלbutאוֹתָהּthatהַטּוֹבָהgoodnessגְּדוֹלָהis greatעַדuntilמְאֹדvery muchוְאֵיןand there is notלָהּto itעֵרֶךְcomparisonבְּטוֹבוֹתwith the goods ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַזֶּהthisאֶלָּאexceptדֶּרֶךְby way ofמָשָׁל.metaphorאֲבָלbutבְּדֶרֶךְby way ofהָאֱמֶתthe truthשֶׁנַּעֲרֹךְthat we should compareטוֹבַתthe goodness ofהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַבָּאthe comingבְּטוֹבוֹתwith the goods ofהַגּוּףthe bodyבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisבְּמַאֲכָלin foodוּבְמִשְׁתֶּהand in drinkאֵינוֹit is notכֵן.soאֶלָּאratherאוֹתָהּthatהַטּוֹבָהgoodnessגְּדוֹלָהis greatעַדuntilאֵיןthere is noחֵקֶרsearchingוְאֵיןand there is notלָהּto itעֵרֶךְcomparisonוְדִמְיוֹן.and likenessהוּאit isשֶׁאָמַרthat saidדָּוִדDovidתהיליםPsalmsלא31כ20"מָהHowרַבabundant isטוּבְךָYour goodnessאֲשֶׁרwhichצָפַנְתָּYou have hiddenלִּירֵאֶיךָ"for those who fear Youוְגוֹ':etc
The Rambam explains that the ultimate reward of the World to Come is purely spiritual and cannot be compared to physical pleasures like eating, drinking, or material wealth.
הל׳ ז
הַפְלָגַת טוֹבַת הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא וְהַהֶבְדֵּל מִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַHalacha 7 · The Incomprehensible Good of the World to Come and Its Distinction from the Messianic Era
וְכַמָּהAnd how muchכָּמַהּyearnedדָּוִדDovidוְהִתְאַוָּהand desiredלְחַיֵּיfor the life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאto comeשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidתהיליםTehillimכז27יג13"לוּלֵאHad I notהֶאֱמַנְתִּיbelievedלִרְאוֹתto seeבְּטוּבthe goodness ofה'Hashemבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofחַיִּים".the livingכְּבָרAlreadyהוֹדִיעוּנוּinformed usהַחֲכָמִיםthe Sagesהָרִאשׁוֹנִיםthe earlier onesשֶׁטּוֹבַתthat the goodness ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאto comeאֵיןthere is noכֹּחַstrengthבָּאָדָםin manלְהַשִּׂיגָהּto comprehend itעַלuponבֻּרְיָהּits clarityוְאֵיןand there is no oneיוֹדֵעַwho knowsגָּדְלָהּits greatnessוְיָפְיָהּand its beautyוְעָצְמָהּand its powerאֶלָּאexceptהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy OneבָּרוּךְBlessedהוּאis Heלְבַדּוֹ.aloneוְשֶׁכָּלand that allהַטּוֹבוֹתthe goodsשֶׁמִּתְנַבְּאִיםthat prophesyבָּהֶםabout themהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Yisraelאֵינָןare notאֶלָּאexceptלִדְבָרִיםfor thingsשֶׁבַּגּוּףof the bodyשֶּׁנֶּהֱנִיןthat benefitבָּהֶןfrom themיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלִימוֹתin the days ofהַמָּשִׁיחַthe Mashiachבִּזְמַןat the timeשֶׁתָּשׁוּבthat will returnהַמֶּמְשָׁלָהthe sovereigntyלְיִשְׂרָאֵל.to YisraelאֲבָלButטוֹבַתthe goodness ofחַיֵּיthe life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאto comeאֵיןthere is noלָהּto itעֵרֶךְcomparisonוְדִמְיוֹןand likenessוְלֹאand notדִּמּוּהָdid describe itהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notיִפְחֲתוּthey would diminishאוֹתָהּitבַּדִּמְיוֹן.in the imaginationהוּאIt isשֶׁיְּשַׁעְיָהוּthat YeshayahuאָמַרsaidישעיהYeshayahuסד64ג3"עַיִןNo eyeלֹאnotרָאָתָהhas seenאֱלֹהִיםO Godזוּלָתְךָbesides Youיַעֲשֶׂהwhat He will doלִמְחַכֵּהfor the one who waitsלוֹ".for Himכְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayהַטּוֹבָהthe goodnessשֶׁלֹּאthat notרָאֲתָהsawאוֹתָהּitעֵיןthe eye ofנָבִיאa prophetוְלֹאand notרָאָהsawאוֹתָהּitאֶלָּאexceptאֱלֹהִים,GodעָשָׂהHe madeאוֹתָהּitהָאֱלֹהִיםGodלָאָדָםfor the personשֶׁמְּחַכֶּהwho waitsלוֹ.for HimאָמְרוּThey saidחֲכָמִיםthe SagesכָּלAllהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsכֻּלָּןall of themלֹאdid notנִבְּאוּprophesyאֶלָּאexceptלִימוֹתfor the days ofהַמָּשִׁיחַthe Mashiachאֲבָלbutהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאto comeעַיִןno eyeלֹאnotרָאָתָהhas seenאֱלֹהִיםO Godזוּלָתְךָ:besides You
The Rambam explains that the true reward of the World to Come is entirely spiritual and beyond human comprehension, whereas prophetic promises of physical abundance refer only to the Messianic Era.
הל׳ ח
מְצִיאוּת הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא בַּהוֹוֶה וְטַעַם כִּנּוּיוֹHalacha 8 · The Present Existence of the World to Come and the Reason for Its Name
זֶהThisשֶׁקָּרְאוּthat calledאוֹתוֹitחֲכָמִיםthe Sagesהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאthe comingלֹאnotמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁאֵינוֹthat it is notמָצוּיpresentעַתָּהnowוְזֶהand thisהָעוֹלָםworldאוֹבֵדperishesוְאַחַרand afterכָּךְsoיָבוֹאwill comeאוֹתוֹthatהָעוֹלָם.worldאֵיןnotהַדָּבָרthe matterכֵּן.soאֶלָּאratherהֲרֵיbeholdהוּאitמָצוּיpresentוְעוֹמֵדand standingשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidתהיליםTehillimלא31כ20"אֲשֶׁרwhichצָפַנְתָּYou have hiddenלִּירֵאֶיךָfor those who fear Youפָּעַלְתָּ"You have madeוְגוֹ'.etcוְלֹאand notקְרָאוּהוּdid they call itעוֹלָםworldהַבָּאthe comingאֶלָּאexceptמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁאוֹתָןthat thoseהַחַיִּיםlivesבָּאִיןcomeלוֹto himלָאָדָםto a manאַחַרafterחַיֵּיthe life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַזֶּהthisשֶׁאָנוּthat weקַיָּמִיםexistבּוֹin itבְּגוּףin bodyוְנֶפֶשׁand soulוְזֶהוּand this isהַנִּמְצָאthat which is foundלְכָלto everyאָדָםmanבָּרִאשׁוֹנָה:at first
The Rambam clarifies that the World to Come already exists in the present and is only called 'the coming' because a person enters it after life in this world.
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The Rambam explains that the ultimate reward for the righteous is Olam Haba, a purely spiritual realm where souls exist without physical bodies, like ministering angels, and delight in the comprehension of Hashem's truth. Conversely, the ultimate retribution for the wicked is Kares, the complete and permanent obliteration of the soul. The Rambam clarifies that all physical pleasures are merely needs of the body in this world, and he cautions us not to foolishly imagine Olam Haba as a place of physical indulgence, as the true spiritual good prepared for the righteous is the greatest possible good, which cannot be fully grasped while we are bound to a physical body.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
The Rambam is teaching us a fundamental truth that changes how we look at our entire life: the ultimate reward of the World to Come is not a physical place of eating and drinking, but a state of pure, spiritual connection where we "delight in the radiance of the Divine Presence." The "crowns on their heads" refers to the very Torah knowledge and spiritual awareness we acquire in this world. This means that Olam Haba is not a new world we enter after we die; it is a reality we build right now through the spiritual vessels we shape within our own souls.
Every time you learn a piece of Torah, perform a mitzvah with heart, or choose to overcome a physical temptation for the sake of Hashem, you are not just earning points for a future payoff. You are actually developing your spiritual senses. You are building the "crown" of understanding that will allow your soul to bask in Hashem's light forever. If we only train ourselves to appreciate physical pleasures, we will have no vessels to experience the spiritual beauty of the World to Come.
Today, take five minutes to do one spiritual act, whether learning Torah, saying a brachah with deep intent, or doing a chesed, solely for the purpose of connecting to Hashem, consciously reminding yourself that you are building your eternal vessel to experience His closeness.