In rabbinic texts Gehenna is described as an afterlife realm where unrighteous souls are punished for wicked deeds committed while still living on Earth. What is Gehenna like? As with Gan Eden and Olam Ha Ba (two other Jewish afterlife concepts) there is no official answer to this question. Nevertheless, the rabbis saw Gehenna as an important part of the afterlife and so it was discussed in detail on various occasions. Below you will find a selection of rabbinic texts discussing the location and size of Gehenna, as well as its entrances and even what the weather might be like.
Location and Size of Gehenna
Rabbinic texts generally refer to Gehenna as a place located beneath the earth. Sinners are said to "go down to Gehenna" (Avot 5:22). In terms of size, there are two main (and opposite) opinions: one gives Gehenna a fixed size, while the other maintains that its size varies according to how many souls are in it.
"the world is a sixtieth a part of Gan Eden and Gan Eden is a sixtieth a part of Gehenna; consequently the whole world is in comparison to like the lid of a pot. Some declare Gan Eden is limitless in extent and other say the same of Gehenna." (Taanit 10a)
"The wicked say tauntingly, 'How many myriads can Gehenna hold? Two hundred myriads? Three hundred myriads? How can it ever old the many myriads more of the wicked who appear in every generation?' To them the Holy Blessed One replies: 'By your downfall! As you increase in the world, Gehenna, too, increases, growing wider and deeper and broader every day.'" (Pesikta Rabbati 41:3)
Gehenna's Entrance
As with other aspects of Jewish afterlife theology, there is no set answer when it comes to how many entrances there are to Gehenna. Some texts say three, others say two. Pesikta Rabbati 24:1 (quoted below) even contradicts the usual rabbinic position that a soul could spend no more than twelve months in Gehenna. This sort of ambiguity did not trouble the rabbis and is a common aspect of rabbinic literature.
"Gehenna has three entrances: One in the wilderness, a second in the sea, and a third in Jerusalem. Another tradition tells, there are two date-palms in the valley of Ben-Hinnom from between which smoke ascends and that is the entrance to Gehenna." (Erubin 19a)
"R. Abba bar Kahna taught: Sheol [i.e. Gehenna] has two gates, an inner and an outer. Whenever a man's life is taken without God's permission [as by suicide or murder], his soul must finish out in the outer regions of Sheol the remainder of the years he was to live. That Sheol has more than one gate is intimated in the verse: 'I said: In the noontide of my days I shall go, even to the gates of Sheol' [Isaiah 38:10]. (Pesikta Rabbati 24:1)
Elements of Gehenna: Fire, Brimstone and Darkness
Rabbinic texts usually describe Gehenna as place of fire, brimstone and darkness. These unpleasant aspects of Gehenna are meant as a punishment for the wicked while their souls are purified.
"'A fiery stream issued forth and came before Him' [Daniel 7:10]. Whence does it originate? From the sweat of the holy Hayyot. And whence does it empty itself? Upon the heads of the wicked in Gehenna, as it is said, 'It shall burst upon the head of the wicked.'" (Hagigah 13a)
"Why does a man's soul shrink from the odor of brimstone? Because it knows that it will be judged therein in the World to Come." (Genesis Rabbah 51:3)
"The wicked are darkness, Gehenna is darkness, the depths are darkness. I lead the wicked to Gehenna and cover them with the depths." (Genesis Rabbah 33:1)
"And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness [Exodus 10:22]. Where did the darkness originate? From the darkness of Gehenna." (Tanhuma, Bo 2)
"With what are the wicked covered in Gehenna? With darkness...'And darkness was upon the face of the deep' [Genesis 1:2]. This refers to Gehenna – a proof that the darkness which came upon the Egyptians was from Gehenna." (Exodus Rabbah 14:3)
Sources: "Jewish Views of the Afterlife" by Simcha Paul Raphael. Jason Aronson, Inc: Northvale, 1996.
