(2) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproaches and everlasting abhorrence.
(טז) רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר, הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה דּוֹמֶה לִפְרוֹזְדוֹר בִּפְנֵי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. הַתְקֵן עַצְמְךָ בַפְּרוֹזְדוֹר, כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס לַטְּרַקְלִין:
(16) Rabbi Jacob said: this world (Olam HaZeh) is like a vestibule before the world to come (Olam HaBah); prepare yourself in the vestibule, so that you may enter the banquet hall.
(יז) הוא היה אומר, יפה שעה אחת בתשובה ומעשים טובים בעולם הזה, מכל חיי העולם הבא .ויפה שעה אחת של קורת רוח בעולם הבא, מכל חיי העולם הזה.
(17) He would say: One hour of repentance and good deeds in this world (Olam HaZeh) is better than all the time in the world to come (Olam HaBah). And one hour of pleasure in the world to come is better than all the time in this world.
(20) How abundant is the good that You have stored up for the faithful, for those that seek refuge in You in the presence of others.
יִשְׁלַח לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין מְשִׁיחֵנוּ, לִפְדּות מְחַכֵּי קֵץ יְשׁוּעָתו. מֵתִים יְחַיֶּה אֵל בְּרב חַסְדּו, בָּרוּךְ עֲדֵי עַד שֵׁם תְּהִלָּתו:
Yigdal Prayer, Rambam's 13 Principles of Faith:
At the end of days, He will send our annointed, to redeem those who wait for the end [when] His salvation [takes place]. The dead will G-d resuscitate, in his abundant kindness, blessed be His praised name forever.
(קכז) מְכַלְכֵּל חַיִּים בְּחֶסֶד. מְחַיֶּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים. סומֵךְ נופְלִים. וְרופֵא חולִים וּמַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים. וּמְקַיֵּם אֱמוּנָתו לִישֵׁנֵי עָפָר. מִי כָמוךָ בַּעַל גְּבוּרות וּמִי דומֶה לָּךְ. מֶלֶךְ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה וּמַצְמִיחַ יְשׁוּעָה:
Gevurot: Second Blessing of Amidah
He sustains the living with loving kindness, resurrects the dead with great mercy, supports the falling, heals the sick, releases the bound, and fulfills His trust to those who sleep in the dust. Who is like You, mighty One! And who can be compared to You, King, who brings death and restores life, and causes deliverance to spring forth! (chabad.org)
אמר רבא: בשעה שמכניסין אדם לדין אומרים לו:
נשאת ונתת באמונה? קבעת עתים לתורה? עסקת בפריה ורביה? צפית לישועה? פלפלת בחכמה? הבנת דבר מתוך דבר?
Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 31a
Raba said, when a person is led in for Judgment he is asked,
Did you conduct business honestly?
Did you fix times for learning?
Did you engage in [the mitzvah of] “be fruitful and multiply”?
Did you anticipate salvation?
Did you engage in the dialectics of wisdom?
Did you understand one thing from within another?
פתחו לי שערי צדק. לעולם הבא אמרו לו לאדם מה היה מלאכתך? והוא אומר "מאכיל רעבים הייתי", והם יאמרו לו "זה השער לה' מאכיל רעבים הכנס בו". "משקה צמאים היית"י,והם אומרים לו "זה השער לה', משקה צמאים הכנס בו". "מלביש ערומים הייתי", והם אומרים לו "זה השער לה', מלביש ערומים הכנס בו". וכן מגדל יתומים, וכן עושי צדקה, וכן גומלי חסדים, ודוד אמר "אני עשיתי את כולם! יפתחו לי את כולם!" לכך נאמר "פתחו לי שערי צדק אבוא בם אודה יה".
Midrash on Psalms, 118:17
Open the Gates of Tzedek for me (Psalms 118:17)
At the time of Judgment in the Future World everyone will be asked: "What was your occupation?" If the person answers:
"I was a feeder of the hungry," they will say to that person: "This is the gateway to God; enter, feeder of the hungry."...
..."I was a clother of the naked," they will say to that person: "This is the gateway to God; enter, clother of the naked." And similarly with those who raised orphans, and who did Tzedakah, and who performed acts of loving-kindness.
David said: "I have done all of these. Let all the gates open for me." That is why the verse says: Open the Gates of Tzedek for me. I shall enter them, thanking the Lord.
רבי חזקיה ר' כהן בשם רב עתיד אדם ליתן דין וחשבון על כל שראת עינו ולא אכל
Jerusalem Talmud Kiddushin 4:12
Rabbi Chizkiah said in the name of Rav: It is the future of every person to be required to give a full account and reckoning for all that his eyes saw that he did not taste.
A Tale of Reb Meshulam Zusha of Anapoli (Hasidic Master, 1718-1800) from HaAchim HaKedoshim - Rabbi Elimelech & Rabbi Zusha (Machon Zecher Naftali)
Reb Zusha was laying on his deathbed surrounded by his disciples. He was crying and no one could comfort him. One student asked his Rebbe, "Why do you cry? You were almost as wise as Moses and as kind as Abraham." Reb Zusha answered, "When I pass from this world and appear before the Heavenly Tribunal, they won't ask me, 'Zusha, why weren't you as wise as Moses or as kind as Abraham,' rather, they will ask me, 'Zusha, why weren't you Zusha?' Why didn't I fulfill my potential, why didn't I follow the path that could have been mine!
Resources:
Does the Soul Survive? A Jewish Journey to Belief in Afterlife, Past Lives & Living with Purpose, Elie Spitz
What Happens After I Die? Jewish Views of Life After Death, Rifat Sonsino & Daniel B. Syme
The Death of Death: Resurrection & Immortality in Jewish Thought, Neil Gillman
The Jewish Book of Living & Dying, Lewis Solomon
myjewishlearning.com
Sefaria online app and www.sefaria.org