Study Rosh Hashanah folio 17A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
ומצפצפין ועולין, שנאמר: ״והבאתי את השלישית באש וצרפתים כצרוף את הכסף ובחנתים כבחון את הזהב הוא יקרא בשמי ואני אענה אותו״, ועליהם אמרה חנה: ״ה׳ ממית ומחיה מוריד שאול ויעל״.
and they will cry out in their pain and eventually ascend from there, as it is stated: “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they should call on My name, and I will answer them” (Zechariah 13:9). This is referring to the members of the third group, who require refinement and cleansing. And about them, Hannah said: “YHWH kills, and gives life; he brings down to the grave, and brings up” (I Samuel 2:6).
בית הלל אומרים: ״ורב חסד״ — מטה כלפי חסד. ועליהם אמר דוד: ״אהבתי כי ישמע ה׳ את קולי״, ועליהם אמר דוד כל הפרשה כולה — ״דלותי ולי יהושיע״.
Beit Hillel say: He Who is “and abundant in kindness” (Exodus 34:6) tilts the scales in favor of kindness, so that middling people should not have to pass through Gehenna. And about them, David said: “I love YHWH, Who hears my voice and my supplications” (Psalms 116:1). And about them, David said the entire passage: “I was brought low [daloti] and He saved me” (Psalms 116:6). Although they are poor [dalim] in mitzvot, God saves them.
פושעי ישראל בגופן, ופושעי אומות העולם בגופן — יורדין לגיהנם ונידונין בה שנים עשר חדש. לאחר שנים עשר חדש — גופן כלה, ונשמתן נשרפת, ורוח מפזרתן תחת כפות רגלי צדיקים, שנאמר: ״ועסותם רשעים כי יהיו אפר תחת כפות רגליכם״.
The rebellious Jews who have sinned with their bodies and also the rebellious people of the non-Jewish nations who have sinned with their bodies descend to Gehenna and are judged there for 12 months. After 12 months, their bodies are consumed, their souls are burned, and a wind scatters them under the soles of the feet of the righteous, as it is stated: “And you should tread down the wicked; for they should be ashes under the soles of your feet” (Malachi 3:21).