Gehennam, Sheol, Avadon

Gehennam גיהנום

The place where the souls are sent to ‘punishment’ and purification after death. The angel Duma that receives the souls after death sends them to the proper level of purification.

Sheol – שְׁאוֹל

Sheol is the lower and more difficult level in Gehennam that the souls go through after death, except for the Tzadikim. Souls can go up from this level to levels above it until they complete their cleansing process.
1 Samuel 2:6
“יְהוָה מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל.”
“YHVH kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave (Sheol) and brings up.”

Avadon – אבדון

A level below Sheol is called אבדון ‘Avadon,’ which literally means ‘a lost place.’ There is no going up from this level.
Teshuva, at any level, could save a wicked from Avadon.

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