Crowns Of The Righteous

The future bliss of the righteous is described by Rab in Ber. 17b: "There is neither eating and drinking nor marrying nor bargaining nor envy nor hatred nor quarrel in the world to come; but the righteous sit with crowns upon their heads, and feed upon the splendor of the Shekinah, as it is said of the nobles of the children of Israel: 'He laid not his hand upon them, but they saw God, and this was their eating and their drinking'" (Ex. xxiv. 11, Targ.). In Sanh. 111b, Meg. 15b, R. Ḥaninah says: "God himself will be a crown of glory upon the head of each righteous one, as it is written: 'In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people'" (Isa. xxviii. 5). Accordingly the Zohar (Wayeḥi; ed. Cracow, p. 296) speaks of seats surrounded with crowns prepared for the righteous in paradise thirty days before their death, when their forthcoming arrival there is announced. So sings the poet of the "Aḳdamut":

"Under a canopy of crystal clouds, Wearing a beauteous crown, Each in accordance with his deeds, On a throne with seven steps of fine gold."

K. J. D. E.