What happens when you die if you're Jewish?

Answer 1

If you ask two rabbis this questions you will surely get 2 or more answers.

We cannot know what happens to us after we die - it is one of life's great mysteries. Judaism does not focus heavily on the afterlife but instead concerns itself with how we live our lives here on earth. The Torah describes a place called "sheol" which is an underworld where all people go - both good and bad - after we pass away. In rabbinic thought many different opinions are expressed from the good being rewarded and the wicked punished (heaven and hell) and the vision of these experiences run the gamut. There is a concept in Judaism that the good will be resurrected in the Messianic Age and then life on earth will be balanced (not all blissful like one would think of heaven - but where life is fair - perhaps even more attractive). There is the idea that when we die we return to God, the source of life, and that this is blissful for the good and torture for those who have sinned (Baal Shem Tov). And there is the mystical belief in gilgul - reincarnation. Each of these theories includes righteous gentiles in being rewarded after death and is not reserved solely for Jews. This is why Jews do not feel we must convert others to Judaism in order to "save" them.

Our beliefs run wide and far. What is consistent is that we should not focus too much energy on worrying about the afterlife - but rather we should worry about how we live our lives while we are here on earth. The rest will follow.

Answer 2

One of the central beliefs of Judaism, as stated in the Talmud (Mishna, Sanhedrin 11:1) and codified by Maimonides (1135-1204), is that the soul continues to exist and is treated in accordance with the person's actions while he or she was alive. This applies to all people, whatever their religion.
The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) doesn't dwell at length on the afterlife; and nor does Judaism spend a lot of time speculating on its details. However, that is not meant to diminish from its importance. Rather, the Torah implies that we are to use the bulk of our energies in keeping God's ways in this world, with our feet firmly planted on Earth, while nonetheless not losing awareness of our beliefs.
Our ancient sages stated the importance of being aware of the next world: "This world is a mere entrance-hall before the afterlife" (Mishna, Avot ch.4).

All outstanding accounts are settled after this life. Some cases illustrate this point, since this entire world wouldn't be enough to reward a Moses or punish a Hitler. And while we're alive, knowledge of the future world serves as one of the motivations to keeping God's will.

The Tanakh does not delve into detail of the rewards of the righteous because religions could compete with more and more poetic promises. Also because belief in the afterlife was shared by all ancient societies and needed little reiteration. Besides, it would be like describing the colors of a sunrise to someone who was blind from birth.
It is, however, referred to briefly in Torah verses such as Genesis 15:15, which states that "You (Abraham) will come to your fathers in peace and will be buried in good old age." Coming to his fathers does not mean simply to be buried with them, since Abraham was not buried with his ancestors. Such verses are stated many times.
The prophets are more explicit with such references (see Isaiah 26:19 and 66:24, Daniel 12:13, Zechariah 3:7, 1 Kings 8:30, 2 Kings ch.2, Ecclesiastes 12:7). The afterlife is spoken of at length in the Talmud. More than 20 pages of Talmud (Sanhedrin 90-110, Rosh Hashanah 16-18, and other passages) are given to this subject.

See also the Related Links.

Link: God exists

Link: The key beliefs of Judaism

Link: How do you know there are a heaven and hell?