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מסכת גיטין נ"ז:

...כל המלעיג על דברי חכמים נידון בצואה רותחת

Is this a genuine punishment that adherents of Orthodox Judaism believe to be carried out? Does it pertain to both Jews and none-Jews? and how long must one endure there?

Community
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RandomUser
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    "Where do we find sources describing this as an actual punishment?" You tell us. Obviously you found it somewhere, or you wouldn't be asking. The more info you include in a question that led you to ask it, the better answers you'll get, generally. – msh210 Jul 01 '18 at 09:55
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    The article “The Soul and the Afterlife” says

    It must be understood that Gehinom is not a physical place and the descriptions given speak in human terms that we appreciate, nor is Gehinom a place for eternity, but a temporary—albeit terrible—place for the soul to be cleansed. In fact, the vast majority of souls do not stay in Gehinom for more than eleven months.

     – Avrohom Yitzchok Jul 01 '18 at 10:41
  • @AvrohomYitzchok You should expand on the contents of the link and give it as an answer. – sabbahillel Jul 01 '18 at 15:32
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    https://judaism.stackexchange.com/a/76839/9215 – kouty Jul 01 '18 at 15:41
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    Why would you assume there is literally physical boiling excrement in Gehinnom? Last time I checked Gehinnom wasn't a physical place. – ezra Jul 01 '18 at 18:15

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Rambam appears to offer a metaphorical interpretation of this statement:

Introduction to Commentary to Mishnah

ואמרו כל המלעיג על דברי חכמים נידון בצואה רותחת ואין לך צואה רותחת גדולה מן הכסילות אשר השיאתו להלעיג

And they said "whoever mocks the words of the Sages is judged in boiling excrement", and there is no greater boiling excrement than the foolishness that entices one to mock.

Alex
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  • Related Hebrew article: https://www.kipa.co.il/%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%90%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91/%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9D-%D7%94%D7%91%D7%90/ – RibbisRabbiAndMore Jul 01 '18 at 18:53