Above the huge gate to the palace hovered the words Makom Hamishpat (place of justice) carved with letters of bright fire. By the entrance, crouched lions and tigers roared at each soul brought in. The more sins done by the soul, the louder and more terrifying were their roars.
The four angles carried me on their wings and brought me to the Makom Hamishpat. Here the sights so amazing I didn't know what to look at first. One couldn't grasp the vastness of the hall even by looking from one side to the other! The ceiling and floor were encrusted with beautiful shimmering stones emitting beams of light so intense that they made our sun seem like shade! In the middle of the hall stood a gigantic table and around it were the judges of Beis Din Shel Maala (Heavenly court). All of them are Heavenly Angels made of consuming fire.
Over the top of the table hover the words Toras Moshe Emes in fire. On the table was an open Sefer Torah with letters burning like hot coals. To this table they bring all the souls who have been brought up to be judged.
At the time of judgment, they open the pages of the Sefer Zichronos (book of memories) of that particular Neshama. The book of memory is made of parchment and from it, they read out all the good and bad deeds of the soul during his lifetime. Everything written in the book of memories is in the person's own handwriting. For every judgment there are Angels of Judgment and Angels of Mercy.
The soul itself remains silent from fear. It does not feel worthy of being able to seek merit for itself and to counteract the words of accusation against it from the prosecution. The Heavenly Court also brings witnesses to these judgments. While I waited for my turn there was another judgment going on of another soul. During the judgment they called upon the walls of his house to give testimony against him for a sin he thought he was doing in private where no one could see him.
Different sentences are handed down for every judgment. Some are sentenced to Gehinom (Hell) but they have to also decide what level and for how long. Others are sentenced to go to Kaf Hakela (wandering without rest or being thrown from one end of the universe to the other while constantly getting beaten by thousands of Angels of destruction) and some are sentenced to go back to earth in the gilgul (reincarnation) of an animal or a flower and to stay days or years on end until they reach their Tikkun (repair).
If the soul is found guilty, the Angels of destruction have permission to grab the soul and take it to its place. The soul screams and begs for mercy and cries out in regret, but in the World Above there is no opportunity for Teshuva on sins committed.
Sometimes it happens that a soul arrives white as snow, without a stain or dirt, and is judged worthy. Then a decree is heard in the upper worlds: "Gan Eden!!” Immediately heavenly Angels rise from their places and call out in joyous song: "Ashrecha vetov lach, you have merited in the World to come". A group of Angels with white wings surrounds the soul like a guard of honor and clears out a way as they sing out with happy melody: “Panu derech yashru mesilla ki Tzaddik ba, make way for the Tzaddik".
With indescribable honor and glory, the Tzaddik is escorted to his place in Gan Eden. All the Tzaddikim go out to honor him and receive him with great joy and tremendous love for their friend. The sun and the moon light up the way with a gold and silver light. All the constellations bow down before the Tzaddik as he arrives at the gates of Gan Eden. The whole creation sings Shira (songs) and calls out in musical song "ashrei lo ve’ashrei chelko Fortunate he is and fortunate is his portion."
If a soul comes out guilty, then woe to it. The Beis Din Shel Maala shouts out chastisement that shakes the worlds: "Wicked sinner of Israel with such brazenness you rebelled against the commandments of the King of Kings Hakadosh Baruch Hu! You were given a pure and clean soul, and you were warned to guard it and retain in it holiness and purity. In the end you defiled it with ' sins of worldly desires.' Woe to you."
The sound of chastisement comes down on the soul like thousands of hammers. Infinite destroying angles cover the soul, thousands of hands grab the soul from the platform of judgment and pushes him to Gehinom or Gei Tzalmaves or Kaf Hakela.
I myself slipped into a corner so they wouldn't notice me, I was trembling thinking, "Has there ever been a wicked man like me to come here?" I held on tight to the parchment of the Baal Megale Amukos. The souls passed through like sheep - this one for severe punishment, this one for light punishment. Not one passed without sin at all!
Then I heard the Announcer call on me, identifying me as Ploni ben Ploni. Four Malachim gently escorted me to the table of judgment and one of the Angles opened the pages of my Book of Memories.
Suddenly a voice screamed out, "Who brought this wicked soul here? All the fires of Gehinom will not suffice for him!" I passed out from fear but the Malachim revived me by touching me with their wings.
To be continued...
