Question: What name do Jews call the Angel of Death? By this I don’t mean the scary grim reaper depicted in the media. Rather what angel accompanies a soul when person dies?

Answer: Thank you for your question. Judaism teaches us that when a person dies his soul departs from his body and faces judgment. This, however, is not the same type of image that Christianity creates, but rather one of a personal reality based on who a person is vs. who they could have become. Jewish thought does discuss various angelic beings. These beings have specific purposes and carry out their missions without the freedom to make decisions on their own. The Malach HaMaves is literally translated as “The Angel of Death.” This being carries out the will of The Almighty and comes to take people from this world to the next. This is a very deep and difficult subject to really grasp. I highly suggest that if you are interested in the topic that you find a local orthodox rabbi to discuss it with. He can help you look into the proper books related to the issue and point you in the right direction to give you further guidance.

If you want to do some reading on your own please look at a book called Derech Hashem – which means “The Way of G-d,” written by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato. You should learn this book with someone else who knows how to understand it and apply it, but it is a great primer on such questions.

Be Well,
Rabbi Litt