|
I like your questions.
I am Jewish and have learned from Chabad. Jews experience G-d through action in this world and through prayer and meditation. The activity involves what is called performing "mitzvot". Mitzvah is usually translated as a good deed but really involves so many different practices that a Jew can be connecting to G-d all day long. Mitzvah contains the word for connection: tzav. Whether it's saying the prayer upon seeing a rainbow or a prayer after going to the bathroom, lighting candles on Shabbos or wrapping Tefillin, a Jewish person has a complete, ongoing spiritual practice that permeates daily life.
"Successful magic & Divine Intervention" in your life is discovered through prayer. Either to G-d directly or at the grave of a Rebbe. Look online for stories about the Baal Shem Tov or about the Chabad Rebbe and you'll read about lots of examples of miracles. Read the psalms of David which talk about divine intervention. Read about the holidays: Purim, Chanukah, Passover and you'll read about miracles and divine intervention.
There's a good book, the Hasidic Tales of the Holocaust where you can read about divine intervention. In fact, Hasidism, is the line of Kabbalah most accessible to the modern person. Look up Chabad.org and you'll be able to search on any topic of interest, especially - the afterlife.
Get your dad to meet with a Chabad rabbi. They have houses all over the world now. Let him experience a Shabbos with a Chabad family and he will feel and sense something else in this world.
Yes, there is a tradition of belief in an afterlife in Judaism. After you die, there's a time of cleansing of the soul which can be a difficult time but after that, the soul is free to learn in any way it needs to. One of those ways is to come back to earth. You come back to earth to build the final redemption when this world will be supernatural with no more war, illness or death. This world and working toward this goal is more important to the Jew than getting to heaven. Tell your dad that every good deed he does builds his eternal life here on earth.
We believe in the resurrection of the dead - which means that everyone who was once alive here comes back to life once the final redemption happens. Whoever had a hand in building this redemption comes back to enjoy it.
Hope this helps!
Happy Chanukah!
|