Alon Anava’s Near Death Experience: A Journey That Transformed His Life

This is the story of Alon Anava, who experienced clinical death at the age of twenty seven. At the time, he was anti-religious, but following his experience he became a Chabad Hasid.

The Moment Everything Changed

During a social event, he suddenly felt unwell. He got into a taxi with a friend on the way home. After a few minutes, his body collapsed onto the seat, and he felt as though part of him was leaving his body. He sensed that he was about to die. He felt himself wrapped and floating within something, while any sense of time completely disappeared.

Visions Beyond Time

Suddenly, he experienced seeing all the events of his friend’s life, both past and present, all at once and at great speed. Then he saw his own future, his family members crying over his death.

He moved into a place of total darkness and frightening silence. He felt that the Angel of Death might soon take him somewhere even more terrifying. He heard a voice telling him that he had died. He saw his body inside the taxi and asked himself, “Is this how my life ends?”

Encounter with the Divine Light

Within that experience, he felt that God could help him, and he cried out with all his strength for help. He then saw a very small point of light, bright and intense. The light approached and became a triangular form, radiant in white and gold. There was no sky, only a sense of something vast above him, while he felt like a tiny ant.

Alon sensed the Divine presence beyond that light, and his soul had no words to describe the immense, infinite power surrounding him. He understood that this presence was God. When the light touched him, all knowledge seemed to flow into him at once, though it was too overwhelming to fully grasp. Alongside this, he felt an immense pleasure unlike anything in this world.

A Message and a Question

He sensed a message: “What are you doing with your life?” He answered that he needed help. He then found himself standing under a dome shaped ceiling, in darkness, less afraid, but aware that he was naked and surrounded by members of his family.

At that moment, he saw all the words he had spoken in his life floating in the air, both the good and the bad. Every soul affected by his words appeared and could see them.

They judged him. The shame was overwhelming. Every person he had hurt or wronged was present. He had no defense and stood completely alone. The judges asked him, “Why should anyone listen to you?”

He then saw his entire life replayed slowly, with commentary on what he had done right and wrong, like a film in which he was the main character. The shame was unbearable.

Realizing the Missed Purpose

He felt, “What was I thinking when I was alive?” He realized that he had been given many important missions but had fulfilled none.

He considered whether he might be excused because he had not been religious, but deep down he knew he had no real justification. He had simply chosen not to follow the path of Torah and mitzvot.

According to his account, the Zohar teaches that every person is given opportunities from Heaven to recognize the truth. He realized that he had ignored them.

The Choice

The judges asked him what he had to say in his defense, but he could not respond. He was then given two options: to return to the darkness or to return to this world.

He was shown glimpses of his possible future, including challenges he would face and an image of himself living a different kind of life.

His choice was clear: to return.

Back to This World

Alon regained consciousness in the taxi. His friend was trying to wake him. At first, he remembered nothing, but gradually he realized that something had happened. She told him that he had died.

He refused to go to the hospital and asked to return home. It was Shabbat morning, and he felt a strong urge to take a spiritual step. He asked for tefillin, but since it was Shabbat, he could not use them, so he went to the synagogue instead.

For several weeks he remained weak, but gradually recovered. One evening, a clear and powerful memory of the experience returned to him.

He later told his friend details about her life that he could not have known, and she confirmed them.

A New Path

From that moment, Alon began strengthening himself in Torah and mitzvot. Today, he lives as a Chabad Hasid and teaches Torah with depth and enthusiasm.

According to spiritual teachings, the soul in the next world is clothed in garments formed from the mitzvot a person performs in this world. One who lacks them feels exposed, a reflection of the life they lived.