Hello Rabbi, I got into a debate with an orthodox Rabbi about whether Einstein would have a share in the world to come and would be resurrected from the dead. I argued no, since I heard from your pirkei avot lectures that only those considered part of ‘am Israel’ (Shabbat observant, no other koreth sins) have Olam Haba. The rabbi argued that Einstein would be considered a ‘kidnapped child’ (tinoch tabishba?) and would not be subject to koreth. My question is this: what qualifications do the Chachamim use to describe a ‘kidnapped child’ that would apply to modern generations of secular Jews? Is it a one sided matter or are there some who say that today’s secular Jews do qualify? Thank you!

Asked on October 1, 2020