Bill Vallicella explores three concepts of salvation and argues that “religious salvation” cannot be either merely physical or merely mystical. I think he’s basically right and, although he deals specifically with orthodox Christianity, the idea he develops can be applied, at least generally, to Judaism as well. In fact, Judaism probably emphasizes bodily resurrection even more than Christianity.

Religious salvation is not a mere physical salvation. But I doubt that it can be identified with what I am calling mystical salvation: it is not (though it may involve) a transformation of consciousness in which the apparent meaninglessness and evil and vanity of life is redeemed. Religious salvation seems to involve both elements. Or at least this is the case in orthodox Christianity which preaches the resurrection of the body. The Christian does not look forward to existence as a pure spirit after death, but to an embodied existence. Thus he looks forward to having his individual physical life saved. Saved, but also tranformed, since the post-resurrection body will be a body not heir to the usual fleshly incapacities and debilities.