For me Judaism is about action. It's about what we do to make this world a better place. Judaism is more concerned about this world than the "next", and I think that this is truly the best way to look at it. People should be concered about the here and now, and not all wrapped up in what may or may not happen next. How are we ever going to fix the problems here when we are too busy trying to secure some kind of gift in the hereafter.

I think one of the reasons that the Torah never mentions the after-life is because it is telling us to do good deeds, and help each other, not for some kind of reward for all that we have done, but because we should do it. We should do it because it is the right thing to do. After all, look at Maimonides list of higher and lower levels of charity. While charity that is done publicly is still a good deed it may be done not because it is good, but for the recognition. However, the highest on the list is completely anonymous charity. If we could all just accept peoples differences, and be more concerned with the fact that we are all in this together I bet this world would be a real heaven on earth.