Yes, the word is “apikorus”. This word is based on the name of a well-known Greek philosopher named Epicurus. He taught that pleasure and pain are measures of what is good and evil; death is the end of both body and soul and should therefore not be feared. I’ve often heard this way of thinking described as, “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die”.
Although one might ask that this phrase is also mentioned in the Torah in the words of the Prophet Isaiah: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die." (22:13) — our Sages explain that Isaiah was not instructing the people how to live; rather he was rebuking and admonishing them. The word “tomorrow” actually refers to the World-to-Come. He was telling them in the name of God that if they continue their ways of transgression they might as well just attempt to find some (small) pleasure in this world, because they certainly won’t be deserving of extremely great reward during their eternal life in the World-to-Come.for tomorrow we will die: in the World to Come. The prophets tell us in the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, that we will have no share in the World to Come. Let us, therefore, enjoy ourselves during our lifetime.for tomorrow we will die: in the World to Come. The prophets tell us in the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, that we will have no share in the World to Come. Let us, therefore, enjoy ourselves during our lifetime.
Judaism teaches the opposite of what Epicurus believed. For example, pleasure and pain are absolutely not measures of good and evil. In fact, many times, the pleasures of the world are forbidden to Jews, and many times they are permitted. Judaism teaches that this world is a corridor into the World-to-Come. The entire body of Jewish theology is based on the fact that the World-to-Come exists and that we strive to attain it by our good actions in this world. Unlike Epicurus’ belief, Judaism teaches the concepts of Divine reward and punishment as fundamental tenets of the Jewish faith. We are held accountable for all of our actions. The world was created by God and is governed by God on a continual basis.
As a “footnote” it should be added that many great Rabbinical leaders in our day and age teach that there is no longer any “true” apikorus. This is because one can be considered a heretic only if he rejects the Torah after having mastered its teachings with complete knowledge and understanding, a feat that is very rare and likely non-existent nowadays. Therefore, a “religious rebel” is not to be labeled and treated as a heretic or apikorus, and should be treated with great love — and hopefully he will eventually understand and pursue the way of the Torah: “Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:17)
