I said it was a “start” 
I think that Exapno Mapcase is trying to see something in the cited apologetic that really isn’t there.
The site compares Purgatory to the Jewish place of purification, Gehenna, in the fact that they both existed. One is not necessary the same as the other but their function was the same. Purgatory is a place for purification so one can come before the righteousness of God. Gehenna functionally has the same purpose.
From www.jewfaq.org
“Only the very righteous go directly to Gan Eden. The average person descends to a place of punishment and/or purification, generally referred to as Gehinnom (guh-hee-NOHM) (in Yiddish, Gehenna), but sometimes as She’ol or by other names.”
And from www.aish.com 's “Ask the Rabbi”
"Not all souls merit Gehenom. It is for people who have done good but need to be purified. A handful of people are too evil for Gehenom, and they are punished eternally. Pharaoh is one example. "
So Jews DO believe in a place of purification, but of course it certainly is not called Purgatory.