Is Hell really forever?

In reading Abraham Joshua Heschel’s work The Prophets, I came across a statement regarding the Pathos of G-d.

“In contrast, pathos was understood not as unreasoned emotion, but as an act formed with intention, depending on free will, the result of decision and determination. Even ‘in the moment of anger’ (Jer. 18:5-10) what G-d intends is not that His anger should be executed, but that it should be annulled by the people’s repentance.”

If the purpose of the anger or wrath of G-d is to bring about repentance and a return of man to G-d, how should this affect our understanding of the eternal nature of Hell and separation between G-d and humanity? Was Dante wrong? Is hell some place where someone goes forever? Could it possibly be a state that man experiences that leads him back to G-d?

Further reading:

This is a good post on Hell by RLV.
The Great Divorce and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis