Neshama
Notable Sources
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The Spiritual Significance of Sleep
CHASIDUT
Sleep is not just a physical necessity but a spiritual opportunity for renewal and deeper religious awareness. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a prominent Hasidic master, teaches that sleep can lead to receiving a new soul from divine light, enhancing one's perception of God.
Divine Soul Departure
COMMENTARY
The soul's departure from the body at death mirrors its divine origin, highlighting the cyclical nature of life and the profound connection between the human soul and God. Rabbeinu Bahya, a medieval Jewish commentator, offers a mystical interpretation of the soul's journey, drawing from the creation narrative in Genesis.
The Immortality of the Soul
JEWISH THOUGHT
Menasseh ben Israel provides a philosophical and rational proof of the immortality of the soul, arguing that the faculty distinguishing humans from animals is incorporeal and indestructible. In his 17th-century work, Menasseh ben Israel defends traditional rabbinic views on the immortality of the soul, reincarnation, and resurrection against skeptical challenges.
Seeking the Divine Presence
CHASIDUT
The personal, mystical experience of seeking God can be transformative and intense. In his early 20th-century work, Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Piaseczner Rebbe, delves into the soul's longing to enter the innermost chamber of divine presence.
Journey of the Soul
MUSAR
Mystical sources describe the soul as a direct emanation from God. The medieval ethical text, Sefer HaYashar, explores the dual nature of human creation, emphasizing the heavenly nature of the soul in contrast to the earthly origin of the body.
The Dual Nature of Man
COMMENTARY
Human beings are unique in that they are both physical and spiritual, formed from the earth and given a spirit by G-d. Ramban, a 13th-century Spanish scholar, offers a profound commentary on Genesis 1:26, exploring the dual nature of humanity.
Guarding the Soul
JEWISH THOUGHT
Some sources understand the soul as requiring care and protection. In his 15th-century work, Akeidat Yitzchak, Rabbi Isaac Arama delves into the themes of repentance and the soul's purity, often referencing Yom Kippur.
Soul's Divine Essence
SECOND TEMPLE
The soul is described as a divine effulgence, directly breathed into man by God, highlighting its ethereal and divine nature. Philo of Alexandria, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, merges Jewish theology with Greek philosophy to explore the divine origin of the human soul.
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