Nefesh ha'elokit
Encyclopedia
In Kabbalah
the nefesh ha'elokit is the Divine soul. It functions as the yetzer tov, the good inclination, and is the source of G‑dly desires.
The nefesh ha'elokit is composed of the ten sefirot from the side of holiness, and garbs itself with three garments of holiness, namely Divine thought, speech and action associated with the 613 commandments of the Torah
. Because its desire is to cleave to G‑dliness, it is usually in conflict with the nefesh habehamit
, whose desire is initially for physical pleasures.
Regarding this, Bartenura explains that the soul does not desire to leave the pure place where souls reside before coming down to earth. An angel forces it to leave its heavenly abode and enter the mother's womb, after which an angel again forces it to come out and be born.
On the same passage, the Lubavitcher Rebbe notes that "against your will you live" seems to conflict with "against your will you die." "Against your will you live" makes sense according to him, because the soul was on a much higher level before it came to this world; at that time it was blissfully cleaving to G‑dliness. How, then, can it be said that "against your will you die?" He resolves it by explaining that the soul was convinced to descend when it was informed of the Divine Intention to "make a dwelling for G‑d in the lower realms." This can only be accomplished by studying Torah
and performing mitzvot on earth. Despite being reluctant to leave the Heavens, its most powerful, core and essential desire is actually to cleave to G‑dliness; and because of that, it also yearns to cleave to and be in accord with the Divine Will. The soul therefore descends, in order to create the "dwelling place in the nether realms" and fulfill the Divine Will. Likewise, it is reluctant to die and leave the world, because the mitzvot can only be fulfilled while enclothed in a physical body.
, it is stated that the nefesh ha'elokit is "literally a part of G‑d above." This is supported by quoting the morning prayer "Elokai neshamah," which says "the soul You gave me is pure. ...You blew it into me," then quoting a phrase of the Zohar
that "one who blows, blows from within him." This is taken to mean, "from his innermost."
also notes that this soul is unique to Jews alone. It cites various verses showing that Jews are considered G‑d's children, and then links it to a mystical statement that "a child is derived from the brain of his father." The Tanya then cites the Rambam who says, "He is the Knowledge, and He is the Knower," thus proving that the Jewish Divine soul is derived from the Divine Thought, which is the same as G‑d Himself.
is one example. Another example is the Parable of the Princess and the Peasant.
is primarily manifest.
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
the nefesh ha'elokit is the Divine soul. It functions as the yetzer tov, the good inclination, and is the source of G‑dly desires.
The nefesh ha'elokit is composed of the ten sefirot from the side of holiness, and garbs itself with three garments of holiness, namely Divine thought, speech and action associated with the 613 commandments of the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. Because its desire is to cleave to G‑dliness, it is usually in conflict with the nefesh habehamit
Nefesh habehamit
In Kabbalah the nefesh habehamit is the part of the soul that gives life to the physical body, and is the source of animalistic desires within a person...
, whose desire is initially for physical pleasures.
Reluctance to be born
In Pirkei Avot it is stated:- Do not let your yetzer haraYetzer HaraIn Judaism, yetzer hara , or yetzer ra refers to the inclination to do evil, by violating the will of God. The term is drawn from the phrase "the imagination of the heart of man [is] evil" , which occurs twice in the Hebrew Bible, at Genesis 6:5 and 8:21.The yetzer hara is not a demonic force, but...
reassure you that your grave will be a place of comfort for you. For against your will were you formed, against your will you were born, against your will you live, against your will you die, and against your will shall you give judgement and accounting before the King Who Reigns Over Kings, the Holy One, Blessed is He.
Regarding this, Bartenura explains that the soul does not desire to leave the pure place where souls reside before coming down to earth. An angel forces it to leave its heavenly abode and enter the mother's womb, after which an angel again forces it to come out and be born.
On the same passage, the Lubavitcher Rebbe notes that "against your will you live" seems to conflict with "against your will you die." "Against your will you live" makes sense according to him, because the soul was on a much higher level before it came to this world; at that time it was blissfully cleaving to G‑dliness. How, then, can it be said that "against your will you die?" He resolves it by explaining that the soul was convinced to descend when it was informed of the Divine Intention to "make a dwelling for G‑d in the lower realms." This can only be accomplished by studying Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
and performing mitzvot on earth. Despite being reluctant to leave the Heavens, its most powerful, core and essential desire is actually to cleave to G‑dliness; and because of that, it also yearns to cleave to and be in accord with the Divine Will. The soul therefore descends, in order to create the "dwelling place in the nether realms" and fulfill the Divine Will. Likewise, it is reluctant to die and leave the world, because the mitzvot can only be fulfilled while enclothed in a physical body.
"Literally a part of G‑d above"
In the TanyaTanya
The Tanya is an early work of Hasidic philosophy, by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Hasidism, first published in 1797. Its formal title is Likkutei Amarim , but is more commonly known by its opening word, Tanya, which means "it was taught in a beraita"...
, it is stated that the nefesh ha'elokit is "literally a part of G‑d above." This is supported by quoting the morning prayer "Elokai neshamah," which says "the soul You gave me is pure. ...You blew it into me," then quoting a phrase of the Zohar
Zohar
The Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
that "one who blows, blows from within him." This is taken to mean, "from his innermost."
Unique to Jews
The TanyaTanya
The Tanya is an early work of Hasidic philosophy, by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Hasidism, first published in 1797. Its formal title is Likkutei Amarim , but is more commonly known by its opening word, Tanya, which means "it was taught in a beraita"...
also notes that this soul is unique to Jews alone. It cites various verses showing that Jews are considered G‑d's children, and then links it to a mystical statement that "a child is derived from the brain of his father." The Tanya then cites the Rambam who says, "He is the Knowledge, and He is the Knower," thus proving that the Jewish Divine soul is derived from the Divine Thought, which is the same as G‑d Himself.
Allegorical terms
Because the nefesh ha'elokit is derived from G‑d Himself, it is commonly referred to as a "prince" or a "princess" in many allegories. The Parable of the Harlot and the Prince from the ZoharZohar
The Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
is one example. Another example is the Parable of the Princess and the Peasant.
Relation to human anatomy
The Tanya states that the nefesh ha'elokit resides primarily in the brain, from which it spreads throughout the body. It is also manifest, albeit to a lesser extent, in the right ventricle of the heart, from which it may take control of the left ventricle of the heart where the nefesh habehamitNefesh habehamit
In Kabbalah the nefesh habehamit is the part of the soul that gives life to the physical body, and is the source of animalistic desires within a person...
is primarily manifest.
Additional Reading
- "Building Block No. 6: Nefesh HaBahamis (Animal Soul), Nefesh HoElokis (G‑dly Soul)." http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/80970/jewish/Nefesh-HaBahamis-Animal-Soul-Nefesh-HoElokis-G-dly-Soul.htm
- Freeman, Tzvi. "Me and My Body: a Dialogue." Heaven Exposed. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/740798/jewish/Me-and-My-Body-a-Dialogue.htm
- Weinberg, Yosef. Lessons in Tanya. (This contains the full text of the Tanya translated into English, with English commentary translated from Yiddish. It also includes the original Hebrew text of the TanyaTanyaThe Tanya is an early work of Hasidic philosophy, by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Hasidism, first published in 1797. Its formal title is Likkutei Amarim , but is more commonly known by its opening word, Tanya, which means "it was taught in a beraita"...
.)