Overview:This class delves into the Jewish understanding of the soul, focusing on its three core components—Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshama. Participants will explore classical Jewish texts and interpretations, consider the role of the soul in Jewish life, and discuss how these ideas influence our relationships with God, others, and ourselves.
- Understand the three primary levels of the soul—Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshama—and their roles in Jewish thought.
- Explore texts from the Torah, Talmud, and Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) to learn about the soul's spiritual dynamics.
- Reflect on how the concept of the soul shapes Jewish identity, spirituality, and ethics.
- Icebreaker: Participants share one word they associate with the soul.
- Brief overview of the structure of the class and its objectives.
- Discussion question: What does "soul" mean to you in a Jewish context?
- Text Study:
- Highlight the distinction between physical vitality (Nefesh) and divine breath (Neshama).
- Discuss how this verse introduces the soul's connection to both God and physical life.
- Genesis 2:7 – "God breathed into [Adam's] nostrils the breath of life (Neshama), and the man became a living being (Nefesh)."
- Overview of Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshama:
- Neshama: The "divine soul," connected to intellect, higher consciousness, and spirituality.
- Ruach: The "spirit," associated with emotions, morality, and relationships.
- Nefesh: The "animal soul," connected to physical life, instincts, and actions.
- Text Study:
- Neshama: Job 32:8 – "The soul (Neshama) of a person is the lamp of God."
- Ruach: Ecclesiastes 12:7 – "The spirit (Ruach) returns to God who gave it."
- Nefesh: Leviticus 17:11 – "The life (Nefesh) of the flesh is in the blood."
- Discussion question: How do you see these levels manifesting in your own life?
- Introduction to the mystical understanding of the soul:
- The soul's connection to the sefirot and its journey toward divine unification.
- Higher levels beyond Neshama (Chaya and Yechida).
- Text Study: Excerpt from the Tanya, Likutei Amarim (Chapter 2):
- Reflection: How does this idea affect how we view our relationship with God and others?
- "The Neshama is a part of God above, truly."
- Discussion Questions:
- How can these concepts bring meaning to contemporary Jewish life?
- How does the idea of the soul inform our understanding of mitzvot, prayer, and tikkun olam (repairing the world)?
- What is the role of each soul level in Jewish life and spirituality?
- Summarize the three levels and their interconnectedness.
- Personal journaling or small group discussion:
- How can you nurture Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshama in your daily life?
- Which aspect of the soul resonates most with you? Why?
- Closing with a meditation or song connected to the soul, such as Elohai Neshama ("My God, the soul You placed within me is pure").
- Copies of selected texts (Torah, Talmud, Kabbalistic sources).
- Handout with definitions of Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshama and key questions.
- Journals or notebooks for reflection.
- Offer a series on related topics, such as Tikkun Olam and the Soul, The Afterlife in Jewish Thought, or Prayer as a Path to the Soul.
- Create a guided meditation workshop to deepen connection with the soul’s layers.
. Genesis 2:7"God formed the human from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Neshama), and the human became a living being (Nefesh)."Reflection Questions:2. Leviticus 17:11"For the life (Nefesh) of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life."Reflection Questions:3. Ecclesiastes 12:7"And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit (Ruach) returns to God who gave it."Reflection Questions:4. Job 32:8"But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding."Reflection Questions:5. Tanya, Likutei Amarim (Chapter 2)"The Neshama is a part of God above, truly."Reflection Questions:6. Talmud, Berakhot 10a"The soul (Neshama) which You have placed within me is pure. You created it, You formed it, You breathed it into me, and You preserve it within me."Reflection Questions:7. Talmud, Sanhedrin 91a"At the time of resurrection, the Holy One, Blessed be He, says to the soul: Why did you sin? The soul says: The body sinned, as from the day I left it, I am like a bird flying in the air. The body then says: The soul sinned, as from the day it left me, I am cast like a silent stone in the grave."Reflection Questions:8. Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 3"The soul (Neshama) is to the body as God is to the world: just as the Holy One fills the world, so too the soul fills the body. Just as the Holy One sees but is not seen, so too the soul sees but is not seen."Reflection Questions:9. Midrash Rabbah, Genesis 14:9"The Neshama is called by five names: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Chaya, and Yechida. Nefesh refers to the life-force, Ruach to the spirit, Neshama to the soul, Chaya to vitality, and Yechida to the unique essence."Reflection Questions: