Gilgul (also Gilgul neshamot or Gilgulei HaNeshamot; Heb.גלגול הנשמות, Plural: גלגולים Gilgulim) is a concept of reincarnation or "transmigration of souls"[1] in Kabbalistic esoteric mysticism. In Hebrew, the word gilgul means "cycle" or "wheel" and neshamot is the plural for "souls." Souls are seen to cycle through lives or incarnations, being attached to different human bodies over time. Which body they associate with depends on their particular task in the physical world, spiritual levels of the bodies of predecessors and so on. The concept relates to the wider processes of history in Kabbalah, involving cosmic Tikkun (Messianic rectification), and the historical dynamic of ascending Lights and descending Vessels from generation to generation.
The esoteric explanations of gilgul were articulated in Jewish mysticism by Isaac Luria in the 16th century, as part of the metaphysical purpose of Creation.
Reincarnation is an esoteric belief within many streams of modern Judaism, but is not an essential tenet of traditional Judaism. It is not mentioned in traditional classical sources such as the Hebrew Bible, the classical rabbinic works (Mishnah and Talmud), or Maimonides' 13 principles of faith. Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), however, teaches a belief in gilgul, transmigration of souls, and hence the belief is universal in Hasidic Judaism, which regards the Kabbalah as sacred and authoritative.
With the 16th-century rational systemisation of Cordoveran Kabbalah by Alkabetz, and the subsequent new paradigm of Lurianic Kabbalah by Luria, Kabbalah replaced rationalism as the mainstream traditional Jewish theology, both in scholarly circles and in the popular imagination. Isaac Luria taught new explanations of the process of gilgul and identification of the reincarnations of historic Jewish figures, which were compiled by Hayyim ben Joseph Vital in his Shaar HaGilgulim.
"Gilgul Neshamot - Reincarnation of Souls", essay on gilgul by Rav Avraham Brandwein
Sefer Nishmath Hayyim by Menasseh Ben Israel 2010-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
April 09, 2024
gilgul, confused, with, gilgal, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, js. Not to be confused with Gilgal This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gilgul news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gilgul also Gilgul neshamot or Gilgulei HaNeshamot Heb גלגול הנשמות Plural גלגולים Gilgulim is a concept of reincarnation or transmigration of souls 1 in Kabbalistic esoteric mysticism In Hebrew the word gilgul means cycle or wheel and neshamot is the plural for souls Souls are seen to cycle through lives or incarnations being attached to different human bodies over time Which body they associate with depends on their particular task in the physical world spiritual levels of the bodies of predecessors and so on The concept relates to the wider processes of history in Kabbalah involving cosmic Tikkun Messianic rectification and the historical dynamic of ascending Lights and descending Vessels from generation to generation The esoteric explanations of gilgul were articulated in Jewish mysticism by Isaac Luria in the 16th century as part of the metaphysical purpose of Creation Contents 1 History in Jewish thought 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory in Jewish thought editReincarnation is an esoteric belief within many streams of modern Judaism but is not an essential tenet of traditional Judaism It is not mentioned in traditional classical sources such as the Hebrew Bible the classical rabbinic works Mishnah and Talmud or Maimonides 13 principles of faith Kabbalah Jewish mysticism however teaches a belief in gilgul transmigration of souls and hence the belief is universal in Hasidic Judaism which regards the Kabbalah as sacred and authoritative Among well known rabbis who rejected the idea of reincarnation are Saadia Gaon David Kimhi Hasdai Crescas Jedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi early 14th century Joseph Albo Abraham ibn Daud and Leon of Modena Among the Geonim Hai Gaon argued with Saadia Gaon in favour of gilgulim Rabbis who believed in the idea of reincarnation include from Medieval times the mystical leaders Nahmanides and Bahya ben Asher from the 16th century Levi ibn Habib and from the mystical school of Safed Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz Isaac Luria and his exponent Hayyim ben Joseph Vital and from the 18th century the founder of Hasidic Judaism the Baal Shem Tov later Hasidic Masters and the Lithuanian Jewish Orthodox leader and Kabbalist the Vilna Gaon and amongst others from the 19th 20th century Yosef Hayyim author of Ben Ish Hai With the 16th century rational systemisation of Cordoveran Kabbalah by Alkabetz and the subsequent new paradigm of Lurianic Kabbalah by Luria Kabbalah replaced rationalism as the mainstream traditional Jewish theology both in scholarly circles and in the popular imagination Isaac Luria taught new explanations of the process of gilgul and identification of the reincarnations of historic Jewish figures which were compiled by Hayyim ben Joseph Vital in his Shaar HaGilgulim See also editIn Judaism Lurianic Kabbalah Ibbur Dybbuk Shaar HaGilgulimFor comparison with other religions ReincarnationReferences edit Trachtenberg Joshua 13 February 2004 Originally published 1939 Glossary of Hebrew Terms Jewish Magic and Superstition Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press published 2004 p 333 ISBN 9780812218626 External links editJewish view of reincarnation Ask the Rabbi aish com Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine Gilgul Neshamot Reincarnation of Souls essay on gilgul by Rav Avraham Brandwein Sefer Nishmath Hayyim by Menasseh Ben Israel Archived 2010 02 21 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gilgul amp oldid 1182204860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
