Do Jews Believe in Heaven or Reincarnation (or Both)?

Question:

If we believe in reincarnation, why do we say that souls go to heaven for their final rest after they pass away? What’s the point of praying for a soul, if they might be right next to us down here on earth?

Answer:

When I was at school, a friend failed his end-of-year exams and had to repeat a grade. We all moved on, but he was held back.

Some think reincarnation is like repeating a year at school: while some souls graduate to the next world, others are sent right back down to rectify things.

But that’s not quite how it works.

A better metaphor would be a mobile data rollover plan. The phone company gives you 5 GB of data per month. Anything unused at the end of one month rolls over to the following month. So if you used only 4 GB in November, the remaining 1 GB is applied to your December allowance, giving you 6 GB for that month.

Your soul has multiple gigabytes of spiritual energy and Divine potential. This is the power G‑d has invested in you to fulfill your mission in life. You use that potential by doing mitzvahs. Every mitzvah activates another gigabyte of your soul energy. You have been given an allotted number of days in this world to utilize your gigabytes.

At the end of the billing cycle, when your time comes to leave this life, the activated parts of your soul go to a higher place, because that part of you has completed its mission on earth. But if you have unused soul potential, if you didn't activate all of the energy invested in you, then that unused part of your soul comes back again in another body to finish the job.

So when someone passes away, we pray that their soul find rest in heaven, because that’s where the already-used part of the soul is found. As for the unused part of the soul, it will come back down for another go-round.

Source: Arizal, Shaar ha-Gilgulim, chapter 14

By Aron Moss

Aron Moss is rabbi of the Nefesh Community in Sydney, Australia, and is a frequent contributor to Chabad.org. His latest book is "Can I Name My Dog Israel? Life Questions That Aren't So Black & White".

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96 Comments

Ben W. Phoenix, AZ April 9, 2024

There is quite a bit of philosophy here, but none (or almost none) is anchored by what HaShem has revealed in the Tanakh. This matter is too consequential to discuss based on conjectures and mental gymnastics. I suspect that the mysticism of the East has had too great an effect on learned Jewish minds in this regard. Reply

anonymous NYC May 15, 2024

in response to Ben W.:

Shalom. Thank G-d for allowing enlightenment to shine throughout the world. Reply

Angel moody Saint louis September 10, 2023

as I read I was sitting here thinking about the multiverse theory huh interesting? Thank you.. Reply

JDV August 13, 2023

Death to me is physical. Biology can explain it. But my soul is a mystery that defies explanation. Reply

Morton Friedman Pembroke Pines, FL March 14, 2023

My wife Rosalie has terminal cancer with only a few months left. I believe she is a saint masquerading as a person. I am most fortunate of man to have found her, go through life with her and now will be leaving me, our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Please pray she will be with Hashem. I want to be with her when my time comes as heaven (if I am fortunate enough to be) will only be worthwhile if she will be with me. How or what can I do to meet her again and be together forever? Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org March 20, 2023

in response to Morton Friedman:

Dear Morton,

I am moved to tears by your words about your wife, and I am sure that she feels very much the same about you. I wish you both much strength during this difficult time, and whatever the future holds I am sure that you will be together.

The best way to ensure that you will be reunited with your wife when your time comes is to live your life in this world with a focus on the proper observance of mitzvot. Every mitzvah you do is another step in ensuring that your soul will end up in the best place in the afterlife, where I am sure your wife will be too.

May G-d bless you both with peace and strength! Reply

Ben Pettis GA July 27, 2021

In which part of the soul does the consciousness reside? This is the only part that seems to matter, at least from our perspectives. Reply

louise PA July 31, 2021

in response to Ben Pettis:

Hi, Ben. My understanding is that the soul resides on a higher level above our earthly life.
Therefore, since consciousness is part of our brain function, it has nothing to do with the soul.
Hope I got this right. Reply

Jonah Olivo Long Beach January 27, 2020

What is Arizal basing his teaching Reincarnation or Soul recycling on? Torah? Talmud? Or just Divine inspiration? Outside the teaching of Tanakh and Talmud I can't see talking it to heart. Reply

Alex May 10, 2019

Please help me out here. The two passages cited in support of the idea of reincarnation in Judaism are Ecclesiastics 1:4 ("A generation departs and a generation comes.") and Job 1:21 ("Naked I left my mother's womb and naked I shall return there.")

As to the first passage, it can be replied that it doesn't speak of reincarnation, but of the normal cycle of generations (some people die and other people are born). Regarding the quote from Job, I'll refer to Rashi's commentary of this quote on your very own website where Rashi opines that "mother" means "earth." Namely:

and I will return there naked: He is not referring to the womb. What then is the meaning of “there” ? To the place of his return, for which he is destined, and he will not change the law, to return anywhere but to the earth. Therefore, it was not necessary to mention it.

So aside from these two quotes, are there any other sources in the Tanakh that can be construed in support of the idea of reincarnation? Reply

Rabbi Mendel Adelman for Chabad.org May 12, 2019

in response to Alex:

Hey Alex,

Clearly, mentions of reincarnation are not said outright in the Torah. They are only supported by the Oral tradition, which learns certain verses as referring to it. This was by design. In many ways, the theological components of the Torah were meant to be only received from a teacher, not a book. One could not just pick up a Torah and expect to understand. It forced people to learn in groups, and from a qualified teacher.

The expectation that one would find clear verses about it, rather than just hints, is slightly misplaced. See this link. Reply

Alex May 14, 2019

in response to Rabbi Mendel Adelman for Chabad.org:

Thank you Rabbi. May I ask what your favorite explanation is for this being a secret teaching? After all, some other information is plainly stated in the Torah, e.g., "Don't murder", "Respect your parents," or "Treat a stranger well for you have been strangers as well in others' lands" (perhaps the last requirement was to be expanded to all souls for one can say everyone is a stranger here in this world, inhabiting a body and trying to make this place holy for HaShem to dwell among us).

So why the secrecy about reincarnation? Was it considered too dangerous, as in people would say "Oh well, guess I can party hard, do as my (other) heart desires, and then return later on to fulfill my mission"? You can see where I'm going with this. We ARE talking about it now, so something must be different about these times to make the information public and be plain about its implications. Reply

M U.S.A September 14, 2020

in response to Rabbi Mendel Adelman for Chabad.org:

How does this effect people's expectation to be united with loved ones, how is this effected by a possible division of a soul? Reply

Yitshak January 20, 2019

I read what you wrote above; about reincarnation, Rabbi Steinsaltz in his book called Words has a remarkably different opinion. Shaare Ha Gilgulim speaks about souls which they are destine to return which they did not complete their mission in this world, does not say anything about their partial return of the soul to this world.The Essence of Men (neshamah) can not be divisible; since it is Divine in nature, All souls must go to a cleansing process before they meld to the Ein Sof Reply

Sigrid Haller Wien January 6, 2019

If I would have not read your words over the years, I think I don't wouldn't be a recognized and honoured artist nowadays...
Shalom and so many thanks.
Bless you ... Jewish people! Reply

Maris Ramat-gan ,Israel January 3, 2019

Yes,as far as i know and it was in the 13th Principles of Faith..Thank you! Reply

Karl Held NJ December 26, 2018

When I have so many coins in my pocket and my pocket is heavy, those coins hold less value then when I have few coins remaining in my pocket. The same with life... In my youth, my pockets were full of life, full of years to live in this world, full of potential and I valued life differently than I do now. Today, I am old and my pockets are not bulging with years of life ahead. Therefore, I now put a greater value on life. But not only my own life, I now value all life differently. From this experience I conclude that life is life... all life is the potential, the breath, the energy of that force we refer to as G-d. How this force operates is a mystery to me. I am like a fine clock, designed to keep time. But I am not designed to describe the talent of the clock maker. This being said, somehow I feel this force flowing through me, this energy/potential we refer to as "life" continues on somehow With or without me, it continues on, Reply

Amy January 3, 2019

in response to Karl Held:

That was just beautiful Reply

Miriam South Jordan December 24, 2018

So, how does the Kabbalistic belief in 5 levels of soul fit into this? Which soul level does the reincarnating? As I understand the concept, the Nephesh & Ruach are sort of "disposable", whereas the Neschamah, which is always connected to the Creator, is the enduring part. Which would also include the 2 highest levels, the Chiah & the Yechidah, about which there seems to not be much information & they remain a mystery. Does Chabad address these 2 highest levels at all? What can you tell me about this? Reply

Rabbi Shmary Brownstein For Chabad.org January 3, 2019

in response to Miriam:

The subject of reincarnation as it relates to the five soul levels is discussed at length in "Gate of Reincarnations" on our site. All five levels may be involved in the reincarnation, and all five are enduring. In general, only the lower three levels enter the body, while the upper two (Chaya and Yechidah) affect the person from a distance (see "Entry of Soul's Levels"). For more on the soul levels, you may be interested in Rabbi Shloma Majeski's "The Five Dimensions of the G-dly Soul." Reply

Norman Hauptman Yonkers December 23, 2018

Honorable Jay L. Stern, The esteemed Torah has told us our bodies are composed of Earth matter infused with the spirit of G-d. Such energy is immortal. So you and Mankind are immortal. Be patient. you will be in existence forever. Reply

Jay L. Stern Los Angeles December 25, 2018

in response to Norman Hauptman:

Dear Mr. Hauptman -
I've not read the Torah. I have read and studied intently texts dealing with biology, with biochemistry, with chemisty, with "all" aspects of environmental science and now, archaeology. I am aware that the entropy of the universe increases -- that is -- disorder. I am aware that engergy that flows through us gives the semblence of an increase in order. The key word is "through." It does not stop with us; it does not even pause. "It" keeps on going and the disorder --- the randomness -- of the universe keeps increasing. Eventually, an equilibrium will be achieved. A universal "sameness" will prevail. Then, there will be no distinct energy or matter; just a blend. Everything will be at the same temperature, but you can't measure it because there will be no reference points. There is your immortality and there is your forever existence. Reply

Anonymous NYC December 27, 2018

in response to Jay L. Stern:

Hi Jay. There goes your immortality, not mine. Reply

M U.S. September 14, 2020

in response to Jay L. Stern:

The Torah describes " In the beginning" and the science as presented by Einstein describes a beginning as well, before which time itself and space as we understand it did not exist. Therefore the beginning of time is truly a beginning as we as humans are capable of understanding it. We don't know what possible existence we might have had before our physical birth. In both cases it is vanity to say that it is the end when the physical universe dies just as it is to say that when a physical body dies. It is therefore vanity to say nothing can exist outside of our physical universe and a physical nothingness, and the same can be said about our bodies as well. Reply

Louise E Leon PA February 21, 2019

in response to Anonymous:

Shalom Jay. Understanding science as you explain it sounds OK by me. Reply

M Clementon September 14, 2020

in response to Louise E Leon :

The Universe did not always exist and then just slowly decay towards death. It had a beginning which in itself describes a situation where the Universe did not always exist. This suggests a pattern of birth and death. A before in which time as we know it did not always exist . Reply

caprice adler December 23, 2018

Sorry you don't like my e-mail The soul can be divided ? So some people walk around with half a soul? This sis so weird! Where did you get such an idea from? Reply

Rabbi Shmary Brownstein For Chabad.org December 23, 2018

Re: Half a Soul Every part of a soul contains all components of a soul, just like part of a flame contains all components of a flame. Every person in Heaven "is" the part of the soul that was fulfilled during its life on earth. Reply

M U.S.A. September 14, 2020

in response to Rabbi Shmary Brownstein:

If part of a soul can go to an animal with reincarnation does this mean people might then be reunited with their pets in some manner?
I know of a dog that showed extraordinary intelligence, even saving a life by going to get emergency assistance for a senior who fell and was unconscious and bleeding from her head and did so without training. The dog also understood and acted on complex verbal instructions. Reply

Rabbi Happyman Yonkers December 21, 2018

"There is no death.
Death is a lie.
Our immortal souls
Shall never die."

As we are created in
G-ds image, that dimension
survives forever. Reply

Jay L. Stern Los Angeles December 21, 2018

What about bacteria? Do bacteria reincarnate? How about the animal you ate for dinner? Why is it such a struggle to realize that you are born from preexisting life and when you die, your soft tissue usually becomes food for insects. If your bones remain, eventually all the collagen in them also breaks down until all that is left if calcium hydroxyapatite. Or, if you die in the ocean, you eventually dissolve. There is one life. Make the most of it. Reply

Channah Dallas December 17, 2018

How Does Free Will Factor In? Dear Rabbi,
This is a fascinating explanation. However, I would very much like to understand the concept of reincarnation in situations where some individuals essentially have their exercise of free will degraded. I am thinking of a person with the inherited genetic proclivity to violence who then is raised by abusive parents and who, as a result of that combination, predictably becomes a murderer. I seriously doubt that person has the opportunity to exercise their free will to overcome all those powerful influences and turn instead to religious studies, perform mitzvot, and achieve the kind of spiritual growth that seems to be assumed in the process described in this article. In short, how does free will enter into this equation. Is free will in such a case being exercised by some pre-birth decision?
The questions previously raised by jean are part & parcel of my same blindspot here and I would be grateful for an explanation. Thank you. Reply

Nazyr NJ December 16, 2018

All we can do is speculate on after death... what we know is while we are alive we should not allow the words, statutes, commands and Torah of Hashem to fall to the ground. Reply

Ric Sydney December 16, 2018

Fantastic explanation... reading some of the comments this is one of those topics we will find out about one day :-) Reply

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