Faith
How Many Reincarnations of the Soul Are There?
Question
Hello, honored rabbi,
In the past I read that every soul has 4 reincarnations in which it can undergo rectification, and if it does not undergo rectification in all four reincarnations, it disappears.
In addition, I read an interesting interpretation regarding the reincarnation of Moshe Rabbeinu’s soul, according to which his soul underwent rectification in three reincarnations, and therefore his name is called Moshe (an initial from each reincarnation) - Hevel, Shet, Moshe.
And Adam HaRishon’s soul underwent two reincarnations and has not yet completed its rectification - Adam, King David, and the final reincarnation will come, with Hashem’s help, when Mashiach from the seed of David arrives (and therefore the letter mem in the name Adam).
Is this interpretation accepted or grounded?
Answer
Hello and blessings,
This is what is written in the words of the Arizal, and I will quote the words of the Arai Nahal, Devarim, Nitzavim - Derush 2.
Regarding reincarnation, the commentators asked that there is a contradiction, because the verse says (Job 33:29), Behold, Hashem does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, meaning that one is reincarnated only three times, yet elsewhere we find that one can be reincarnated even a thousand times.
The answer is that the wicked person is reincarnated into the inanimate, which is the entire globe and stones and the like, and there that soul is called lost, like one who loses a precious pearl in a mountain of sand. Even though it is known that the pearl is lying in that mountain, it is nevertheless a lost thing because it is impossible to find it amid that great quantity of sand. And it is possible that he will be reincarnated a thousand times from one inanimate form to another. Afterwards he is rectified somewhat and emerges from the inanimate and is reincarnated into the vegetative. And when the plant is uprooted from the ground or its leaf withers, that soul feels the taste of death, and there too it can be reincarnated a thousand times from one plant to another, and in each one it tastes and feels the taste of death. Afterwards he is reincarnated into the living and can first be reincarnated into impure animals and beasts and afterward into pure ones, until he is reincarnated into sheep, which are more significant among the pure animals, because Israel is likened to sheep, as the verse says (Ezekiel 34:31), And you are My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are man. Then he is close to rectification when he comes in a human reincarnation, only first he will usually be reincarnated as a slave or maidservant and the like before coming into a Jewish soul. And when he is reincarnated as a human, if he rectifies his deeds, good; and if he acts wickedly, he will again be reincarnated into the inanimate, vegetative, living, and speaking, as above. Thus, when the verse says twice, three times, it carefully says with a man, meaning that he is reincarnated three times as a human, but between each reincarnation he will be reincarnated into the inanimate, vegetative, living, and speaking thousands of times, as stated.
And all this applies when he did not repent. But if he repented, nothing stands in the way of repentance. Even severe matters for which he became liable through bitter reincarnations worse than death are all rectified through repentance. Moreover, he receives double reward, because intentional sins become merits (Yoma 86b). Furthermore, Hashem draws him close and, so to speak, calls him His friend (Rambam, Laws of Repentance 7:6-7), in contrast to the fact that at first he was called wicked.
Success,
Binyamin Shmueli
