Gate of Reincarnations The large size green text is the direct translation of the Gate of Reincarnations. The smaller, black text is the explanation of the translator.

Gate of Reincarnations Archives Printer-Friendly Version

"GATE OF REINCARNATIONS" from the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria translated by Yitzchak Bar Chaim edited by Shabtai Teicher Two Sets of Three, Plus One Chapter Five, Section 4 After three failed attempts, the soul gets help from an ibur.   If the Nefesh is not rectified in the first three gilgulim, then there will be another set of three gilgulim together with the ibur of a tzadik.   The verse says, "All these things G-d does, two or three times with a man," (Job 33:29).   This verse was already mentioned in Section 2 in conjunction with another, "…Visit the sins of the fathers on the children for three and four (generations)." We learned that a maximum of four Nefashot can come into a single body at one time, whether in gilgul or in ibur. One is the main or host Nefesh and the other three are gilgulim or iburim. This verse, "All these things G-d does, two or three times with a man" was also mentioned there, seemingly, as a secondary source to the rule of quantitative limitation. Now, the Rav will give it a new interpretation.   In the first three gilgulim, the Nefesh of a person reincarnates by itself without any partnership in the body. However, if after these three times his Nefesh is still not rectified, it must come back an additional three times, but not alone since it lacks the ability to become rectified (on its own).   The first three gilgulim have proven, so to speak, that he cannot make it on his own.   Therefore, it returns together "with a man." This is a righteous tzadik who will come as an ibur to help him and direct him in the right direction.   The "man" that is mentioned in the verse refers to the soul of a tzadik who comes as an ibur to assist the host and direct him in the right path.   Therefore, the verse does not say "three times," which would seemingly refer to the first three times, but rather "two or three times…."   The Hebrew phrase that is translated "two or three times" is "pa'amayim shalosh". A literally accurate meaning of these words is "twice three."     This teaches that during a second set of three gilgulim he will have a "man" as a partner with him.   Since he did not succeed in the first set of three gilgulim, he gets a second set of three gilgulim. In this second set, however, he also gets an ibur, the soul of a tzadik, to help him.   Yitzchak Bar-Chaim is the pseudonym of an American-born Jerusalem scholar who has studied and taught Kabbala for many years. He may be contacted through: kabbala@KabbalaOnline.com.

<- Previous article Receive future postings directly in your e-mail This article is the exclusive property of Ascent of Safed. No one may publish this article in print, electronic or any other form without explicit permission from projects@ascentofsafed.com. This website is a project of Ascent of Safed Design & Hosting © 2001 Hershel Productions