Pearls of Elul 5786 - Day Four

August 16 | 3 Elul

Yesterday’s teaching made reference to the Rabbinic volume known as Genesis Rabbah (14:9) where it is taught that there are five different Hebrew names that we have for the human soul.

As a reminder, they are: nefesh, ruaḥ, neshama, yeḥida, and ḥaya.

Here is an observation about another one of Hebrew names – neshama – a word that is nearly identical to the Hebrew word for “breath” or “breathing” as the following teaching notes:

Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: For each and every breath that a person takes, he must laud the Creator. What is the source? “Let every soul [neshama] praise God” (Psalms 150:6) – [read instead:] Let every breath [neshima] praise God.

Teachers and practitioners of meditation will often focus on breathing. Take time today – and every day – to catch your breath. Take time to, once again, pay attention to your soul.