Healing Well of Miriam

ב״ה

Ain od milvado

There are four levels of the human soul: Yechidah (Unique essence), Chayah (Living essence), Neshamah (breath), Ruach (spirit), and Nefesh (soul). Of these, only the lower three come down into this world for a person to rectify. The upper two stay above, as it were, and envelope the person. Yet all these levels are the person himself, available to the person for guidance and information. Think about that: the upper levels of your own soul are ever in the presence of Hashem! The lower three come down into the world one by one.

Nefesh is the animal soul, which we are told is in the blood. When Hashem told Noah and his sons not to eat the limb of a living animal, He said the nefesh is in the blood (Gen. 9:4). Again, when Hashem directed the Jewish people not to eat blood (Lev. 17:10-14) the reason He gave was that the nefesh (life) is in the blood. This is the lifeforce of the being that directs its emotions, thoughts, survival instinct. So “what’s in it for me?” is an “animal” attitude. Yet we can see the loyalty and love of a pet—a dog, a cat, a horse, for instance—and know that even these “higher” traits are also directed from the nefesh. Nefesh literally means “resting soul.” The rest of the human being is in receiving from Hashem. On this level a person can become spiritually aware that he is a recipient of a higher force.

Ruach means “spirit” or “wind.” This is the level of spiritual activity on which the Prophets received their prophecy. They heard from Gd. They experienced miracles. They saw amazing things. We must realize that people of all cultures and religions have these experiences—powerful, life-changing dramas. These are taken as “proofs” many times of their own specific beliefs.

Neshamah means “breath.” Adam was formed for the ground, just like the land animals on the sixth day of Creation. They came forth from the earth alive, indicating that their nefesh lifeforce originated from the earth, just as did their bodies. Adam, however, was not alive until Hashem breathed into Him. In this manner he was physically terrestrial, like the animals, but he was also celestial like the angels. But unlike the angels, Adam was the only creature created in the image of Gd. This is the level of soul of resting, like the nefesh, but while the nefesh is receiving, the neshamah is more intimately involved. While the ruach is experiencing the action of the spirituality, neshamah knows the Source of it. So this is the level that the people of Israel were drawn to attain when they received Torah. Hashem reminded them of the miracles in Egypt and told:

You have been shown in order to know that Hashem, He is the Gd! There is none beside Him! –Dvarim 4:35

“There is none beside Him!” is a wonderful mantra for us all. Declare: “There is none beside Him!” – “Ain od milvado!”

We live in a world of duality, made that way so we can exist in physical form, but also so we can freely choose to serve Hashem. In this world the darkness can seem overwhelming, and the duality can seem so real that it does feel like a battle that maybe we aren’t winning. This battle is the action of ruach, whirling around us furiously, trying to convince us of its dangerous power. In these times we have to remember that all these things are created by the Creator. There is no other power.  Ain od milvado!

It has been suggested that this could be a good mantra to say everyday, to make it our own deep-seated belief. When we grasp this truth, not simply as words, but as TRUTH of our hearts, there is a resting that is Neshamah. We know the Source.

Ain od milvado!

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Miriam Leah Ben-Yaacov