Reincarnation_Res

RESURRECTION AND REINCARNATION
M.M.NINAN
among the contemporary Cathars (see *Albigenses), who also lived there. Indeed the
latter, like most believers in transmigration, taught that the soul also passes into the
bodies of animals, whereas in the Bahir it is mentioned only in relation to the bodies
of men....
GILGUL AND PUNISHMENT
..... the concepts of metempsychosis and punishment in hell are mutually exclusive,
there could be no compromise between them.
Joseph of Hamadan, Persia, who lived in Spain in the 14 th century, interpreted the
entire matter of hell as transmigration among animals. The transmigrations of souls
began after the slaying of Abel (some claim in the generation of the Flood), and will
cease only with the resurrection of the dead. At that time the bodies of all those who
underwent transmigrations will be revived and sparks (niẓoẓot) from the original soul
will spread within them.
...... Transmigration into the bodies of animals is first mentioned in the Sefer ha-
Temunah, which originated in a circle probably associated with the kabbalists of
Gerona. In the Zohar itself this idea is not found, ..........
Ibbur
In addition to the doctrine of gilgul, that of ibbur ("impregnation") developed from the
second half of the 13 th century. Ibbur, as distinct from gilgul, means the entry of
another soul into a man, not during pregnancy nor at birth but during his life. In
general, such an additional soul dwells in a man only for a limited period of time, for
the purpose of performing certain acts or commandments. In the Zohar it is stated
that the souls of Nadab and Abihu were temporarily added to that of Phinehas in his
zeal over the act of Zimri, and that Judah's soul was present in Boaz when he begat
Obed. This doctrine was a respected one in the teachings of the kabbalists of Safed,
especially in the Lurianic school: a righteous man who fulfilled almost all of the
613 mitzvot but did not have the opportunity to fulfill one special mitzvah is
temporarily reincarnated in one who has the opportunity to fulfill it. Thus the souls of
the righteous men are reincarnated for the benefit of the universe and their
generation. "
Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica.