Editing Reincarnation (section)

===Judaism===
{{See also|Gilgul}}
{{Kabbalah||collapsed=1}}
The doctrine of reincarnation has had a complex evolution within Judaism. Initially alien to Jewish tradition, it began to emerge in the 8th century, possibly influenced by Muslim mystics, gaining acceptance among [[Karaite Judaism|Karaites]] and Jewish dissenters.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Jacobs |first=Louis |title=The Jewish religion: a companion |date=1995 |publisher=Oxford Univ. Press |isbn=978-0-19-826463-7 |location=Oxford Berlin |pages=417–418}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Fine |first=Lawrence |title=Physician of the soul, healer of the cosmos: Isaac Luria and his kabbalistic fellowship |date=2003 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-3825-5 |series=Stanford studies in Jewish history & culture |location=Stanford, Calif |pages=304}}</ref> It was first mentioned in Jewish literature by [[Saadia Gaon]], who criticized it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transmigration of souls  |url=https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14479-transmigration-of-souls |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=JewishEncyclopedia.com |first1=Kaufmann  |last1=Kohler |first2=Isaac  |last2=Broydé }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> However, it remained a minority belief, facing little resistance until the spread of Kabbalah in the 12th century. The "[[Bahir|Book of Clarity]]" (Sefer ha-Bahir) of this period introduced concepts such as the transmigration of souls, strengthening the foundation of Kabbalah with mystical symbolism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=Kabbala {{!}} Definition, Beliefs, & Facts  |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kabbala |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Britannica |language=en}}</ref> Kabbalah also teaches that "The soul of Moses is reincarnated in every generation."<ref>Tikunei Zohar, Tikkun 69, 112a and 114a. Literally, "There is an extension of Moses in every generation and to each and every righteous man."</ref> This teaching found more significant ground in Kabbalistic circles in Provence and Spain.<ref name=":2" />

Despite not being widely accepted in [[Orthodox Judaism]], the doctrine of reincarnation attracted some modern Jews involved in mysticism.<ref name=":1" /> [[Hasidic Judaism]] and followers of [[Kabbalah]] remained firm in their belief in the transmigration of souls. Other branches of Judaism, such as [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] and [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]], do not teach it.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained: 001 |date=2003 |isbn=978-0-7876-5383-5 |location=Detroit |pages=48 |last1=Steiger |first1=Brad |last2=Steiger |first2=Sherry Hansen }}</ref>

The 16th century mystical renaissance in communal [[Safed]] replaced scholastic [[Jewish philosophy|Rationalism]] as mainstream traditional Jewish theology, both in scholarly circles and in the popular imagination. References to ''gilgul'' in former Kabbalah became systematized as part of the metaphysical purpose of creation. [[Isaac Luria]] (the Ari) brought the issue to the centre of his new mystical articulation, for the first time, and advocated identification of the reincarnations of historic Jewish figures that were compiled by [[Haim Vital]] in his [[Shaar HaGilgulim]].<ref>''Sha'ar Ha'Gilgulim, The Gate of Reincarnations'', Chaim Vital</ref> ''Gilgul'' is contrasted with the other processes in Kabbalah of [[Ibbur]] ('pregnancy'), the attachment of a second soul to an individual for (or by) good means, and [[Dybuk]] ('possession'), the attachment of a spirit, demon, etc. to an individual for (or by) "bad" means.

In [[Lurianic Kabbalah]], reincarnation is not retributive or fatalistic, but an expression of Divine compassion, the microcosm of the doctrine of cosmic rectification of creation. ''Gilgul'' is a heavenly agreement with the individual soul, conditional upon circumstances. Luria's radical system focused on [[Tohu and Tikkun|rectification]] of the Divine soul, played out through Creation. The true essence of anything is the divine spark within that gives it existence. Even a stone or leaf possesses such a soul that "came into this world to receive a rectification". A human soul may occasionally be exiled into lower inanimate, vegetative or animal creations. The most basic component of the soul, the [[nefesh]], must leave at the cessation of blood production. There are four other soul components and different nations of the world possess different forms of souls with different purposes. Each Jewish soul is reincarnated in order to fulfill each of the [[613 Mitzvot|613 Mosaic commandments]] that elevate a particular spark of holiness associated with each commandment. Once all the Sparks are redeemed to their spiritual source, the [[Mashiach|Messianic Era]] begins. Non-Jewish observance of the [[7 Laws of Noah]] assists the Jewish people, though Biblical adversaries of Israel reincarnate to oppose.

Among the many rabbis who accepted reincarnation are Kabbalists like [[Nahmanides]] (the Ramban) and Rabbenu [[Bahya ben Asher]], [[Levi ibn Habib]] (the Ralbah), [[Shelomoh Alkabez]], [[Moses Cordovero]], [[Moses Chaim Luzzatto]]; early Hasidic masters such as the [[Baal Shem Tov]], [[Schneur Zalman of Liadi]] and [[Nachman of Breslov]], as well as virtually all later Hasidic masters; contemporary Hasidic teachers such as DovBer Pinson, [[Moshe Weinberger]] and [[Joel Landau (rabbi)|Joel Landau]]; and key Mitnagdic leaders, such as the [[Vilna Gaon]] and [[Chaim Volozhin]] and their school, as well as Rabbi [[Shalom Sharabi]] (known at the RaShaSH), the [[Ben Ish Chai]] of Baghdad, and the [[Baba Sali]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://limmudbayarea2016.sched.com/event/7YDY/judaism-and-reincarnation|title=Limmud Bay Area 2016: Judaism and Reincarnation|website=limmudbayarea2016.sched.com|access-date=22 February 2017}}</ref> Rabbis who have rejected the idea include [[Saadia Gaon]], [[David Kimhi]], [[Hasdai Crescas]], [[Joseph Albo]], [[Abraham ibn Daud]], [[Leon de Modena]], [[Solomon ben Aderet]], [[Maimonides]] and [[Asher ben Jehiel]]. Among the [[Geonim]], [[Hai Gaon]] argued in favour of ''gilgulim''.