- Halacha
- General Questions
Human Spirit, Soul and Mind
Question
Hello Rabbi’s!
Is the human "spirit" synonymous with the human "mind?" In other words, are they really both the same?
Thanking you in advance for your response. Shalom.
Answer
Shalom. There are three basic and different levels included in the soul which concern us: nefesh, rua’ch and n’shama (in that ascending order, the lower being closer to the physical world and the higher, closer to the Godly). The mind is relatively physiological and may be considered part of the nefesh, for example, if one gets banged hard on the head, he can get amnesia, maybe lose his memory or even his mind, but the higher levels of his soul are still intact.
With Love of Israel,
Rabbi Ari Shvat