What are the five levels of the neshama for a Jew and the two levels for a non-Jew according to the Zohar? What are their meanings? What are their sources in the Zohar?

  • 3
    How do you know that the Zohar says this at all? – Yishai Dec 30 '14 at 17:02
  • I've heard it a lot. I think it is obvious from my question but I can add it if you want. – far22 Dec 30 '14 at 17:04
  • Actually, I think that this is a (very common) misquote. The Zohanr (Lech Lecha 96, 99) says that there are three levels to the soul, and the Midrash Rabba (Beriashis 14:11) writes that the soul has five names. I think that later thinkers (Rama Mi'Fano in Olam Kattan Alef, the Shelah in several places, the Ramchal 3:1:1, and after them many more) have combined those ideas to understand that the soul has five parts/levels/facets – הנער הזה Dec 30 '14 at 17:15
  • daat.ac.il/encyclopedia/value.asp?id1=3624 – user6641 Dec 30 '14 at 17:23
  • If you're looking for a nice discussion/explanation, I'd suggest checking out R. Shimshon Dovid Pinkus' explanation of the five levels in the published collection of lectures on the Siddur, Nefesh Shimshon – הנער הזה Dec 30 '14 at 18:04

The five levels of the neshama quoted above would seem to transalate to the Transactional Analysis constructs of

Nephesh - Child Ruach - Parent Neshama - Adult Chaya - The cathexis Yechidah - The ego itself

Both for Jews and non-Jews.


The Tanya quotes "zohar 1, 206a" as saying that the 5 levels of the Jewish soul are "nefesh, ruach, neshama, chaya, yechida". [technically the zohar is only referenced as a source for the first 3 levels, but the other 2 are enumerated in a Footnote elsewhere in the tanya and I assume they can be found In the same place in the zohar].

Furthermore, a non Jewish soul consists of only the animal soul (which Jews have as well, in addition to the above soul which can be at one of the above 5 levels).

  • I know this doesn't fully answer the question, but it's something. Feel free to edit with more information. – andrewmh20 Dec 30 '14 at 17:13
  • Thanks. What is the meaning of each level? – far22 Dec 30 '14 at 17:18
  • @far22 I have absolutely no idea. But they are in ascending order of "holiness"... – andrewmh20 Dec 30 '14 at 17:19
  • I was told from chasidus that klipa does not have yechida and can not exist with yechida( the top level) – hazoriz Dec 30 '14 at 21:48

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