Jews teach reincarnation?

[Bulldog]

I heard in another part of CF that Jews believe and teach reincarnation. Is this true?

[simchat_torah]

Yes and no.

Traditional Judaism does not teach reincarnation. However, many reform Jews will teach reincarnation, which isn't really Judaism at all, but more like New Age.

[Bulldog]

Yes, I have heard some strange things about Reform Judaism.

Thanks for the reply. :)

[Hix]

Actually many orthodox teach reincarnation as well, it is a traditional Jewish belief mentioned I believe in the Talmud that the souls of all future converts to Judaism were present at Sinai and are the result of reincarnation. I know Breslover Chassidim believes in reincarnation and there are more as well.

Thats not to say its accepted by all though.

[Bulldog]

I see.

[simchat_torah]

Actually many orthodox teach reincarnation as well, it is a traditional Jewish belief mentioned I believe in the Talmud that the souls of all future converts to Judaism were present at Sinai and are the result of reincarnation.
Actually, the Orthodox view of reincarnation is completely different than the Eastern view (Buddhist)... it is much more esoteric, symbollic, and is actually quite different in nature on top of that.

1) It is not taught that a 'literal' reincarnation takes place. Merely the 'essence', or nefesh, of the soul (the soul of the soul) is reincarnated.

2) Many orthodox (chassidic actually... I'm not familiar with reincarnation being taught outside of the Chabad) view this as symbollic rather than literal.

3) As the teaching follows, this does not happen to the general population. This only takes place at specific times for G-d to accomplish specific tasks. In other words, reincarnation is not a teaching that is broadly placed upon 'humankind'.

Many messianic Jews understand the Chassidic teaching of reincarnation to be similar to the Elijah/John ordeal... Yochanan (John) the Immerser (baptist) was Elijah reincarnated.

I hope this helps... but probably only muddies the water some. Because this teaching is nothing like Buddhist reincarnation I decided not to mention it. I didn't want to confuse the OP any more than necessary. The connotations that are associated with the word reincarnation should be totally removed from the mind of the individual when examining Jewsih reincarnation.

Shalom,
Yafet

[simchat_torah]

This is also similar to the difference between Eastern meditation and Hebrew/Jewish meditation. There is a form of meditation practiced in Judaism, but it does not reflect Bhuddist meditation what so ever.

For example, Bhuddist meditation requires you to empty your mind... become still... let the waters of the pond settle until they are crystal clear.

Jewish meditation, on the other hand, requires you to consider, think about, and dwell on an atribute of G-d. You can see this evidenced throughout the psalms... "meditation on his Goodness" "meditate on his word" etc.

Thus, even though we have the same word "meditate", each is a totally different description and definition. The same can be applied to reincarnation.

shalom,
yafet

[Plan 9]

In Eastern thought, reincarnation is always linked with karma. A better term for reincarnation might be the transmigration of souls, since the twin wheels of reincarnation and karma may impel souls, like Don Maquis's archy, a free verse poet who had the misfortune to come back as a cockroach because his poery didn't rhyme, to return as any living creature as whatsoever.
Many New Agers seem to have jettisoned transmigration as less than desirable.
As archy explains, "i see life from the underside now", and where's the fun in that? ;)