Soul

===Judaism===
{{Primary sources section|find=soul|find2=in Judaism|date=October 2019}}

The [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] terms {{Script/Hebrew|נפש}} ''[[nephesh|nefesh]]'' (literally "living being"), {{Script/Hebrew|רוח}} ''[[ruach]]'' (literally "wind"), {{Script/Hebrew|נשמה}} ''neshamah'' (literally "breath"), {{Script/Hebrew|חיה}} ''chayah'' (literally "life") and {{Script/Hebrew|יחידה}} ''yechidah'' (literally "singularity") are used to describe the soul or spirit.<ref>''Zohar'', ''Rayah Mehemna'', ''Terumah'' 158b.  See Leibowitz, Aryeh (2018). ''The Neshamah: A Study of the Human Soul''. Feldheim Publishers. pp. 27, 110. {{ISBN|1-68025-338-7}}</ref>

In [[Judaism]],  there was originally little to no concept of a soul.  As seen in the [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]], the divine breath simply animated bodies.
{{blockquote|Then Yahweh God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and so the man became a living being.
:—[https://biblehub.com/lexicon/genesis/2-7.htm Genesis 2:7]}}

Judaism relates the quality of one's soul to one's performance of the commandments (''[[mitzvot]])'' and reaching higher levels of understanding, and thus closeness to God. A person with such closeness is called a ''[[tzadik]]''. Therefore, Judaism embraces the commemoration of the day of one's death, ''[[Yartzeit|nahala]]''/''Yahrtzeit'' and not the [[birthday]]<ref>The only person mentioned in the [[Torah]] celebrating birthday (party) is the wicked [[pharaoh]] of Egypt {{Bibleverse|Genesis|40:20–22|JPS}}.</ref> as a festivity of remembrance, for only toward the end of life's struggles, tests and challenges could human souls be judged and credited for righteousness.<ref name="aish birthday">{{cite web|title=About Jewish Birthdays|url=http://www.aish.com/jl/l/ms/47139952.html|work=Judaism 101|publisher=Aish.com|access-date=11 July 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822100333/http://www.aish.com/jl/l/ms/47139952.html|archive-date=22 August 2013}}</ref> Judaism places great importance on the study of the souls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13933-soul|title=Soul|publisher=jewishencyclopedia.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308035611/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13933-soul|archive-date=8 March 2016}}</ref>

[[Kabbalah]] and other mystic traditions go into greater detail into the nature of the soul. Kabbalah separates the soul into five elements, corresponding to the [[five worlds]]:<ref>{{cite web |title=Nurturing The Human Soul&mdash;From Cradle To Grave |url=https://www.chizukshaya.com/2013/01/the-five-levels-of-mans-soul.html |website=Chizuk Shaya: Dvar Torah Resource |access-date=10 June 2022 |date=6 January 2013}}</ref>

# [[Nephesh|Nefesh]], related to natural instinct.
# [[Ruach]], related to intellect and the awareness of God.
# Neshamah, related to emotion and morality.
# Chayah, considered a part of God, as it were.
# Yechidah.  This aspect is essentially one with God.

Kabbalah also proposed a concept of reincarnation, the ''[[gilgul]]'' (see also: ''[[nefesh habehamit]]'' – the "animal soul").{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Some Jewish traditions assert that the soul is housed in the ''[[Luz (bone)|luz]]'' bone, though traditions disagree as to whether it is the [[Atlas (anatomy)|atlas]] at the top of the spine, or the [[sacrum]] at bottom of the spine.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}