Global Wahrman
This is the personal journal of Michael Wahrman.
Monday, May 12, 2025
After Listening to What They Say
Sunday, May 11, 2025
The Good News About US Science
Thursday, May 1, 2025
An Interesting Discussion with a Trump Supporter
Special Thanks to my Fellow Americans
Exactly as predicted, Trump and friends are attempting to destroy American democracy and doing a good job of it. Apparently all that self-serving rot about checks & balances was all "just kidding". In the history of the world, short of a major war, there has rarely been a national decline so precipitous and self-inflicted.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Let Us Embrace National Decline
Monday, April 28, 2025
Modified Coconut Chip Cookies
Monday, April 21, 2025
The Various Failures of the Democratic Party
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Budgets and the Supreme Court
The appalling effort to destroy American democracy continues at full speed. There are so many outrages it is hard to know where to begin. Lets start with the destruction of various departments in the executive branch.
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Research in Visual Effects Practice & Technology
Sunday, March 30, 2025
AI and the Judaic Concept of the Soul
I asked the free version of Perplexity's AI if Judaism has the concept of a soul. Here is what it said:
Yes, Judaism has a well-developed concept of the soul, which is central to its understanding of human existence and spirituality. The soul in Jewish thought is multifaceted and has evolved over time, influenced by biblical texts, rabbinic teachings, and mystical traditions.
Key Concepts of the Soul in Judaism:
Terminology and Structure:
The Hebrew terms for the soul include nefesh (associated with physical life), ruach (spirit or emotional life), and neshamah (the higher, divine aspect). In Kabbalistic thought, additional levels are recognized: chayah (life force) and yechidah (essence or unity with God)[1][2][3].
These levels represent a ladder-like connection between the physical and spiritual realms, with the nefesh being closest to the body and the neshamah closest to God[1][3].
Creation and Divine Connection:
The soul is described as originating from God’s breath, as seen in Genesis: “And G d breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7)[3].
According to rabbinic tradition, all souls were created during the six days of Creation and are stored until they are assigned to a body at birth[2][4].
The Relationship Between Body and Soul:
Afterlife and Immortality:
Moral Responsibility:
The soul is seen as responsible for moral discernment and spiritual development. It navigates between inclinations toward good (yetzer tov) and evil (yetzer hara’)[5].
In summary, Judaism’s concept of the soul encompasses its divine origin, multifaceted nature, partnership with the body, moral responsibilities, and its journey beyond physical life. These ideas reflect a blend of biblical teachings, rabbinic interpretations, and mystical insights.
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https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3194/jewish/What-Is-a-Soul-Neshamah.htm
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-spirituality-and-the-soul/
https://www.dorsheitzedek.org/divrei-torah/rabbi-toba-spitzer?post_id=934460