And one of the most poetic comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a collection of stories and teachings that many scholars believe comes from around the 8th century.
It paints a picture of the soul that's, well, almost divine. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer teaches that the soul is like its Creator. Just as God sees but isn't visible, so too the soul sees but remains unseen. It's a profound idea, isn't it? That within each of us resides something that mirrors the very essence of the Divine.
And it goes on. Just as God never sleeps—as we say in Psalms, "Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4) —so too the soul doesn't sleep. Think of it! While our bodies rest, our souls are still active, still present. What are they doing? That's a question for another time, perhaps. But the idea is captivating.
And here’s another powerful image: Just as God sustains the entire world, so the soul sustains the entire body. Wow. The soul, in this view, isn't just some ethereal afterthought. It’s the very thing that animates and holds us together. It bears us.
And where do all these souls come from? "Behold, all souls are mine," says God in the book of Ezekiel (18:4). All souls are His. It's a beautiful thought, a reminder that we are all connected, all part of something larger than ourselves.
But then, there's a shift. A somber note from Rabbi Jehudah. He connects the state of the land of Israel to the state of its people, particularly after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. He says that since that tragic day, the land has been "broken down" because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.
He uses the image of a sick person, too weak to stand, to describe the land's inability to yield its fruits. The prophet Isaiah echoes this sentiment when he says, "The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof" (Isaiah 24:5). It's a stark reminder that our actions have consequences, not just for ourselves, but for the world around us. That kedushah, holiness, is intrinsically connected to the land and to our behavior.
So, what do we take away from all this?
On one hand, we have this soaring vision of the soul, a divine spark within each of us, constantly active, constantly sustaining. On the other hand, we have a sobering reminder of the responsibility that comes with being human, with the potential for both great good and, sadly, great destruction.
Perhaps the connection lies in understanding that our souls, these divine sparks, are intimately connected to the world around us. How we treat each other, how we treat the earth – it all matters. It all affects the very fabric of existence.