neshamah

Neshamah is a Hebrew word (nashama) that generally means “breath” or “soul.” In Biblical Hebrew it can refer to the life-breath animating a person or, more broadly, the inner life of a person. In modern Hebrew, neshamah commonly denotes the soul or spiritual life.

In classical Jewish thought, the human soul is frequently described as comprising multiple levels. A widespread tripartite model distinguishes nefesh (the life-force closely tied to the body), ruach (the spirit associated with emotions and personality), and neshamah (the higher spiritual-intellectual aspect). The neshamah is regarded as the level most closely connected to God, truth, and ethical-moral awareness, and it is often linked to ongoing study, prayer, and the moral life.

Rabbinic literature also discusses a concept called the neshamah yetera, the “additional soul” breathed into a person on Shabbat and certain holidays. This extra soul is understood as enhancing contemplation, rest, and closeness to the divine, returning at the conclusion of the holy day.

In Kabbalah and Hasidic thought, the neshamah is further developed as part of a fivefold schema of the soul: nefesh, ruach, neshamah, chayah, and yechidah. In this framework, neshamah remains a central, divine spark that informs intellect, moral choice, and the capacity for a transformative relationship with God, while the higher levels (chayah and yechidah) are seen as more transcendent aspects of the soul.

Today, neshamah is used both in religious philosophy and in everyday Hebrew to refer to the soul or inner essence of a person, often with connotations of moral and spiritual depth. See also nefesh, ruach, neshamah yetera, and kabbalah.