Neshama (Kabbalah)

The term neshama commonly refers to the soul, the divine aspect that exists within every being and sustains it. But according to the teachings of the Kabbala, the soul actually contains five levels or lights – nefesh, ruaḥ, neshama, ḥaya, and yeḥida – the third of which is called “neshama.” These five levels (synonymous with the five lights that correspond and fill the five sefirot vessels) of the soul correspond to the five sefirot of Keter, Ḥokhma, Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut, as well as the five worlds of Adam Kadmon, Atzilut, Beria, Yetzira, and Asiya.The neshama level corresponds to the sefira of Bina and the world of Beria, and represents the light that illuminates this sefira and world. Therefore one merits it – i.e., it illuminates in the body of a person or a level – only after meriting the lower lights (soul levels), which are nefesh and ruaḥ. After attaining it, one can merit the higher lights of ḥaya and yeḥida.