One of the foundational ideas behind Jewish Wellbeing is that healing doesn't begin with trying harder. It begins with connection.
We often experience ourselves as if we're divided—part of us longs for what is good and meaningful, while another part struggles, reacts, or gets pulled in directions we wish it wouldn't.
The question is: What is the relationship between those two parts?
A remarkable passage in the Gemara offers a profound answer.
In Berachot 10a, the Gemara asks why King David repeatedly says, "Bless Hashem, O my soul." Why does he specifically direct his soul to bless God?
The Gemara explains that it’s most appropriate that the soul bless God because it resembles God. Just as Hashem fills His world, so too our soul fills our body. Just as Hashem gives life to the world, the soul gives life to the body. Just as Hashem is pure, the soul is pure. Just as Hashem sees but cannot be seen, so too the soul.
This isn't simply a philosophical observation. It offers a powerful way of understanding ourselves.
Just as we are meant to turn toward Hashem for guidance, comfort, love, and wisdom – ie have a dynamic connection to Him, our nefesh—our emotional and physical experience of life—is meant to turn toward our neshamah for loving connection.
The job of the nefesh is to present its needs before the neshama, to rely on it, and to accept and tolerate the discomfort of its guidance. The job of the neshama is to love the nefesh, comfort it in its pain and warmly draw it closer to its world of meaning and purpose. It is meant to lead the nefesh with the same qualities through which Hashem leads us: wisdom, compassion, patience, and love.
There are, in a sense, two distinct entities within us.
There is the neshamah—the calm, wise, loving adult.
And there is the nefesh—the lovable child that longs to be understood, comforted, and guided.
The deepest question isn't, "Which one am I?"
The deeper question is: How connected are they?
This, to me, is one of the clearest Torah sources for understanding inner connection.
The real work of growth is not fighting ourselves. It is strengthening the loving relationship between our neshamah and our nefesh.
When that connection grows stronger, lasting freedom becomes possible.
To see this idea in short video form, visit HERE.
Wishing you continued inner connection,
Henry Harris
We often experience ourselves as if we're divided—part of us longs for what is good and meaningful, while another part struggles, reacts, or gets pulled in directions we wish it wouldn't.
The question is: What is the relationship between those two parts?
A remarkable passage in the Gemara offers a profound answer.
In Berachot 10a, the Gemara asks why King David repeatedly says, "Bless Hashem, O my soul." Why does he specifically direct his soul to bless God?
The Gemara explains that it’s most appropriate that the soul bless God because it resembles God. Just as Hashem fills His world, so too our soul fills our body. Just as Hashem gives life to the world, the soul gives life to the body. Just as Hashem is pure, the soul is pure. Just as Hashem sees but cannot be seen, so too the soul.
This isn't simply a philosophical observation. It offers a powerful way of understanding ourselves.
Just as we are meant to turn toward Hashem for guidance, comfort, love, and wisdom – ie have a dynamic connection to Him, our nefesh—our emotional and physical experience of life—is meant to turn toward our neshamah for loving connection.
The job of the nefesh is to present its needs before the neshama, to rely on it, and to accept and tolerate the discomfort of its guidance. The job of the neshama is to love the nefesh, comfort it in its pain and warmly draw it closer to its world of meaning and purpose. It is meant to lead the nefesh with the same qualities through which Hashem leads us: wisdom, compassion, patience, and love.
There are, in a sense, two distinct entities within us.
There is the neshamah—the calm, wise, loving adult.
And there is the nefesh—the lovable child that longs to be understood, comforted, and guided.
The deepest question isn't, "Which one am I?"
The deeper question is: How connected are they?
This, to me, is one of the clearest Torah sources for understanding inner connection.
The real work of growth is not fighting ourselves. It is strengthening the loving relationship between our neshamah and our nefesh.
When that connection grows stronger, lasting freedom becomes possible.
To see this idea in short video form, visit HERE.
Wishing you continued inner connection,
Henry Harris
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