Question: Does Judaism support the idea of a person being reincarnated as an animal?
My Dad, a tradional Jewish man who attended shul and played in a Klezmer Band, passed away. I recently adopted a cat, and named the cat Mazel after my father Melvin. The cat reminds me of my dad, and even loves Klezmer music. According to Judiasm, is it possible for a person to be reincarnated as an animal? I was at a very low point, and this little animal has brought much joy and confort to my life.
Answer: Thank you for your letter. You write about your cat, "Mazel" (I love the name!), whom you named after your father, Melvin. Because you see such parallels between their personalities, you wonder what Jewish tradition might say about about the possibility that your cat is a reincarnation of your father.
First of all, I would say that it is wonderful that your cat has been so important to you in dealing with your grief over your father's death. Many people in grief lose their connection to the enjoyment of life. That is entirely normal and a natural part of the grieving process. However, many people find that they need something spiritual -- an experience or a relationship -- to help them reconnect to life's joy after an appropriate period of withdrawal. I am so glad that Mazel was able to be that link back to joy for you.
As you mention, Judaism does have a tradition of reincarnation, or gilgul neshamot. This belief is primarily associated with the mystical tradition of the Zohar and was further developed by Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as the Ari, in the sixteenth century. There is a reference to this belief in the prayer said before the bedtime reading of the Shema, in which we declare forgiveness for all who have wronged us "bein b'gilgul zeh bein b'gilgul acheir," that is, "whether in this incarnation or another incarnation."
According to Luria, the purpose of reincarnation is to give each neshamah ("soul") an opportunity to repair itself and to repair the world. In this process, a neshamah can ascend to higher and higher levels in its relationship with God. However, according to Luria, a neshamah can be reincarnated in a lower state if it behaves badly in a particular lifetime.
Luria believed that everything in the universe is invested with a spiritual aspect, including plants and animals. However, Luria states that the human neshamah is spiritually higher than all of these because only human beings can make choices in response to their relationship with God. Luria states that it is possible for a particularly evil person's neshamah to be reincarnated as an animal as a form of punishment.
Now, I am sure that your father was not so punished and Luria's explanation was not intended for a situation such as yours. Rather, I think that your little Mazel is, truly, a spiritual messenger to you to help you in a time of grief. She may not fit the Jewish understanding of reincarnation, yet she is a link for you back to the life of joy that God wishes for you.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser
