JUDAISM & REINCARNATION: Do We Get a Second Chance at Life? Rabbi Michael Skobac, Jews for Judaism

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Reincarnation, gilgul in Hebrew, is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah, though some interpret traditional Jewish practices to refer to reincarnation. Maimonides has written about the allusion of biblical verses to its occurrence. For example, Daniel 12:13 states, "now go your way to the end and rest, and you shall arise to your destiny at the end of days." A second example can be found in the concept of yibum, when a married man dies childless, tradition holds that his spouse should marry the man’s brother and their first-born should receive the dead father’s name.
The purpose of reincarnation is seen as a chance for a soul to achieve a goal not achieved in a previous life and as a chance to reward man for fulfilling the desires of his Creator. Reincarnation has also been viewed as punishment for a sinner’s previous deeds. For example, a rich man who abused his power may come back as poor.
Rabbi Haim Vital, a student of the Ar’I, has compiled a list of those reincarnated in Jewish history. There is a cycle of reincarnations beginning with Dinah and Shechem. Dina, the daughter of Jacob was raped by Shechem. Shechem did not take responsibility for his actions and blamed them on his upbringing and the fact that Dinah was a noble women. So the role were reversed when Shechem was reincarnated as Zimri, an Israelite general, and Dina as Cuzbi, a Midianite women. Zimri was found consorting with Cuzbi and both were killed by the zealot, Pinhas. Thus when Shechem/Zimri was a noble man and of good birth, he could no longer blame outside sources for his own faults and was punished accordingly. The story continues when Pinhas was reincarnated as Rabbi Akiva and Cuzbi, as the wife of the Roman general Turnus Rufus. She converted to Judaism and helped establish the yeshiva of Rabbi Akiva. By promoting Jewish learning in her next life, she atoned for his sins with Zimri. Thus perhaps ending that cycle of gilgul.
A midrash says that every Jew to ever live, and who ever will live, stood at Mount Sinai when the Jews received the Covenant from God. Reincarnation may help explain how this midrash could be true.
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[@leynac8875]

Thank you so much for this wonderful teaching! I am Jewish and have always been fascinated with reincarnation. When people say that G-d is cruel to allow so much suffering in this world, it makes so much more sense to understand that it is our own actions that cause our suffering in future lives. That takes all the blame off our Creator.

[@musmustafa7900]

I would like to say a very big thank you to you, Michael Skobac. I did not know Judaism only four months ago but since then i have finally found a Jewish Synagog that has accepted me, although a reform way of teaching not by choice but rather by acceptance. I have just started my conversion to becoming a Jew so once again thank you for your teachings. Maybe someday i will find a Synagog that accepts me that also believes in every word of the Torah is still relevant today and forever, for this is next on my shopping list.
Regards

[@marybarrett6578]

Rabbi Michael, you present a well rounded argument for and or maybe against Reincarnation. At the very end of the day, whether this matter is true or not, Hashem wants us to work mainly on our individual bad character traits in this life in order to make the world a better place. Thanks for your humble teaching as always.

[@chayabat-tzvi1215]

Reincarnation is absolutely real. When I was a little girl I often had "memories" I couldn't explain. I've also babysat frum children who have told me of their past life "memories".

[@darrelleliott8439]

Idk him but I love him as a brother. I believe I've heard true wisdom with this lecture thank you so much

[@l.s.754]

This is the best of the best.

[@DELRAYDISH]

LOTS OF US ALIGN WITH YOU RABBI , THANK YOU FOR MORE CLARITY

[@yvonnesegers3214]

Thank you for the important lecture.

[@cabbalaposhala]

I wish the end did not cut off like that. Fantastic lecture. I loved every word.

[@isaactrevino8241]

Rabbi Skobac your a Giant in your Knowledge

[@ndog37]

Very interesting