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By Rabbi Diane Elliot
Neshamah, one of the Hebrew words for breath, also means soul. The sages of the Talmud suggest that upon awakening in the morning, a person should say, Elohai neshamah shenatata bi tehorah. "My God, the soul that you have placed within me is pure."
These simple yet potent words, now included in our traditional morning blessings, draw us back to the very dawn of our mythic creation.
The Blessing in Context
Read a guide to the traditional morning prayers and blessings, including the Elohai Neshama blessing
Consider the Soul
The soul is an elusive concept in Judaism; it’s often referenced but rarely explained. Various ancient rabbis and philosophers held different, often contradictory, views.
Prayer has been the foundation of Jewish ritual and practice for thousands of years, but you may still wonder how and why to say the prayers in the canon. At My Jewish Learning, we invite you to explore the deeper side of prayer. Each week we'll share a unique exploration of a particular Jewish prayer, plus offer background materials and more to enhance your understanding. In the meantime, you can explore all of MJL's prayer resources here.
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