In post-biblical Judaism, souls are envisioned as bird-like (Bahir 119), a concept that may be derived from the Biblical notion that dead spirits “chirp” (Isa. 29:4).

The Guf, or Treasury of Souls, is sometimes described as a columbarium, a dovecote. This connects it to a related legend: the “Palace of the Bird’s Nest”, the dwelling place of the Messiah’s soul until his advent (Zohar II: 8a–9a).

Guf (Hebrew: גּוּף, also transliterated Guph or Gup) is a Hebrew word, meaning “body”. In Jewish mysticism the Chamber of Guf, also called the Otzar (הָאוֹצָר, “treasury”), is the Treasury of Souls, located in the Seventh Heaven.

In the Talmud, it is suggested that the upper part of the universe is made up of seven heavens (Hebrew: shamayim):

1. Vilon (וילון), see (Isa 40:22)
2. Raki’a (רקיע), see (Gen 1:17)
3. Shehaqim (שחקים), see (Ps 78:23, Midr. Teh. to Ps. xix. 7)
4. Zebul (זבול), see (Isa 63:15, 1 Kings 8:13)
5. Ma’on (מעון), see (Deut 26:15, Ps 42:9)
6. Machon (מכון), see (1 Kings 8:39, Deut 28:12)
7. Araboth (ערבות), The seventh Heaven where ophanim, the seraphim, and the hayyoth and the Throne of God are located.

The Jewish Merkavah and Hekhalot literature was devoted to discussing the details of these heavens, sometimes in connection with traditions relating to Enoch, such as the Third Book of Enoch.

1. “Angelology”. Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
2. Hagigah 12b
3. Scholem, Gershom (1965). Jewish Gnosticism, Merkabah Mysticism, and the Talmudic Tradition. New York: Jewish Theological Seminary of America. OCLC 635020.

Tree of Souls

According to Jewish mythology, in the Garden of Eden there is a Tree of life, or the “Tree of Souls”, that blossoms and produces new souls, which fall into the Guf, the “Treasury of Souls”. Gabriel reaches into the treasury and takes out the first soul that comes into his hand. Then Lailah, the Angel of Conception, watches over the embryo until it is born.

• Origins of the Kabbalah

According to Rabbi Isaac Luria, the trees are resting places for souls; sparrows can see the soul’s descent, explaining their joyous chirping. The Tree of Souls produces all the souls that have ever existed, or will ever exist. When the last soul descends, the world will come to an end.

• Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism Archived 2012-10-30 at the Wayback Machine

According to the Talmud, Yevamot 62a, the Messiah will not come until the Guf is emptied of all its souls. In keeping with other Jewish legends that envision souls as bird-like, the Guf is sometimes described as a columbarium, or birdhouse. The mystic significance of the Guf is that each person is important and has a unique role which only he or she, with his or her unique soul, can fulfill. Even a newborn baby brings the Messiah closer simply by being born.

The peculiar idiom of describing the treasury of souls as a “body” may be connected to the mythic tradition of Adam Kadmon, the primordial man. Adam Kadmon, God’s “original intention” for humanity, was a supernal being, androgynous and macro-cosmic (co-equal in size with the universe). When this Adam sinned, humanity was demoted to the flesh and blood, bifurcated and mortal creatures we are now. According to Kabbalah, every human soul is just a fragment (or fragments) cycling out of the great “world-soul” of Adam Kadmon. Hence, every human soul comes from the guf [of Adam Kadmon].

The Vilna Gaon explicitly declares that a dove is a symbol of the human soul (Commentary to Jonah, 1).

The dove is also a symbol of the people Israel (Song of Songs Rabbah 2:14), an image frequently repeated in Midrash.

See also

• Pre-existence
• Traducianism
• The Seventh Sign: The plot of the 1988 film was based on the Guf mythology. The protagonist’s baby is due on February 29, the date when the last soul will leave the Guf.

References

1. Origins of the Kabbalah
2. Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism Archived 2012-10-30 at the Wayback Machine

Bibliography

• Dennis, Geoffrey, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism, Llewellyn Worldwide

External links

• Birds as Souls
• Preexistence of the Souls of the Righteous

Category: 

• Jewish mysticism