ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gilgul (Kabbalah)

Gilgul, in Kabbalah, is the belief that our souls can come back to Earth after we die. It's like when you finish playing with a toy and then decide to play with it again another time.

According to the Kabbalistic belief, our souls go through a process of coming back to Earth in different bodies. This process is called gilgul. It's like the soul has a special journey and gets to have different experiences in different bodies.

Think of it like a big game of dress-up. Each time your soul comes back to Earth, it gets to wear a different costume or outfit. Sometimes you might be a boy, sometimes a girl, sometimes you might be tall, and sometimes you might be short.

But even though the costume or body changes, your soul stays the same. It's like the sparkly, shiny part of you that never changes. It's the part that feels happy, sad, and all those other feelings.

Now, the reason our souls go through gilgul is to learn and grow. It's like going to school but in a really special way. Each time our soul comes back in a new body, it gets to learn new things and become a better person.

Sometimes, you might meet someone who feels very familiar, even though you've never met them before. That could be because your souls have crossed paths before in different bodies a long time ago. It's like finding a friend you played with a long time ago and feeling happy to see them again.

So, gilgul is all about our souls coming back to Earth, wearing different costumes or bodies, and learning and growing through different experiences. It's like a big adventure for our souls!