Return Due to Lack of Procreation
Gate of Reincarnations: Chapter Five, Section 8
Translation by Yitzchok bar Chaim;
explanation by Shabtai Teicher
There is a difference between someone who reincarnates
because he was childless and did not perform the mitzva of procreation,
and someone who reincarnates because of any other transgressions that he may
have committed. Someone who reincarnates for not having procreated will not be
able to return alone, but only in partnership with another.
This will (also) be the case even if he is like Shimon
ben Azzai who did not need to reincarnate to have children.
Rabbi Shimon ben Azzai is a special case in Jewish
history and law. He was married to the daughter of Rebbe Akiva, but he divorced
her. His love of Torah was so great and consuming that he could not share it
with anyone else. Since he had accomplished the mitzvah of procreation
in a previous gilgul, it was not necessary for him to reincarnate
specifically to do that mitzva.  | | " The extension of his own physical existence achieved through procreation is missing " | | |
Nevertheless, when he reincarnates at birth because of a
different sin, or to assist someone else, or to come as an ibur during
lifetime, it will not be possible to return alone, but only in partnership with
another.
Since he is "half of a body"; he cannot come
alone.
The extension of his own physical existence that
would have been achieved through procreation is missing. It is as if he is only
half a body. The compensation for this deficiency is that he will be born
together with another soul.
It could be that this is also called a "Double Gilgul,"
as we have discussed in previous chapters. This gilgul is not because of
yibum. So it seems to the humble opinion of Chaim.
The secret of yibum was discussed in
Sections 6 and 7 of Chapter Three, and the last section of Chapter Two. The
secret of yibum is a special type of gilgul that takes
place when there is a lack of procreation. In yibum it is considered as
if the first gilgul almost never existed. This is not the case here.
Therefore, the writer, Rav Chaim Vital, may his memory be a blessing, considers
that this case is not yibum but Double Gilgul. (End of Chapter Five.)
To link to the previous article in this reincarnation series,
The Legs and the 10 Martyrs, click here
To link to the next article in this reincarnation series,
Bringing Down New Souls, click here
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