Return Due to Lack of Procreation

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 Rabbi 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.

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.

[Commentary by Shabtai Teicher.]