נשמה יתירה
Source:
Gemara (Beitzah 16a): Commenting on the verse, שבת וינפש (Shmos 31,17) Rav Shimon Ben Lakish maintains that the word “va-yinafash” can be read as three words ווי אבדה נפש (I sigh at the loss of a soul), meaning that once Shabbat is over, one loses one's extra soul. Rashi explains the concept rationally, saying that the extra soul is the ability to open one's heart for serenity and happiness, enabling a person to appreciate the worldly acts of eating and drinking.
Effect of the Extra Soul:
Physical influence: Rashi indicates this extra soul enables an increase of the heart to relaxation and to joy. And in order to encourage that feeling, one increases eating and drinking. In general a person experiences a greater internal physical contentment.
Spiritual influence: Ramban explains that Shabbos is a primary source of holiness that one receives directly on that day enabling an increase in wisdom. Sefarno states that an increased ability enters that observer of Shabbos to engage in avodah and connection to HaShem.
A doubled influence: Aruch haShulchan writes on Shabbos, every Jew acquires an extra soul. When Shabbos departs, so does this additional measure of spirituality. Rambam teaches that the pleasing fragrance of the Havdala spices soothes our consciousness as it is thrust back into its weekday state. Further a physical factor is involved in that the purifying fires of Gehennom, Purgatory, are not stoked during Shabbos; all souls being cleansed there ascend on high to celebrate Shabbos in Paradise. After Shabbos, any souls that have not yet completed their purification return to Gehennom, where the fires are being re-lit. To remove that physical odor, we smell the fragrant spices of Havdala.
Time of the entrance of the Extra Soul:
- Eruv Shabbos at sun down מהרי"ץ
- After Chatzos (mid-day) Friday ציץ אליעזר
- According to the Tefillos of Shabbos, various stages of the extra soul enter the person סידור שערי ציון. At Marriv, one receives the level of Nefesh with the words "בואי כלה". The level of Ruach enters at Barchu. Finally the level of Neshama enters with the blessing of השכיבנו. The levels are reinforced in the morning prayers: Nefesh at the time of saying the pray נשמת כל חי; Ruach at the beginning of the Amidah; and Neshama when saying איה מקום כבודו during the kedusha of Mussaf.
Extra Soul on Yom Tov:
Rashbam (and others) clearly state that an extra soul does come to a person on Yom Tovim.
Tosfos (and others) states that an extra soul does not come to a person on Yom Tovim.
Kabbalists believe that an extra soul does enter but is not as strong as on Shabbos.
Practical differences:
- Whether to say a blessing on species after Yom Tov or when Yom occurs on Saturday night.
- Repeating Bircas haMazon if forgot to say extra paragraph of Yaalei V’Yavo (assuming the reason that increased obligation to eat food on Shabbos comes from the Extra Nefesh and thus obligated to repeat Bircas haMazon on Shabbos if one forgot the extra paragraph)
- If allowed to fast on Yom Tov for a person that feels increase holiness from fasting
- If say the prayer of נשמת כל חי on Yom Tov which is related to the Extra Soul
Final Word: Ariz”l states that upon awakening in the morning one should recite chapters of Mishnah since the word משנה has the same letters as נשמה. Accordingly, on Friday nights after receiving the extra soul, one should be careful to learn the chapter of Mishnah במה מדליקין since the soul is called a candle כי נר ה' נשמת אדם.
