Chapter 2

Mankind is similar to the rest of creation in that G-d made us a composite of body and soul. The body is a corporeal entity, capable of being felt with the sense of touch, while the soul is a heavenly spiritual entity which cannot be felt with the sense of touch. The spiritual aspect of created beings, their souls, may be “touched” only with the intellectual aspect of daas.

It goes without saying that the prober must be of the same order as that which is being probed. The physical body is in essence a corporeal entity, and can therefore be probed with the sense of touch touch too being essentially physical. The soul, however, is a spiritual entity, and can therefore only be scrutinized with the intellectual aspect of daas, the “touch” of spiritual comprehension.

There are two manners of feeling: a) that stemming from one’s intellect, and b) that accomplished by the physical sense of touch. Though both are extremely accurate in establishing the true state of the matter being felt, they are completely dissimilar, for the sense of touch is physical and the “touch” of intellect is spiritual.

The bodies of all created beings are physical, while their souls are spiritual. Though there are differences between the bodies and souls of each of the four categories of terrestrial beings inanimate, vegetative, animal and man there are also similarities. The physical bodies of inanimate objects conform to their souls, just as the physical substance of vegetation dovetails with its soul. So too, animal bodies suit their souls and human bodies correspond with their souls.

In all instances, the life-force which emanates from the soul causes the body itself to be alive [rather than there being a living soul in a dead body]. Indeed, a body’s physical life is completely dependent on the soul that vivifies it; bodies themselves can neither hear, see nor understand. Nevertheless, the soul clothes itself in its body in such a fashion that the whole body lives within each of its limbs. Thus the eyes see, the hands work. Unlike a machine which moves in response to an external activating force, the body enjoys an internal G-dly unity with its soul [and is thus itself alive]. This causes both body and soul to feel the purpose for which G-d created them, and to fulfill G-d’s desire by implementing their role in creation.

In summary: Man, like all other creatures, comprises body and soul. Each is scrutinized in a different fashion; the body through the sense of touch (a physical feeling), and the soul through the power of comprehension (an intellectual feeling). The physical body is by Divine craft made to conform to its soul in such a manner that the body itself is alive.