What is a Jewish Soul?

Question:
Why do you speak of a "Jewish soul"? How can you differentiate between souls ?
Gary
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Answer:
The idea, that all souls are the same, is one of the biggest mistakes of modern spirituality.

We are so used to thinking, that definitions create barriers, and barriers cause hatred; that we are convinced, that to be spiritual, means to have no borders.

From a Kabbalistic perspective, this totally misses the point of existence.
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Before the creation, G-d had unity. G-d was all there was; there were no borders, definitions or distinctions. If unchallenged unity is what G-d wants, He had it already. He would not have needed to create the world.

Creation was an act of making borders. From unity, came multiplicity. Ours, is a world of divisions: body and soul, male and female; as well as the divisions of nations, families and individuals.
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Why did G-d create multiplicity? Doesn't that go against the oneness of G-d?

No, it doesn't. Because the deepest unity, is unity found within diversity. If we are all the same, then unity is no big deal.

So G-d gave us all particular souls, each with its unique and diverse characteristics. When each individual as an individual, and each nation from within its own culture and perspective, but nevertheless, recognizes the same G-d, that is real unity.

In other words, a unity that is challenged by diversity, yet emerges from that very diversity, is an invincible unity. That is something G-d "couldn't" have accomplished, without a world like ours.
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To blur the boundaries between nations, genders and individuals, is to avoid facing the challenge, which lies at the very heart of G-d's purpose in creation -- to find unity, in our differences.
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For the unity of humankind, we need one G-d; but for G-d's unity to be complete, we need human diversity.
Jews should be Jews, non-Jews should be non-Jews, men should be men, and women should be women.

And every individual has to be himself. Only then can we learn from each other, the wisdom that we ourselves lack.
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The majesty of G-d is revealed, when each individual and community, connects with Him, from his/her/their unique vantage point. There is a contribution, that only you can make, to G-d's master plan.

That's why you were born as you are -- a Jew, a male: and all the other distinctive spiritual characteristics, that make you "Gary."