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I have not heard a concrete answer (or even a generalized opinion) on whether gentiles can have a re-incarnation, despite reading that they do not (Minchas Yehuda by Rabbi Yehuda Hachayat). I know that there are sources that say that a gentile does not have as many layers of soul as a Jew, and also that a righteous gentile has a place in the world to come, but other than that nothing definitive.

I have emailed the Chabad "Ask the Rabbi" service and was told, in essence, that it is complicated and not to delve into it, which was not a satisfying answer to me.

The reason I am asking is because I enjoy learning from video lectures and many of the Rabbis and speakers I enjoy listening to tend to speak to both gentile and Jewish audiences , and they sometimes mention re-incarnation passively in the context of life circumstances, suffering etc. It's because they have both a gentile and Jewish audience that I ask, because I have seen cursory mentions in some places that gentiles sort of only have one go.

mbloch
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OxMode
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  • This might help you: https://hakirah.org/Vol%2016%20Balk.pdf – Shmuel Mar 28 '22 at 16:27
  • This is a very comprehensive document but it does not at all address any part of my question. Thank you though. – OxMode Mar 28 '22 at 17:34
  • This topic is discussed at some length in this book: https://menuchapublishers.com/products/ive-been-here-before – יהושע ק Mar 28 '22 at 20:14
  • No offense, but theres really no way to verify this, and honestly i have a hard time believing this sort of thing. Do you have any actual Jewish sources with roots in theology instead of a for-profit book? – OxMode Mar 28 '22 at 20:39
  • Okay! Have you studied Tanya by the Alter Rebbe? – Shmuel Mar 28 '22 at 21:03
  • I haven't, does it clarify my question? I'm really just looking for a yes or no or "in xyz case yes/no" kind of answer, – OxMode Mar 28 '22 at 21:37
  • Well, I personally would suggest you read it, but that's completely up to you ofcourse. As the Rabbi from the Ask the Rabbi-service stated, it is really complicated. – Shmuel Mar 28 '22 at 21:46
  • Sure, but can you advise some sections or passages that would help me out rather than search through the whole thing? What I know of the Tanya is kind of disparriaging toward gentiles, saying their souls eminate from unclean places/evil realms etc. I would presume that this would be a no to Gilgul but then again I'm jut speculating. – OxMode Mar 28 '22 at 21:52
  • This must have come up a handful of times in diff sources I read, but I cant remember where or what. My memory man.. I wont use the same disclaimer as u did end of ur post, bc hopefully its not a disability, maybe just so much stress in life or something the last.. 2 decades+.. lol..that its discarding non-survival info, but heres what little I remember, hopefully someone will have fuller answer. There are famous examples of evil ppl in Tanach that had reincarnations who were gentiles, like Nimrod. So maybe that means they can reincarnate. – ShipBuilding Mar 29 '22 at 10:40
  • But the details & differences for each group would be nice to remember. Also I wonder what happens when a non-Jew reincarnates into a Jew, is that considered an example that non-Jews can reincarnate?

    Like what about Esau. He was born to Isaac, and circumcised. So Jewish. Rejected his birthright, so became an Edomite. Then he reincarnates into a Jew, and this Jew becomes another religion. So in both cases, starts off Jewish, ends non-Jewish. Therefore, is this reincarnation of Esau considered evidence that non-Jews can reincarnate, or not? But the Nimrod example might be more clear cut

     – ShipBuilding Mar 29 '22 at 10:45
  • Correction, some sources say Esau was circumcised, but some say he was not. I either saw or remembered that for the first time after checking after writing my comment. It wasn't the focus of my post or I would have checked first. Sorry. – ShipBuilding Mar 29 '22 at 13:42
  • IDK what your reasoning is but usually if someone comes from the patriarchs I would call them Jewish. also, in regards to your statement: "There are famous examples of evil ppl in Tanach that had reincarnations who were gentiles" its well known that its possible for a jew to come back as a gentile - they still have a Jewish soul, my question is regarding just plain gentiles, with gentile souls, the question I am asking is do they re-incarnate? – OxMode Mar 29 '22 at 13:45
  • Welcome to MiYodeya and thanks for this first question. Great to have you learn with us! I fixed a few typos and removed your last sentence, in general there is no need to worry about typos. Many others make them as well. – mbloch Mar 30 '22 at 03:19
  • Thank you very much. I have a tough time typing sometimes and I ws worried I might not get taken seriously if there were errors. – OxMode Mar 30 '22 at 15:00
  • You can try to contact a Rabbi via this website: https://kabbalah.com/en/contact/ they are specialized in Kabbalah. – Shmuel Mar 31 '22 at 19:56
  • thank you! I have emailed them. I hope they respond. – OxMode Apr 02 '22 at 16:21
  • They finally responded, they told me to buy a 20 class course about the soul to get an answer. So I guess I'll never know. – OxMode May 09 '22 at 08:12

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