Where Does the Soul Go When We Sleep?

Tasting Death in Our Sleep

When we lie in our beds at night, the whole world experiences a taste of death. During this time, the spirit of impurity roams the world and settles upon the hands of a person... When a person wakes and their soul returns, whatever they touch becomes impure. Therefore, one must not dress before washing their hands.

(Zohar, Bereshit 53, Matok Midvash p. 498-499)

Each Night, the Soul is Judged

Every night, when a person goes to sleep, their soul leaves them and is judged before Hashem's court. If it has the merit to continue, the soul returns to the body by morning. The judgment is unique, as it differs for the righteous and the wicked. The soul is judged not only on past deeds but also on potential future merits, showcasing Hashem's kindness. Unlike the angels, Hashem knows all potentials, including whether a person will repent.

(Zohar, Chayei Sarah 121, Matok Midvash p. 2-3)

The Nightly Journey of the Soul

As written in Isaiah 26:9, "My soul yearns for You in the night," this means the soul longs to ascend closer to Hashem while we sleep. Not every soul ascends to behold the King; only the pure can approach. The soul navigates through layers—from chaos to holiness—as it climbs higher, impeded only if it's tainted by daytime actions. If pure, it ascends freely. Otherwise, it remains stuck, burdened by false dreams from unclean forces, until the morning when it returns.

(Zohar, Lech Lecha 83, Matok Midvash p. 272)

"Into Your Hands, I Entrust My Spirit"

To protect oneself during sleep, it is advised to entrust one's soul to Hashem by reciting "Into Your Hands, I entrust my spirit," symbolizing a deposit. Despite our debts, Hashem returns our souls each morning, for all spirits are entrusted to Him during the night.

(Zohar, Bamidbar 119, Matok Midvash p. 29-30)

Hashem's Faithfulness in Renewing Our Soul

Rabbi Shimon said: Just as the souls of the righteous are renewed in upper realms each Shabbat and New Moon, so too are souls refreshed each morning. Reciting "Into Your Hands, I entrust my spirit" at night entrusts the soul to Hashem, and in the morning, He renews it. "New every morning is Your faithfulness," as it says, highlights Hashem's trustworthiness.

Rabbi Yitzchak added that this renewal extends beyond the righteous; every soul is restored in Hashem's great faith, despite any sins.

(Zohar Chadash, Bereshit 23, Matok Midvash p. 364)

The Essence of Death During Sleep

During sleep, everyone experiences a taste of death as the soul departs. Left unguarded, the spirit of impurity seizes this opportunity. In Tractate Shabbat 108b, it warns against touching one's eyes in the morning before washing, to avoid transferring this impurity, causing misfortune.

(Zohar, Vayishlach 169, Matok Midvash p. 539)