The Soul’s Journey After Death: A True Story from Rabbi Chaim Vital on Reincarnation and Divine Comfort

How can a person find comfort after a devastating loss? The following story, adapted from the writings of Rabbi Chaim Vital, the foremost disciple of the Ari HaKadosh (Rabbi Isaac Luria), reveals a glimpse of the hidden workings of the upper worlds — and offers profound comfort for the grieving heart.

A Mother’s Endless Tears

Yosef, a young married man, and his younger brother walked home from synagogue on Friday night to visit their mother and wish her “Shabbat Shalom.” The house was warm and peaceful. The candles burned softly, filling the room with serenity — except for one painful detail: the empty chair at the head of the table, the chair of their father, who had passed away two years earlier.

Their mother sat quietly, reading, her face illuminated by the candlelight. “Shabbat Shalom,” said the sons.
“Shabbat Shalom,” replied their mother, trying to hide the tears welling up in her eyes.

“Mother, you’re crying again,” Yosef said gently. “There must be a limit. It’s Shabbat — a holy day, and sadness is forbidden.”
“I know,” she replied softly, “but today… today is exactly two years since your father passed away. How can I not cry?”
Yosef sighed. “Today you have a reason — but what about yesterday, and the day before? Two years have passed, and you still find no rest. You mourn constantly. Father is in Gan Eden — he would not want this. And God Himself does not wish it.”

He continued, “The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) teaches that there is a time for mourning, and a time to let go. If you refuse to let go, you are showing that you don’t accept God’s will. Forgive me for speaking so directly.”

His mother rose, wiped her tears, and whispered, “You are right, Yosef. I want to forget with all my heart, but I simply can’t.”
Their little sister, Shoshana, spoke up: “Mommy, we want to see you happy again.” Their mother smiled faintly: “So do I. I promise I’ll try to be happy.”

The Dream

That night, after Yosef left and the family finished their Shabbat meal, peace filled the home. Their mother, who hadn’t smiled in months, finally felt a small sense of calm. As she drifted to sleep, she reflected that she wasn’t alone — there were other widows in the world who had learned to accept their fate. She even remembered a recent marriage proposal but had dismissed it with dread. This time, however, she fell asleep peacefully.

In her dream, she saw people running, and she ran with them, out of the city and into a dense forest. They ran through the darkness until suddenly, sunlight broke through. Before her appeared a vast garden filled with magnificent flowers of every color, releasing a fragrance beyond description. Blue streams of water surrounded the garden.

There she saw an elderly man with a silver beard, dressed in a long white robe. “Do you wish to see your husband?” he asked.
Her heart raced. “Yes,” she replied, and followed him eagerly.

They stopped near a large tree heavy with beautiful fruit. Beyond it, she saw a golden courtyard filled with radiant souls — scholars in colorful robes sitting in rows, studying Torah. Before them stood a young man giving a lecture.

“Wait,” said the old man. “They will finish soon, and you will see him.”

As she watched, the lesson ended. The teacher turned toward her — and she recognized her husband’s cloak. Her heart trembled. “Avraham!” she cried.

“It’s me,” he said tenderly. “Be calm.”

A Conversation Between Worlds

She asked him through tears, “Why did you leave me so young?”

He smiled gently. “Know this — the world you live in is like a land of exile. Souls are sent there to complete unfinished tasks or to correct past mistakes. The true world is here.

Before I met you, I had already lived once before. I was a great Torah scholar, but I refused to marry or have children, thinking it would distract me from my studies.

When I left that world, I was granted the position of Rosh Yeshiva here in Gan Eden. Yet I was told that I could not ascend higher until I returned to the physical world, married, and had children. That’s why I was sent back — to marry you. When our seventh child was born, my mission was complete, and I was called back to my place.”

“You are greatly blessed,” he continued. “Because of you, my name is honored here. When the time comes, we will be reunited here, forever.”

The Mysteries of Her Children

“But I never knew you were such a great scholar,” said Rachel.
“Neither did I,” her husband replied. “In that life, I came only to fulfill what was missing — marriage, children, and honest livelihood. When I left the world, all my spiritual knowledge returned instantly.”

“And what of Yosef, our son?” she asked. “Why does he struggle in his business?”

He answered, “Do you remember the legal dispute he had with another Jew? Yosef won the case but caused the man great pain. He was sentenced in Heaven to four difficult years in business. I pleaded for him, and his hardship will soon end — next year, success will return.”

“And David?” she asked. “He’s twenty-four, still unmarried, and we can’t afford a wedding.”

He smiled. “David’s destined wife was born late — she is now thirteen, living in another country. In five years, she will come to your city, marry him, and bring the means for their wedding.”

The Child in Heaven

Then Rachel’s voice broke. “And our little one… our three-year-old who was killed by that drunken non-Jew — why did he have to die like that?”

Her husband said softly, “Come with me.”

He led her to another radiant garden filled with small trees glowing with light. From heaven descended beams of color, and birds sang verses of Psalms — ‘Light is sown for the righteous,’‘So that my glory may sing praise to You,’ and ‘Peace, peace to the far and near.’ Even the grass and trees sang, ‘Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.’

Suddenly, she saw rings of fire dancing above her and small angels with wings gathering around. Music filled the air. She felt her soul leaving her body — until her husband placed a leaf from the garden on her nose, reviving her.

Before her appeared a canopy made of shining gemstones.  Beneath it stood an angelic figure — her little boy, radiant and smiling. She fainted again, and again her husband revived her.

She wept: “Why did you leave me so young?”

The child answered: “Everything is measured by God. Before I was born to you, I lived once before — in a noble Jewish family. During a time of pogroms, all the Jews were murdered. A non-Jewish woman rescued me and raised me until Jewish people redeemed me. I grew up, became a great Torah scholar, and lived in peace.

But because I nursed for a year from a gentile woman, I could not reach the highest spiritual level. So, I was sent back to be born to you, to nurse three years from a Jewish mother — and then return.

My death was not an accident. When I died, a harsh decree hung over your city. Everyone was destined to perish — including you. I was chosen as a kaparah (atonement) for the entire city. By my death, the decree was annulled, and all were saved. That’s why I am honored here. Only Father is allowed to visit me freely.”

The boy smiled joyfully, waved, and vanished into the light.

A Lesson from Heaven

Her husband turned to her: “Now you see — every sorrow has a reason. God does nothing that is not for good. Please, stop weeping. Live in joy. You have been offered a worthy match — accept it. I cannot bear your sighs anymore.”

He disappeared, and the old man returned, leading her back through the great forest.

Rachel awoke as if reborn. She lay for a long time smiling, her heart light and peaceful. She could see her husband’s happy face, her son’s radiant joy. The heavy stone of grief was gone. She was finally comforted.

In time, she remarried and lived a life of peace and happiness.

The Deeper Meaning

This story, recorded by Rabbi Chaim Vital from the teachings of the Ari HaKadosh, reveals profound secrets — especially the mystery of reincarnation (gilgul).

The Ari taught that all beings are like parts of a vast cosmic machine — each soul a vital “bolt” in the structure of creation. God, the Master Craftsman, assembles and reassembles them as needed for the harmony of His plan. He sends souls into this world to complete specific missions and recalls them when their work is done.

This world and the next are one continuous system — here the souls act within bodies, there they exist in pure form. If we truly understood this divine orchestration, we would never despair.

For at the end of days, all souls will return to this world, body and spirit united, refined and luminous, to serve their Creator in perfect harmony. Then, at the close of the sixth millennium, will arrive the Great Shabbat — eternal peace and light for all existence.

This story was retold by Rabbi Yom Tov Ehrlich from the book “Lekach Tov” by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Beifus.