There’s something uniquely beautiful about watching a Yid sway back and forth during davening or learning Torah. It’s not just a habit; it’s a reflection of something far deeper. The holy Zohar in Parshas Pinchos recounts an exchange where Rebbe Abba asked Reb Shimon Bar Yochai why only Jews sway when they daven or learn Torah. Reb Shimon’s answer is powerful: that movement comes from the neshamah, the soul, coming alive.
The pasuk says, “נר ה׳ נשמת אדם,” the soul of a person is like the flame of Hashem. Think about a flame for a moment. It’s never still. It flickers, it leaps, it dances, always reaching upward, as if trying to connect to something higher. That’s our neshamah. When we engage in Torah and tefillah, our soul lights up, yearning to connect to its Source. The swaying we do? That’s just our body reflecting what’s happening on the inside: a neshamah on fire.
This idea changes the way we view life. So often, we go through the motions, doing what needs to be done without stopping to think about the deeper reality of who we are. But the Zohar is teaching us something incredible: within each of us is a Chelek Elokah mima’al mamash, a divine spark that’s constantly striving, constantly reaching for connection. And when we give that spark fuel, by learning Torah, davening, or even just thinking about Hashem, we light it up.
Living with a neshamah on fire means living with passion. It’s the opposite of being stuck in autopilot mode. It’s waking up each day knowing that you’re connected to something far greater than yourself. It’s understanding that every mitzvah you do, every word of Torah you learn, every tefillah you whisper, is igniting that spark and bringing you closer to Hashem.
Think about how empowering this is. Life can feel heavy at times with routine, struggles, and distractions. But when you remember that your neshamah is always flickering, always reaching, it lifts you out of that heaviness. You realize that even in your lowest moments, even when you feel disconnected, your neshamah hasn’t stopped burning. It’s still there, yearning for Hashem, waiting for you to notice it.
And here’s the most beautiful part: this fire isn’t something you have to create from scratch. It’s already inside you. Every Jew has this flame, this built-in drive to connect to Hashem. All we have to do is give it the right fuel. Sometimes it’s through intense davening or a deep shiur. Other times, it’s as simple as pausing to say, “Hashem, I know You’re here with me. Thank You Hashem.”
When we live with this awareness, everything changes. We stop seeing mitzvos as obligations and start seeing them as opportunities to feed the fire. We approach life with excitement, knowing that every moment is a chance to let our neshamah shine.
So the next time you find yourself shuckeling, remember: it’s not just a motion. It’s your neshamah, alive and reaching, a flame that refuses to be still. And when you live with a neshamah on fire, you’re living the life you were created for. A life of connection, passion, and purpose.
Song Name: Neshama On Fire
Artist: DJ Farbreng | Feat. Chaim Ghoori
Lyrics
נר ה’ נשמת אדם
My neshamah is on fire,
Inside I’m burning,
My soul is yearning for You.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 28.