Such a rectification, or tikkun, consisted in the holy man joining with the sinner’s soul, step by step, passing through all three of the soul’s different forms. First the nefesh of the holy one—his animal spirit—connected with the sinner’s nefesh, and then, when it became possible, ruah—the feelings and will of the holy one—joined with the sinner’s ruah, so that in the end, the holy one’s neshama—that divine aspect we all carry within ourselves—could join with the sinner’s neshama.
