Gilgul neshamot (גלגול הנשמות). Reincarnation, the Bible, and the Path to Peace A Conversation with Professor Severino Celestino da Silva and Divaldo Franco at Mansão do Caminho

  Gilgul neshamot (גלגול הנשמות). 

Reincarnation, the Bible, the Tora and the Path to Peace

A Conversation with Professor Severino Celestino da Silva and Divaldo Franco at Mansão do Caminho

The video include English subtitles for international viewers.

The video presents the program “Conversando Sobre Espiritismo” (“Talking About Spiritism”), held at Mansão do Caminho. 

In this edition, Professor and researcher Severino Celestino da Silva joins Divaldo Franco and moderator Mário Sérgio for a conversation about Spiritism, the Bible, Judaism, reincarnation, and the spiritual foundations of peace.

The videos include English subtitles, making this important conversation accessible to an international audience.

About Professor Severino Celestino da Silva

A former seminarian and a Spiritist for more than 44 years, Professor Severino Celestino da Silva is a researcher and scholar specializing in ancient languages, including Hebrew, which he speaks fluently, as well as in religious studies, with a particular focus on Judaism and its foundational influence on Christianity. He is also a distinguished scholar and translator of the Bible.

Professor Celestino is a co-founder of the Religious Sciences Program at the Federal University of Paraíba and currently serves as president of the Bom Samaritano Spiritist Studies Center in João Pessoa, Paraíba.

He is the author of eight published books exploring the Bible, the Gospel, and Spiritism.

Reincarnation in the Bible and Judaism

One of the central themes of the conversation is the presence of reincarnation in biblical and Jewish traditions.

Professor Severino explains that reincarnation is not a concept exclusive to Spiritism, but something that, according to his interpretation, has been present since the origins of the Torah, where it is referred to as gilgul neshamot (גלגול הנשמות). He discusses biblical passages that, according to him, demonstrate the multiexistential nature of the soul (08:28–20:04).

The term gilgul neshamot refers to the concept of reincarnation or transmigration of souls within Jewish tradition, particularly in Kabbalah. Gilgul derives from a Hebrew root meaning “cycle,” “wheel,” or “to roll,” while neshamot is the plural of neshamá, meaning “soul.”

Together, the terms describe the idea that the soul passes through cycles or multiple existences for the purpose of learning, spiritual improvement, and tikkun — spiritual repair.

Professor Celestino argues that reincarnation should therefore not be understood solely as a Spiritist doctrine. In his interpretation, it forms part of a much older religious and spiritual tradition.

Reincarnation, Cause and Effect, and Spiritual Evolution

According to Professor Severino Celestino, Spiritism does not regard suffering as eternal punishment.

Human beings are not on Earth merely to suffer, but to learn, grow, and evolve through multiple existences.

Reincarnation, together with the law of cause and effect, provides the spirit with opportunities to learn from difficulties, choices, and mistakes throughout its evolutionary journey.

This understanding also offers a broader perspective on human responsibility: every existence becomes part of an ongoing process of spiritual education rather than an isolated life ending in an irreversible judgment.

Spiritism in France

Divaldo Franco reflects on the current state of the Spiritist movement in France.

He emphasizes the importance of selflessness and courage in openly embracing the doctrine. Although the movement experienced historical periods of decline and persecution, Divaldo explains that Spiritism is undergoing a vigorous renewal through the emergence of new groups, students, and translators (22:53–49:52).

His reflection also underscores an essential distinction: Spiritism cannot survive merely as an intellectual or philosophical theory. Its principles must find expression in conduct, service, and charity.

The Challenge of Biblical Translation

Professor Severino also discusses the difficulties involved in translating sacred texts.

He argues that many widely circulated translations can obscure meanings contained in the original languages, including passages that he interprets as relating to reincarnation and the continuity of the soul.

For this reason, he encourages a deeper study of the original biblical texts and of the historical, linguistic, and religious contexts in which they were written (50:33–1:02:03).

This linguistic dimension is particularly significant to Celestino’s work because of his study of Hebrew and his research into the relationship between Judaism, Christianity, the Bible, and Spiritism.

A Personal Experience in Capernaum

Toward the end of the program, Professor Severino shares an emotional personal account of an experience he describes as a “regression in time” while in Capernaum (1:02:31–1:07:38).

His testimony introduces a deeply personal dimension to a conversation that had previously concentrated largely on scripture, language, history, and doctrine.

The program concludes with a prayer led by Divaldo Franco, centered on peace and the practical exercise of charity (1:08:47–1:13:00).

Spiritism and the Construction of World Peace

The conversation ultimately reaches beyond the theological question of whether reincarnation can be found in biblical and Jewish traditions.

It raises a broader question: How can a spiritual understanding of human existence contribute to peace?

Spiritism contributes to world peace by promoting an understanding of the universal laws that govern life, particularly through the concepts of reincarnation and the law of cause and effect (19:06–19:28).

When we understand ourselves as spirits undergoing a continuous process of evolution, barriers created by prejudice and the desire for domination tend to diminish, giving way to fraternity.

Individual Responsibility

Peace begins with inner transformation.

Knowing the Spiritist doctrine requires from its followers an attitude of selflessness and the courage to assume a commitment to doing good (23:36–23:45).

This places responsibility not only upon institutions, religions, or governments, but upon each individual.

The transformation of society begins with the transformation of human conduct.

The Practice of Good

Spiritism should not remain merely a theory.

The practice of charity and the lived experience of Jesus’ teachings are what truly give life to the doctrine and help transform the environment around us (1:08:47–1:09:01).

Knowledge therefore brings responsibility.

Spiritual principles acquire their deepest meaning when they are translated into action — compassion, service, forgiveness, solidarity, and respect for others.

A Vision of Human Unity

Recognizing the immortality of the soul and the continuity of life invites the individual to move beyond egocentrism.

As Severino Celestino states, the objective is to build a “sanctuary of love and peace” through individual efforts that, collectively, contribute to the regeneration of society (1:11:23–1:11:42).

This is perhaps one of the most important messages emerging from the conversation.

If human existence extends beyond a single lifetime, and if every individual is participating in a continuing process of learning and spiritual evolution, humanity can no longer be understood simply as a collection of competing individuals, nations, religions, or social groups.

It becomes a community of spirits at different stages of the same evolutionary journey.

And within that perspective, fraternity is not merely an ideal.

It becomes a responsibility.

An Invitation to Watch and Reflect

We warmly invite readers to watch this remarkable conversation with Professor Severino Celestino da Silva and Divaldo Franco and to reflect on the relationship between the Bible, Judaism, reincarnation, spiritual evolution, charity, and peace.

Whether approached from a Spiritist, Christian, Jewish, historical, linguistic, or comparative-religion perspective, the discussion offers an opportunity to examine ancient questions that remain profoundly relevant today:

What is the purpose of human existence?

How does spiritual responsibility shape our relationship with others?

And how can individual transformation contribute to the construction of a more peaceful, compassionate, and fraternal world?

The answer proposed throughout this conversation begins with something both simple and demanding:

the practice of good, the exercise of charity, and the construction — within ourselves and around us — of a sanctuary of love and peace.

Main points discussed:

Reincarnation in the Torah and the Bible (3:53 - 15:13): Severino Celestino argues that reincarnation is not exclusive to Spiritism, but is also present in ancient Jewish traditions, where it is known as gilgul neshamot, and in the Bible. He cites passages such as the association between Elijah and John the Baptist to illustrate the continuity of life and spiritual evolution.

The term "gilgul neshamot" (in Hebrew: גלגול הנשמות) refers to the concept of reincarnation or transmigration of souls in Jewish tradition, especially in Kabbalah. Gilgul derives from a root meaning "cycle," "wheel," or "to roll," while neshamot is the plural of neshamá, meaning "soul." Together, the expression describes the soul's passage through multiple existences for learning, improvement, and tikkun, or spiritual repair.

Spiritism in France (15:49 - 45:19): Divaldo Franco responds to a question about the state of Spiritism in France. He explains that, in the past, the movement suffered setbacks due to the commercialization of mediumship, but emphasizes that it is currently undergoing a process of renewal, with groups dedicated to the serious study of the doctrine and the free practice of charity.

Biblical Translations (45:22 - 57:26):

Severino Celestino addresses the difficulties in translating the original texts of the Bible, emphasizing how different interpretations can conceal concepts such as the progression of the soul through multiple existences.

Personal Testimony (58:12 - 1:03:02):

The professor shares a remarkable personal experience in Capernaum, where he describes an intense spiritual experience connected to the footsteps of Jesus.

The meeting is concluded by Divaldo Franco with a final prayer, reinforcing wishes for peace and the importance of practicing good (1:04:12 - 1:08:26).

According to Severino Celestino, reincarnation is a truth present in Jewish and biblical tradition, although the word "reincarnation" was later coined by Allan Kardec (3:53 - 5:19). He highlights the following scriptural references:

Breath of life: In Genesis, the expression "breath of lives" is interpreted as an indication of multiple existences for the spirit (4:14 - 4:45).

Biblical examples: Celestino cites the Book of Job (12:12), which refers to past generations, and the figure of John the Baptist, presented as the return of the prophet Elijah, as announced by the prophets Isaiah and Malachi (12:11 - 13:52). He also notes that, when Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was, they mentioned ancient prophets such as Elijah and Jeremiah, reflecting the period's belief in the return of spirits (11:32 - 12:09).

According to Professor Severino Celestino, Spiritism does not view suffering as eternal punishment. We are not on Earth merely to suffer, but to grow and evolve through multiple existences. Reincarnation, combined with the law of cause and effect, allows the spirit to learn from difficulties and mistakes, transforming the simple into the wise throughout its evolutionary journey (10:02 - 10:10; 14:47 - 14:56; 49:18 - 49:28).