נִשְׁמַת כָּל חַי…… The Breath of all that is alive….

The word neshama refers to the soul and is closely linked to breath and spirit. Nishmat kol chai [the soul of all living beings] is often understood as referring to land animals. However, plants - from trees to phytoplankton - make breath possible. When we read “Nishmat Kol chai,” we remember the plants that photosynthesize and respirate; the fungi that break down decaying matter so the nutrients can be recycled; the mangroves, coral, oysters, and grasses that protect our coasts, and the interconnectedness of all living beings.


haggadah Section: Hallel