Rabbeinu Bachya (Bereishia 02:07) He blew in his nostrils a living soul. You should know that the nose is an instrument of the soul. The soul enters man by way of his nose and it leaves him by the same route. This is why the sages have stated that if someone takes a fall that one has to examine him including his nose.The fact that the nose is divided makes it appear like a letter shin. This is an allusion to the name of G-d which in this manner is engraved on the body of every human being who has been circumcised.We know that the nose is the organ by means of which we smell and that the soul derives pleasure from certain fragrances. This is the reason the Talmud Berachot 51 prohibits us from even smelling incense or other fragrances intended for idolatrous purposes.
1) presumably this is why haredim don't like men wearing aftershave? ( Or at least dayanim)
ReplyDelete2) the philtrum is the impression on the top lip below the nose.
There's a Gemara somewhere that says we are all taught the Torah whilst in the womb, and then a knock is made and we forget it.
The biological explanation is slightly different
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2026/06/27/why-do-humans-have-a-philtrum-an-evolutionary-biologist-explains-the-groove-above-your-lip/
But they agree that there is a fusion event when it is formed
It's in Maseches Niddah. The point is that it's easier to relearn than to learn so we get our full set of lessons in utero and then it's a simple matter of reviewing once born.
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