Ruach (Ruah) is Hebrew for 'breath,' and represents spirit- literally, the breath of God, synonymous with life. The root of the word is related to words meaning voice, thunder, and wind.

In Kabbalah, Ruach is one of the three elements that make up the Human soul, the animating principle that gives life to the bodies of humans and animals, and which returns to God at death. The ruach is associated with the lungs, with the breath, and the element of air (aleph).

In Christian and Gnostic traditions, the Ruach is synonymous with the Holy Spirit, personified as the dove and a "rush of wind."

Image by th century mystic Jacob Boehme, illustrating the ruach as a dove.

Alternate Spellings: Ruah, Ruha (Mandaean)

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