Gilgul/Gilgul neshamot/Gilgulei Ha Neshamot (Heb. גלגול הנשמות, Plural: גלגולים Gilgulim) describes a Kabbalistic concept of reincarnation. In Hebrew, the word gilgul means "cycle" and neshamot is the plural for "souls." Souls are seen to "cycle" through "lives" or "incarnations", being attached to different human bodies over time. Which body they associate with depends on their particular task in the physical world, spiritual levels of the bodies of predecessors and so on. The concept relates to the wider processes of history in Kabbalah, involving Cosmic Tikkun (Messianic rectification), and the historical dynamic of ascending Lights and descending Vessels from generation to generation. The esoteric explanations of gilgul were articulated in Jewish mysticism by Isaac Luria in the 16th century, as part of the metaphysical purpose of Creation.

The notion of reincarnation, while held as a mystical belief by some, is not an essential tenet of traditional Judaism. It is not mentioned in traditional classical sources such as the Tanakh ("Hebrew Bible"), the classical rabbinic works (Mishnah and Talmud), or Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith. In the Yom Kippur liturgy the tale of the Ten Martyrs being killed by the Romans as an atonement for the souls of the ten brothers of Joseph for selling him into slavery is read in every Orthodox Jewish community. Additionally, books of Kabbalah — Jewish mysticism — teach a belief in gilgul, transmigration of souls, and hence the belief is universal in Hasidic Judaism, which regards the Kabbalah as sacred and authoritative.

Prof. MgA. David Jan Novotný (1947 in Prague) is a Czech novelist, scriptwriter and professor of dramaturgy.

After finishing A levels, he worked as a postal serviceman, coachman, herdsman, assistant driver in bakery, night porter, cleaner in the theatre, assistant production manager in Short film Prague, assistant camera operator at the same place, assistant driver in soap distribution, assistant production manager in Barrandov Studios; 1968-1970 at military service, 1970-1971 worker at printing house.

1971-1976 study at FAMU, department of screenwriting and dramaturgy, 1977-1990 Scriptwriter in Film studio Barrandov; 1990 Member of Czech writers community, Member of Czech Film and tv Union; 1990 assistant at FAMU, department of scriptwriting and dramaturgy, class teacher; 1977 higher doctorate, associate professorship; 1977 Vice-dean for science and pedagogical affairs, member of Scientific council of FAMU, deputy chairman of council for PhD study; 1997 Habilitation in discipline Dramaturgy and Scriptwriting; 2001 Constituted as Professor of Scriptwriting and Dramaturgy; 2002 Nominated as Professor at department of Journalism at Charles University; 2000-2004 Professor of Cinema Studies Program for foreign students at FAMU; 2004-2007 Rector of Film Academy of Miroslav Ondricek in Pisek. Professor at Literary Academy of Josef Škvorecký, in Prague, dramaturg and script adviser in production company ArtForum21.

Jan Novotný (June 17, 1929 – January 23, 2005) was a Czech glass artist, painter and art teacher.

Novotný was born in Pustá Polom, Czechoslovakia and studied at the secondary glass school in Kamenický Šenov and from 1952 at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague in the studio of prof. Josef Kaplický. From 1959, he was an art teacher at the Secondary School of Art Glass in Železný Brod. In the late 1950s and during the 1960s, he won several significant awards – Silver Medal at XI. Triennale Milan, Honorary Prize at Expo 67 in Montreal. He participated regularly in exhibitions of Czechoslovak glass all over the world. In the 1970s and 1980s, his work was negatively influenced by the adverse attitude of the governing communist regime to his person.

The domain of Jan Novotný is painted glass – vases, decorative wall plates and windows. But in his work he was using other techniques as well – etching, drypoint, blowing or engraving. His creations include also classic paintings, graphics and drawings.