But the essence of our argument is this: the heart is not like other organs, for one can live without them for some time (up to twelve months), but not

without the heart…Once we know that the seat of the vital spirit is in the heart, according to all opinions— the limbs cannot live or be nourished without that vital force which resides in the heart. As the Zohar states: the heart resides at the center of the body, and it is the strength and nourishment of the entire body. Therefore, if the heart were to suffer illness and decay, all the limbs would necessarily weaken and deteriorate as well.