Bochen Klayot Va’Lev: Who Searches the Kidneys and the Heart: Cellular Memory in Organs and Sensory Neurites in the Heart?

There are a number of verses in Tanakh that express the idea that the kidneys are connected to feelings and thoughts, much as the heart was understood to be. A number of these verses are found in Jeremiah, And the Lord of Hosts is a just Judge, Who searches the kidneys and the heart . . . (Jer. 11:20), You are present in their mouths, but far from their kidneys (Jer. 12:2), and I, the Lord, search the heart, test the kidneys, to give everyone according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds (Jer. 17:10). Other books of Tanakh also have this usage, such as I shall rejoice with all my kidneys when your lips speak right things (Prov. 23:16). Kidneys seem to broadly represent what we would call the mind today.

This idea is also found in rabbinic literature, where the kidneys are considered the seat of moral understanding. TB Berakhot 61a states, “The Sages taught: A person has two kidneys; one advises him to do good and one advises him to do evil. And it stands to reason that the good one is to his right and the evil is to his left, as it is written: A wise man’s understanding is at his right hand, but a fool’s understanding is at his left (Eccl. 10:2).” Similarly in Bereishit Rabbah 61:1, “Rabbi Shimon said: He [Abraham] had no father to teach him, and he did not have a teacher. From where, then, did he learn Torah? The answer is that the Holy One blessed be He set his two kidneys as two teachers of a sort, and they would flow forth and teach him Torah and wisdom. That is what is written: I bless the LORD who has guided me; my kidneys admonish me at night (Ps. 16:7).”

Although generally understood as a metaphor, and even translated as ‘mind’ or ‘conscience’ in some English translations of Tanakh, very recent research on cellular memory in organs and sensory neurites in the heart seems to hint at another possibility. According to researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, many patients who get organs from a donor may end up inheriting the personality of that individual as well. The study shows that after the surgery, the patient may start liking the same food item that they didn’t enjoy previously, or simply feel a sudden rush of emotions towards a thing or a specific person.¹

Sensory Neurites in the Heart

In a recent paper (2023) on sensory neurites in the heart and its effect in decision-making and cognitive function:

“The process of decision-making is quite complex involving different aspects of logic, emotion, and intuition. The process of decision-making can be summarized as choosing the best alternative among a given plethora of options in order to achieve the desired outcome. This requires establishing numerous neural networks between various factors associated with the decision and creation of possible combinations and speculating their possible outcomes. In a nutshell, it is a highly coordinated process consuming the majority of the brain’s energy. It has been found that the heart comprises an intrinsic neural system that contributes not only to the decision-making process but also the short-term and long-term memory. There are approximately 40,000 cells present in the heart known as sensory neurites which play a vital role in memory transfer. The heart is quite a mysterious organ, which functions as a blood-pumping machine and an endocrine gland, as well as possesses a nervous system. There are multiple factors that affect this heart ecosystem, and they directly affect our decision-making capabilities. These interlinked relationships hint toward the sensory neurites which modulate cognition and mood regulation. This review article aims to provide deeper insights into the various roles played by sensory neurites in decision-making and other cognitive functions. The article highlights the pivotal role of sensory neurites in the numerous brain functions, and it also meticulously discusses the mechanisms through which they modulate their effects.”²

The Heart-Kidney Axis and Cell Memory

There is a huge literature in medicine on the heart-kidney axis (cross-talk) as both are mediated by the gut biome.³ A very recent (November 2024) paper just demonstrated cell memory in the kidneys.⁴ This study shows kidney and nerve tissue cells learn and make memories in ways similar to neurons. I quote: “Our findings show that canonical features of memory do not necessarily depend on neural circuitry, but can be embedded in the dynamics of signaling cascades conserved across different cell types.”

Conclusion

There is ample evidence that Bochen Klayot Va’lev is not a metaphor but has substantial scientific underpinning.