Many people are surprised to learn that Judaism actually affirms belief in reincarnation, whereby the soul returns to the world to live a new life, a doctrine usually associated with Eastern religions. In reality, though, it should not seem so surprising. The basic concepts underlying reincarnation are fundamental to Jewish outlook, such as the eternity of the soul, Divine reward and punishment, and the future resurrection of the dead. Whereas the latter concepts are fundamental to the classical understanding of Judaism, reincarnation has not enjoyed a prominent place in the Jewish tradition. The idea of reincarnation in Judaism has been fully developed in the tradition of Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah.