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In Modeh Ani we thank Hashem for returning our Neshomos when we arise. Where do they go during our sleep? Do they go to the same place as the neshomos of the deceased?

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The S'fas Emes certainly seems to think the n'shama spends the night in the same olam han'shamos that it came from when the person was born. This is implied in the fact that in discussing Modeh Ani, he quotes the g'mara (Nida 30b) that describes the heavens sending down the n'shama and adjuring it to be righteous and follow mitzvos before its birth into the world.

משביעין אותו תהי צדיק ואל תהי רשע

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do you have a source or link to the S'fas Emes? – Menachem Jun 29 '11 at 3:28
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No. People lose their capacity for free will and action while asleep, and get it back in the morning.

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This might be what Rav Kook is saying in his commentary on Modeh Ani in Olas R'iya but I am not confident in my understanding of it to put it in an answer. – WAF May 3 '11 at 4:25
but we don't thank Hashem for returning our free will, we are thanking Him for returning our neshama... so that doesn't really answer my question... – user402 May 3 '11 at 13:59
How does this answer the question? – Shraga Dec 31 '12 at 9:37

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