The anniversary of his death, the fifth of the Hebrew month of Av, corresponded this year with July 30, the height of the war.
Immediately after the fighting was over, Kabbalists, including the Kabbalist elder, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, made belated pilgrimages to the ancient cemetery to honor the holy Rabbi Yitzhak Luria (AKA the Arizal or Ari).
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The Ari (1534-1572) was born in Jerusalem, but because of great poverty, his family moved to Egypt, where he became the leading Talmudic sage by the age of fifteen. To attain higher heights of holiness, he undertook a course of meditation and study for fifteen years, spending two years completely alone in a hut by the Nile. He would only return home on the eve of the Sabbath, but he would not speak to anyone, including his wife. During this time, he was gifted with Divine Inspiration, and the prophet, Elijah, would reveal himself to him and teach him the secrets of Torah.
Every night, his soul would ascend to the heavenly academies, where he would learn with great sages like Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and Rabbi Akiva. His foremost student, Rabbi Chaim Vital, records that his teacher knew the conversation of the angels, and could discern everything that a person had done, could read their thoughts, and could see what they would do in the future. He knew the mysteries of reincarnation, he could communicate with the righteous ones of the past, and he knew what was decreed in heaven.
“People erroneously think that Divine Inspiration is something from the past,” says Kabbalist elder Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, who spent six years himself in secluded meditation, studying the Arizal’s writings. “But the Torah hasn’t changed. The Blessed One hasn’t changed. He is always ready and willing to grant a person Divine Inspiration. But a person first has to undergo the rigorous work of cleansing himself from all impurity.”
Tzvi Fishman is a freelancer who wrote several movies and books. His new book, Secret of the Brit, is scheduled to be published shortly. Excerpts can be found at JewishSexuality.com
Immediately after the fighting was over, Kabbalists, including the Kabbalist elder, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, made belated pilgrimages to the ancient cemetery to honor the holy Rabbi Yitzhak Luria (AKA the Arizal or Ari).
email readers, please click here to see the photos
The ancient Jewish cemetery below the mystical Old City of Tzfat
The Ari (1534-1572) was born in Jerusalem, but because of great poverty, his family moved to Egypt, where he became the leading Talmudic sage by the age of fifteen. To attain higher heights of holiness, he undertook a course of meditation and study for fifteen years, spending two years completely alone in a hut by the Nile. He would only return home on the eve of the Sabbath, but he would not speak to anyone, including his wife. During this time, he was gifted with Divine Inspiration, and the prophet, Elijah, would reveal himself to him and teach him the secrets of Torah.
Kabbalist Rabbi Eliahu Leon leads students to the tomb of the Arizal
Every night, his soul would ascend to the heavenly academies, where he would learn with great sages like Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and Rabbi Akiva. His foremost student, Rabbi Chaim Vital, records that his teacher knew the conversation of the angels, and could discern everything that a person had done, could read their thoughts, and could see what they would do in the future. He knew the mysteries of reincarnation, he could communicate with the righteous ones of the past, and he knew what was decreed in heaven.
Rabbi Leon and his students, a mix of hareidim and religious-Zionists, reach the tomb of the Arizal. Note the tomb of Rabbi Shlomo Alkavitz, author of the famous hymn L'cha Dodi, to the right
“People erroneously think that Divine Inspiration is something from the past,” says Kabbalist elder Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, who spent six years himself in secluded meditation, studying the Arizal’s writings. “But the Torah hasn’t changed. The Blessed One hasn’t changed. He is always ready and willing to grant a person Divine Inspiration. But a person first has to undergo the rigorous work of cleansing himself from all impurity.”
Rabbi Leon, a master of Spehardic cantorial scales, leads students in song of praise at Arizal's tomb
: In the background: Mount Meron, home of the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, author of the Zohar
The sign marking the tomb of the Arizal
The famous mikveh, ritual bath, above the cemetery where the Arizal would immerse himself. The site is frequented by many to this day
Rabbi Leon lights a candle at the tomb of the Arizal
The tomb of Rabbi Yosef Karo codifier of one of the central works in Jewish law, the Shulchan Aruch
The Old City of Tzfat towers above the world famous cemetery
Tzvi Fishman is a freelancer who wrote several movies and books. His new book, Secret of the Brit, is scheduled to be published shortly. Excerpts can be found at JewishSexuality.com