The Ari: Difference between revisions

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Rabbi Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi (known as "The Holy Ari", "Rabbeinu the Ari", "The Ari z"l", and sometimes "The Living Arizal"; 1534 - 5th of Menachem Av 1572) was among the Mekubalim of Tzfat and one of the most important Mekubalim of all generations. His approach - Kabbalat HaAri - became the central method in the study of Kabbalah, and large portions of Chassidic teachings are also based on it.

Rabbi '''Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi''' (known as "The Holy Ari", "Rabbeinu the Ari", "'''The Ari z"l'''", and sometimes "The Living Arizal"; [[1534]] - 5th of [[Menachem Av]] 1572) was among the [[Mekubal|Mekubalim]] of [[Tzfat]] and one of the most important Mekubalim of all generations. His approach - Kabbalat HaAri - became the central method in the study of Kabbalah, and large portions of [[Toras HaChassidus|Chassidic teachings]] are also based on it.

== Life History ==

Rabbi Yitzchak Luria was born in Jerusalem in 1534. At age eight, his father Rabbi Shlomo passed away, and he went with his mother to his uncle in Egypt, where he learned Torah from Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi (author of the Shita Mekubetzet), as well as from the Radvaz. At age fifteen, he married his cousin. He spent a long time in seclusion.

Rabbi Yitzchak Luria was born in [[Jerusalem]] in [[1534]]. At age eight, his father Rabbi Shlomo passed away, and he went with his mother to his uncle in [[Egypt]], where he learned Torah from Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi (author of the Shita Mekubetzet), as well as from the [[Radvaz]]. At age fifteen, he married his cousin. He spent a long time in seclusion.

In 1570, at age thirty-six, he ascended to Eretz Yisrael and arrived in Tzfat. For a brief period, he was a student of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, and after his passing on the 23rd of Tammuz 1570, the Ari was accepted by all the great scholars of Tzfat as the Ramak's spiritual heir and began teaching Kabbalah in Tzfat, establishing dozens of students known as the Ari's cubs. Among the most prominent were: Rabbi Chaim Vital, Rabbi Yisrael Sarug, and many others.

In 1570, at age thirty-six, he ascended to [[Eretz Yisrael]] and arrived in Tzfat. For a brief period, he was a student of Rabbi [[Moshe Cordovero]], and after his passing on the 23rd of Tammuz 1570, the Ari was accepted by all the great scholars of Tzfat as the [[Ramak]]'s spiritual heir and began teaching [[Kabbalah]] in Tzfat, establishing dozens of students known as the Ari's cubs. Among the most prominent were: Rabbi Chaim Vital, Rabbi Yisrael Sarug, and many others.

The Arizal passed away on the 5th of Menachem Av 1572, at age thirty-eight, and was buried in the ancient cemetery in Tzfat. The Rebbe instructed several times to visit his grave, especially on his yahrzeit. In the 400th year since his passing, 1972, the Rebbe wrote a special general-private letter for his yahrzeit. The Rebbe farbrenged several times and delivered sichos for this day, explaining the lessons to be learned from the Arizal.

The Arizal passed away on the 5th of Menachem Av 1572, at age thirty-eight, and was buried in the ancient cemetery in Tzfat. [[The Rebbe]] instructed several times to visit his grave, especially on his [[yahrzeit]]. In the 400th year since his passing, [[1972]], the Rebbe wrote a special [[general-private letter]] for his yahrzeit. The Rebbe [[Farbrengen|farbrenged]] several times and delivered [[Sicha|sichos]] for this day, explaining the lessons to be learned from the Arizal.

== The Arizal's Kabbalah ==

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== His Piyutim (Liturgical Poems) ==

Among others, he composed the piyutim "Asader L'Seudasa," "Azamer B'Shvachin," and "Bnei Heichala," "Yom Zeh L'Yisrael" (some attribute it to the holy Arizal) which are recited (also according to Chabad custom) during the Friday night meal, Shabbos day meal, and Seudah Shlishis. In these piyutim, his name is hinted at in the acrostics.

Among others, he composed the piyutim "[[Asader L'Seudasa]]," "[[Azamer B'Shvachin]]," and "[[Bnei Heichala]]," "Yom Zeh L'Yisrael" (some attribute it to the holy Arizal) which are recited (also according to Chabad custom) during the Friday night meal, [[Shabbos]] day meal, and Seudah Shlishis. In these piyutim, his name is hinted at in the acrostics.

== The Arizal's Modifications to the Sephardic Prayer Text ==

The Arizal's prayer text was primarily Sephardic according to Rabbi Chaim Vital's description, with certain modifications. These modifications are detailed according to the Sephardic siddur published in Venice in 1524. Among the important changes the Arizal made to the Sephardic text include:

* In Baruch She'amar of Pesukei D'Zimra, the Arizal would recite a shorter version containing 87 words. Until his time, this version was common in Ashkenazic communities while Sephardim had a longer version.

* In [[Baruch She'amar]] of [[Pesukei D'Zimra]], the Arizal would recite a shorter version containing 87 words. Until his time, this version was common in Ashkenazic communities while Sephardim had a longer version.

* In the Musaf prayer of Shabbos, there are two accepted versions for the blessing of Kedushas Hayom - the text "L'Moshe Tzivisa" and "Tikanta Shabbos." The first was recited by Sephardim while the second was recited by Ashkenazim, and this is what the Arizal would say.

* The Arizal would recite Viduy and the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy before Nefilas Apayim - which was not customary in any community at his time.

* The Arizal would recite [[Viduy]] and the [[Thirteen Attributes of Mercy]] before [[Nefilas Apayim]] - which was not customary in any community at his time.

* The Arizal objected to the medieval Spanish-Jewish poetic liturgy from the Golden Age due to their philosophical content, and advocated saying the customary Ashkenazic piyutim from the early Land of Israel poets, which were more kabbalistic and non-philosophical in content. Because of this, during Yomim Tovim and Yamim Noraim, the Arizal would pray in the Ashkenazic synagogue, contrary to his usual practice of praying in a Sephardic synagogue throughout the year.

* The Arizal did not recite any piyutim after prayer, particularly not piyutim like Adon Olam and Yigdal.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Rabbi Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi (known as "The Holy Ari", "Rabbeinu the Ari", "The Ari z"l", and sometimes "The Living Arizal"; 1534 - 5th of Menachem Av 1572) was among the Mekubalim of Tzfat and one of the most important Mekubalim of all generations. His approach - Kabbalat HaAri - became the central method in the study of Kabbalah, and large portions of Chassidic teachings are also based on it.
+Rabbi '''Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi''' (known as "The Holy Ari", "Rabbeinu the Ari", "'''The Ari z"l'''", and sometimes "The Living Arizal"; [[1534]] - 5th of [[Menachem Av]] 1572) was among the [[Mekubal|Mekubalim]] of [[Tzfat]] and one of the most important Mekubalim of all generations. His approach - Kabbalat HaAri - became the central method in the study of Kabbalah, and large portions of [[Toras HaChassidus|Chassidic teachings]] are also based on it.
 == Life History ==
-Rabbi Yitzchak Luria was born in Jerusalem in 1534. At age eight, his father Rabbi Shlomo passed away, and he went with his mother to his uncle in Egypt, where he learned Torah from Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi (author of the Shita Mekubetzet), as well as from the Radvaz. At age fifteen, he married his cousin. He spent a long time in seclusion.
+Rabbi Yitzchak Luria was born in [[Jerusalem]] in [[1534]]. At age eight, his father Rabbi Shlomo passed away, and he went with his mother to his uncle in [[Egypt]], where he learned Torah from Rabbi Betzalel Ashkenazi (author of the Shita Mekubetzet), as well as from the [[Radvaz]]. At age fifteen, he married his cousin. He spent a long time in seclusion.
-In 1570, at age thirty-six, he ascended to Eretz Yisrael and arrived in Tzfat. For a brief period, he was a student of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, and after his passing on the 23rd of Tammuz 1570, the Ari was accepted by all the great scholars of Tzfat as the Ramak's spiritual heir and began teaching Kabbalah in Tzfat, establishing dozens of students known as the Ari's cubs. Among the most prominent were: Rabbi Chaim Vital, Rabbi Yisrael Sarug, and many others.
+In 1570, at age thirty-six, he ascended to [[Eretz Yisrael]] and arrived in Tzfat. For a brief period, he was a student of Rabbi [[Moshe Cordovero]], and after his passing on the 23rd of Tammuz 1570, the Ari was accepted by all the great scholars of Tzfat as the [[Ramak]]'s spiritual heir and began teaching [[Kabbalah]] in Tzfat, establishing dozens of students known as the Ari's cubs. Among the most prominent were: Rabbi Chaim Vital, Rabbi Yisrael Sarug, and many others.
-The Arizal passed away on the 5th of Menachem Av 1572, at age thirty-eight, and was buried in the ancient cemetery in Tzfat. The Rebbe instructed several times to visit his grave, especially on his yahrzeit. In the 400th year since his passing, 1972, the Rebbe wrote a special general-private letter for his yahrzeit. The Rebbe farbrenged several times and delivered sichos for this day, explaining the lessons to be learned from the Arizal.
+The Arizal passed away on the 5th of Menachem Av 1572, at age thirty-eight, and was buried in the ancient cemetery in Tzfat. [[The Rebbe]] instructed several times to visit his grave, especially on his [[yahrzeit]]. In the 400th year since his passing, [[1972]], the Rebbe wrote a special [[general-private letter]] for his yahrzeit. The Rebbe [[Farbrengen|farbrenged]] several times and delivered [[Sicha|sichos]] for this day, explaining the lessons to be learned from the Arizal.
 == The Arizal's Kabbalah ==
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 == His Piyutim (Liturgical Poems) ==
-Among others, he composed the piyutim "Asader L'Seudasa," "Azamer B'Shvachin," and "Bnei Heichala," "Yom Zeh L'Yisrael" (some attribute it to the holy Arizal) which are recited (also according to Chabad custom) during the Friday night meal, Shabbos day meal, and Seudah Shlishis. In these piyutim, his name is hinted at in the acrostics.
+Among others, he composed the piyutim "[[Asader L'Seudasa]]," "[[Azamer B'Shvachin]]," and "[[Bnei Heichala]]," "Yom Zeh L'Yisrael" (some attribute it to the holy Arizal) which are recited (also according to Chabad custom) during the Friday night meal, [[Shabbos]] day meal, and Seudah Shlishis. In these piyutim, his name is hinted at in the acrostics.
 == The Arizal's Modifications to the Sephardic Prayer Text ==
 The Arizal's prayer text was primarily Sephardic according to Rabbi Chaim Vital's description, with certain modifications. These modifications are detailed according to the Sephardic siddur published in Venice in 1524. Among the important changes the Arizal made to the Sephardic text include:
-* In Baruch She'amar of Pesukei D'Zimra, the Arizal would recite a shorter version containing 87 words. Until his time, this version was common in Ashkenazic communities while Sephardim had a longer version.
+* In [[Baruch She'amar]] of [[Pesukei D'Zimra]], the Arizal would recite a shorter version containing 87 words. Until his time, this version was common in Ashkenazic communities while Sephardim had a longer version.
 * In the Musaf prayer of Shabbos, there are two accepted versions for the blessing of Kedushas Hayom - the text "L'Moshe Tzivisa" and "Tikanta Shabbos." The first was recited by Sephardim while the second was recited by Ashkenazim, and this is what the Arizal would say.
-* The Arizal would recite Viduy and the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy before Nefilas Apayim - which was not customary in any community at his time.
+* The Arizal would recite [[Viduy]] and the [[Thirteen Attributes of Mercy]] before [[Nefilas Apayim]] - which was not customary in any community at his time.
 * The Arizal objected to the medieval Spanish-Jewish poetic liturgy from the Golden Age due to their philosophical content, and advocated saying the customary Ashkenazic piyutim from the early Land of Israel poets, which were more kabbalistic and non-philosophical in content. Because of this, during Yomim Tovim and Yamim Noraim, the Arizal would pray in the Ashkenazic synagogue, contrary to his usual practice of praying in a Sephardic synagogue throughout the year.
 * The Arizal did not recite any piyutim after prayer, particularly not piyutim like Adon Olam and Yigdal.