Tzfat & Kabbalah www.tzfat-kabbalah.org/he *this document is for personal use only, for any other use, ask for promising in writing from the Tzfat Kabbalah Center: [email protected] Articles: Introduction Page 2 ’Gemstones’ - A story from Page 2 Tzfat The Kabbalists of Tzfat Page 4 Tzfats’ energy Page 4 Kabbalah Stories from Tzfat Page 7 "Encompassing" Light and Page 8 "Inner" Light The Holy Ari Page 9 Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz Page 11 The Month of Elul and Tzfat Page 12 Kabbalah Tzfat & Kabbalah: introduction Tzfat (Safed) - The birthplace of Kabbalah The city of Tzfat in Israel's Upper Galilee, has always been known as the "Capital of Kabbalah", and for many long historical periods was the home of Judaism's greatest mystics and masters of Kabbalah. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, the author of the "Zohar" lived, studied and worked in the the 2nd Century, C.E., studying the deepest Kabbalistic secrets with his disciples in a cave near Tzfat called "Me'arat Ha'idra". It was there that they experienced the lofty spiritual and Heavenly revelations described in the Zohar. The entire Tzfat area is dotted with many graves of ancient Jewish sages and mystics, dating from the First Temple Era through the Middle Ages. These holy sites bear witness to the work and activities of Prophets and early Talmudic sages, who were also well-known mystics in their own right. They were attracted by the region's special energy and atmosphere, and saw it as the ideal location for connecting with the inspiration and insights of Kabbalah. During the 16th century, the world's greatest Kabbalists were all concentrated in Tzfat, and their impact on the study of Kabbalah was felt all over the world, for hundreds of years up until today. Among the more famous names are Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (Hebrew acronym: the "Ramak") and his disciples Rabbis Eliahu Vidash and Shlomo Alkabetz, Rabbi Yitzhak Luria Ashkenazi (Hebrew acronym: the Holy "Ari", or "Arizal") and his outstanding students, Rabbi Haim Vital and Rabbi Yisrael Saruk. These Sages attracted the best students and scholars of Kabbalah, and established Tzfat as the undisputed world center of Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah. ’Gemstones’ - A story from Tzfat One of the most prominent spiritual leaders of Tzfat in the late 18th century was Rabbi Abraham Dov of Avritz, who came to the city with the great aliya of Hassidim in 1777. One day an unfamiliar man came into Rabbi Abraham Dov's courtyard in Tzfat. The rabbi rose immediately and ran toward the visitor. Rabbi Avraham Dov’s students could not hear the conversation between the two, but as soon at the man left, the rabbi went into his room and stayed there for three weeks. The students wondered who this man was, what he and the rabbi had spoken about and why the rabbi hadn’t come out of his room for three weeks. Their puzzlement grew when Rabbi Abraham Dov emerged from his room, his face glowing, and asked his students to prepare an especially festive meal. The students did as he requested. They ate and drank, sang and danced. After the singing, dancing and festivity, the rabbi began to speak: “Many years ago, when I was still in Avritz, I used to sit for hours with any guest who came from the Land of Israel. I would question him about the Holy Land and the life there. One day a special emissary came from the Land of Israel and we spoke for a long time. When he got up to leave I stood in front of him and begged: ‘Please tell me more!’ He replied: ‘But I’ve told you everything.’ And I insisted: ‘Please tell me more, tell me more!’ And then he said: ‘What more can I tell you? When you stand at the Machpelah Cave in Hebron with our ancestors, you will know.’ And he turned to leave. But I continued to plea: ‘Please, more!’ And he responded: ‘What more can I tell you? When you stand at Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem and cry together with her, you will know.’ And again he turned to go. But I would not give up, and again I begged: ‘Please tell me more, tell me more!’ This time he looked at me and said: ‘I have already told you everything I can. When you get there you will see for yourself - Even the stones there are gems. Even the stones are made of ruby, sapphire and diamond.’ Upon completing the sentence he got up and walked out.” “When I got to the Land of Israel,” the rabbi told his students, “everything was exactly as he had described. I also remember the first time I stood at the Machpelah Cave and at Rachel’s Tomb. But the stones … the stones were regular stones, not gemstones at all! I could never understand why he had lied to me. “Three weeks ago he came to visit me again, and despite the 20 years that had passed, I recognized him immediately. I ran to him and asked: ‘Everything you told me was true. But the stones … why did you lie to me? Why did you tell me the stones of the Land of Israel are gemstones? He looked at me and responded, with puzzlement: ‘Aren’t they?’ “Then I closed myself up in my room for the last three weeks and began to cry. Every day I cried and looked at the stones outside. Today, finally, when I looked out the window I saw that indeed every stone is a gemstone. Every stone is a ruby, a sapphire, a diamond …” The stones of the land of Israel sparkle and illuminate in Tzfat … The Kabbalists of Tzfat Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (1522-1570) who arrived in Tzfat in 1535, is famous for having compiled and shaped what is known as "classic Kabbalah", from the time of the Zohar till his era. His writings are characterized by his scientific approach to Kabbalah, and its methodically and well-organized nature as he resolves and distinguishes between the wide range of earlier Kabbalistic ideas and methods. The "Ari" (Rabbi Isaac Luria Ashkenazi 1534-1572) was famous for uncovering new and as yet unknown insights in the Kabbalah. He discovered new depths of understanding in the Zohar, and taught that it was ' permissible and even a Mitzvah (spiritual duty) to reveal this wisdom'. In other words, the Kabbalah should be taught and studied everywhere. Kabbalistic tradition says that the soul of Rabbi Yisrael the"Ba'al Shem Tov", the founder of the Chassidic Movement in the 18th century, was the reincarnation of the soul of a Jew from Tzfat of the 16th century. Chassidic Philosophy is sometimes nicknamed "the third Kabbalah" as it deals with the deepest levels of the 'Soul of the Torah' - the Kabbalah. The Tzfat Kabbalah was always the leading stream in the study of the Jewish mystical tradition. The Tzfat Kabbalists were characterized by their originality and innovation, depth of study and commitment. They turned Kabbalah into an attractive and highly desired wisdom for people all over the world. All the different mystical schools of thought, like the "Literature of the Heichalot", prophetic Kabbalah, the Provence and Gerondi schools are intimately linked to Tzfat Mysticism as well. The Tzfat Kabbalah is the original and most authentic Jewish mystical tradition, and is now available to all those who wish to learn and experience this wonderful wisdom. Why specifically Tzfat? Read about the energy of Tzfat… Tzfat’s Energy Tzfat's spiritual energy When you enter Tzfat's Old City and tour its colorful lanes and alleyways, visit its art galleries and meet its mystics, enter the ancient synagogues and breathe the air….you feel the magic…that special and almost indescribable spiritual aura that overtakes you….This is the same aura the great Mystics described when they established Tzfat as the best place for studying and revealing the Torah's concealed wisdom. In the 16th century, One of the Ari's students, Rabbi Avraham Azulai, wrote of Tzfat's special atmosphere: "Tzfat was the ideal place for attaining the deepest secrets of the Torah and its foundations, because there is no cleaner or purer air in all of the Land of Israel." (Rabbi Avraham Azulai, "Hesed L'Avraham"). The Kabbalists stress Tzfat's connection with the element of air in Creation. That is how they explain the pristine and pure air of Tzfat, which together with its special spiritual atmosphere simply overwhelm all of one's senses. Each one of the four holy cities in the land of Israel: Hebron, Tiberias, Jerusalem and Tzfat, is connected with one of Creation's elements: earth, water, fire and air. City Element Tzfat Air Jerusalem Fire Tiberias Water Hebron Earth Tzfat, being associated with the element of air , provides the deepest spiritual experiences for the soul. Tzfat's Name Tzfat's name itself has several explanations: "Tzfat", from the Hebrew word "Tzafun", which means hidden. Therefore Tzfat is especially appropriate for studying the hidden wisdom. Tzfat from the Hebrew word "Tzofe" – to view and see distances in time and place. This explains the "Tzipia" – the anticipation and yearning for the Redemption of the soul and the world that appears in the Kabbalistic literature of Tzfat. Tzfat from the Hebrew word "Tzafon" – north; for the northern wind. in the Temple, the holiest of sacrifices was offered in the northern end of the Altar, which hints at Tzfat being the place where the holiest wisdom can be achieved. In Kabbalistic literature, Tzfat is connected with the sphere of Eternity (Netzach) and on a higher level with the sphere of the Crown (Keter), which illustrates the inspiration Tzfat provides for the highest levels of the soul.