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| '''Rabbi Chaim ben Yosef Vital''' (] in ]-] ] in ]) was one of the most famous exponents of ]. | '''Rabbi Chaim ben Yosef Vital''' (] in ]-] ] in ]) was one of the most famous exponents of ]. | ||
| == Early life == | |||
| ⚫ | As a young boy, Rabbi Chaim Vital was educated by the scholar, Rabbi ]. Other than that, most of his early life is full of legends. For instance, it is claimed that at the age of twelve, he was told by a ] that when he reached the age of twenty-four, he would find himself standing before two roads, and would rise or fall according to his choice. Rabbi ] is said to have paid especial attention to Rabbi Chaim Vital's early talents and in 1557 requested that Alshech take special care in his education as he was destined to succeed his teacher in the world of |
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| ⚫ | As a young boy, Rabbi Chaim Vital was educated by the scholar, Rabbi ]. Other than that, most of his early life is full of legends. For instance, it is claimed that at the age of twelve, he was told by a ] that when he reached the age of twenty-four, he would find himself standing before two roads, and would rise or fall according to his choice. Rabbi ] is said to have paid especial attention to Rabbi Chaim Vital's early talents and in 1557 requested that Alshech take special care in his education as he was destined to succeed his teacher in the world of Torah study. That same year, Rabbi Chaim Vital first became acquainted with the kabbalist Rabbi ], who would have a lasting influence on him. | ||
| Rabbi Chaim Vital apparently married at a young age. According to one legend, his first wife was Hannah, the daughter of a certain Moses Saadia. It was an unhappy marriage, and when he left his wife, the ] ] appeared to Rabbi Chaim Vital in a dream and led him to a beautiful garden, where he saw the pious of all ages, in the form of birds, flying through the garden and studying the ]. In the center of the garden was ] Himself, seated on a throne that was surrounded by the pious, resting on elaborate ]. Convinced by this vision that he was destined to become a kabbalist, Rabbi Chaim Vital devoted the following two and a half years to the study of ]. Upon completing his studies, Elijah appeared to him again in a vision, and told him that he would succeed in his efforts and even write a commentary on the ]. | Rabbi Chaim Vital apparently married at a young age. According to one legend, his first wife was Hannah, the daughter of a certain Moses Saadia. It was an unhappy marriage, and when he left his wife, the ] ] appeared to Rabbi Chaim Vital in a dream and led him to a beautiful garden, where he saw the pious of all ages, in the form of birds, flying through the garden and studying the ]. In the center of the garden was ] Himself, seated on a throne that was surrounded by the pious, resting on elaborate ]. Convinced by this vision that he was destined to become a kabbalist, Rabbi Chaim Vital devoted the following two and a half years to the study of ]. Upon completing his studies, Elijah appeared to him again in a vision, and told him that he would succeed in his efforts and even write a commentary on the ]. | ||
| == Student of the Arizal == | |||
| In 1570, Rabbi Chaim Vital became a student of Rabbi ] - the Arizal, the foremost kabbalist of the day. Within just a year, Rabbi Chaim Vital emerged as his leading student, so that when Arizal died in 1572, at the age of thirty-eight, Vital succeeded him. Since Arizal has left almost none of his teachings in writing, Rabbi Chaim Vital began to write down everything he had learned from his master. | |||
| Rabbi Chaim Vital arrived in ] in 1577, but soon returned to ], settling in the village of 'Ain Zaitun, and later in ]. He remained there until the ] governor, Abu Saifia, requested that he use his powers to locate the ] leading from the River ] to the city, which had been built in the days of King ]. Unwilling to fulfill this request, he fled to ] using the power of practical Kabbalah, where his master appeared to him |
In 1570, Rabbi Chaim Vital became a student of Rabbi ], the Arizal, the foremost kabbalist of the day. Within just a year, Rabbi Chaim Vital emerged as his leading student, so that when the Arizal died in 1572, at the age of thirty-eight, Vital succeeded him. Since the Arizal had left almost none of his teachings in writing, Rabbi Chaim Vital began to write down everything he had learned from his master. | ||
| == Exile and return == | |||
| Rabbi Chaim Vital arrived in ] in 1577, but soon returned to ], settling in the village of 'Ain Zaitun, and later in ]. He remained there until the ] governor, Abu Saifia, requested that he use his powers to locate the ] leading from the River ] to the city, which had been built in the days of King ]. Unwilling to fulfill this request, he fled to ] using the power of practical Kabbalah, where his master appeared to him and told him that he had had a chance to bring the final redemption by releasing the waters of Gihon, and now the chance was lost. This grieved Rabbi Chaim Vital greatly. There he began writing his first work of his own, on ]. The greater part of the book consists of an exposition on the conjuring of clouds and a discourse on the seven fixed stars (planets), the seven heavens, and their corresponding metals. | |||
| Upon completing his book, Rabbi Chaim Vital returned to Jerusalem, where his former teacher, Rabbi Moshe Alshech, appointed him rabbi in 1584. After a time, however, Rabbi Chaim Vital left Jerusalem for Safed, where he fell sick and was obliged to keep his bed for an entire year. | Upon completing his book, Rabbi Chaim Vital returned to Jerusalem, where his former teacher, Rabbi Moshe Alshech, appointed him rabbi in 1584. After a time, however, Rabbi Chaim Vital left Jerusalem for Safed, where he fell sick and was obliged to keep his bed for an entire year. | ||
| == ''Etz Hayyim'' == | |||
| ⚫ | During this illness Rabbi Yehoshua, his closest follower, who had accompanied Rabbi Chaim Vital on nearly every journey, managed to bribe Rabbi Chaim Vital's younger brother, Rabbi Moshe, with 500 gold coins, to lend him his master's writings, which were kept locked in a box. Rabbi Moshe accordingly brought Rabbi Yehoshua a large part of the manuscripts, and 100 copyists were immediately engaged: in just three days, they were able to reproduce more than 600 pages. Although Rabbi Chaim Vital, upon learning of this, claimed that the papers which has been copied were not his own writings, they were rapidly disseminated under the title ''Etz Hayyim'' ("Tree of Life"). In addition to a tribute to Arizal, the work contains the assertion that it is one of God's greatest pleasures to witness the promotion of the teaching of the Kabbalah, since this alone can assure the coming of the ]. Rabbi Chaim Vital stated that he had received these teachings, like his other mystic theories, from his teacher the Arizal. | ||
| ⚫ | During this illness Rabbi Yehoshua, his closest follower, who had accompanied Rabbi Chaim Vital on nearly every journey, managed to bribe Rabbi Chaim Vital's younger brother, Rabbi Moshe, with 500 gold coins, to lend him his master's writings, which were kept locked in a box. Rabbi Moshe accordingly brought Rabbi Yehoshua a large part of the manuscripts, and 100 copyists were immediately engaged: in just three days, they were able to reproduce more than 600 pages. Although according to some reports Rabbi Chaim Vital, upon learning of this, claimed that the papers which has been copied were not his own writings, they were rapidly disseminated under the title ''Etz Hayyim'' ("Tree of Life"). In addition to a tribute to the Arizal, the work contains the assertion that it is one of God's greatest pleasures to witness the promotion of the teaching of the Kabbalah, since this alone can assure the coming of the ]. Rabbi Chaim Vital stated that he had received these teachings, like his other mystic theories, from his teacher the Arizal. | ||
| ⚫ | However Rabbi Chaim Vital held the teachings of his former teacher kabbalist Rabbi ] in high esteem. He maintained that Rabbi Moshe Cordovero often appeared to him in dreams. One of the most prominent of Rabbi Chaim Vital's opponents was Menahem di Lonzano, who publicly denounced him in his '' |
||
| ⚫ | However, Rabbi Chaim Vital still held the teachings of his former teacher, kabbalist Rabbi ], in high esteem. He maintained that Rabbi Moshe Cordovero often appeared to him in dreams. One of the most prominent of Rabbi Chaim Vital's opponents was Menahem di Lonzano, who publicly denounced him in his work ''Imrei Emet''. | ||
| == Later life and passing == | |||
| On 20 Elul, 1590, Rabbi Chaim Vital received rabbinical ordination from his teacher Rabbi Moshe Alshech. Four years later, in 1594, he settled permanently in Damascus, where he lectured every evening on the Kabbalah. In 1604 Rabbi Chaim Vital's sight began to fail; in 1620 he died while preparing to return to Safed. | On 20 Elul, 1590, Rabbi Chaim Vital received rabbinical ordination from his teacher Rabbi Moshe Alshech. Four years later, in 1594, he settled permanently in Damascus, where he lectured every evening on the Kabbalah. In 1604 Rabbi Chaim Vital's sight began to fail; in 1620 he died while preparing to return to Safed. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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Revision as of 07:07, 25 January 2008
Rabbi Chaim ben Yosef Vital (1543 in Safed-23 April 1620 in Damascus) was one of the most famous exponents of Kabbalah.
Early life
As a young boy, Rabbi Chaim Vital was educated by the scholar, Rabbi Moses Alshech. Other than that, most of his early life is full of legends. For instance, it is claimed that at the age of twelve, he was told by a chiromancer that when he reached the age of twenty-four, he would find himself standing before two roads, and would rise or fall according to his choice. Rabbi Joseph Caro is said to have paid especial attention to Rabbi Chaim Vital's early talents and in 1557 requested that Alshech take special care in his education as he was destined to succeed his teacher in the world of Torah study. That same year, Rabbi Chaim Vital first became acquainted with the kabbalist Rabbi Lapidot Ashkenazi, who would have a lasting influence on him.
Rabbi Chaim Vital apparently married at a young age. According to one legend, his first wife was Hannah, the daughter of a certain Moses Saadia. It was an unhappy marriage, and when he left his wife, the prophet Elijah appeared to Rabbi Chaim Vital in a dream and led him to a beautiful garden, where he saw the pious of all ages, in the form of birds, flying through the garden and studying the Mishnah. In the center of the garden was God Himself, seated on a throne that was surrounded by the pious, resting on elaborate tapestries. Convinced by this vision that he was destined to become a kabbalist, Rabbi Chaim Vital devoted the following two and a half years to the study of alchemy. Upon completing his studies, Elijah appeared to him again in a vision, and told him that he would succeed in his efforts and even write a commentary on the Zohar.
Student of the Arizal
In 1570, Rabbi Chaim Vital became a student of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the Arizal, the foremost kabbalist of the day. Within just a year, Rabbi Chaim Vital emerged as his leading student, so that when the Arizal died in 1572, at the age of thirty-eight, Vital succeeded him. Since the Arizal had left almost none of his teachings in writing, Rabbi Chaim Vital began to write down everything he had learned from his master.
Exile and return
Rabbi Chaim Vital arrived in Egypt in 1577, but soon returned to Palestine, settling in the village of 'Ain Zaitun, and later in Jerusalem. He remained there until the Ottoman governor, Abu Saifia, requested that he use his powers to locate the aqueduct leading from the River Gihon to the city, which had been built in the days of King Hezekiah. Unwilling to fulfill this request, he fled to Damascus using the power of practical Kabbalah, where his master appeared to him and told him that he had had a chance to bring the final redemption by releasing the waters of Gihon, and now the chance was lost. This grieved Rabbi Chaim Vital greatly. There he began writing his first work of his own, on Abraham. The greater part of the book consists of an exposition on the conjuring of clouds and a discourse on the seven fixed stars (planets), the seven heavens, and their corresponding metals.
Upon completing his book, Rabbi Chaim Vital returned to Jerusalem, where his former teacher, Rabbi Moshe Alshech, appointed him rabbi in 1584. After a time, however, Rabbi Chaim Vital left Jerusalem for Safed, where he fell sick and was obliged to keep his bed for an entire year.
Etz Hayyim
During this illness Rabbi Yehoshua, his closest follower, who had accompanied Rabbi Chaim Vital on nearly every journey, managed to bribe Rabbi Chaim Vital's younger brother, Rabbi Moshe, with 500 gold coins, to lend him his master's writings, which were kept locked in a box. Rabbi Moshe accordingly brought Rabbi Yehoshua a large part of the manuscripts, and 100 copyists were immediately engaged: in just three days, they were able to reproduce more than 600 pages. Although according to some reports Rabbi Chaim Vital, upon learning of this, claimed that the papers which has been copied were not his own writings, they were rapidly disseminated under the title Etz Hayyim ("Tree of Life"). In addition to a tribute to the Arizal, the work contains the assertion that it is one of God's greatest pleasures to witness the promotion of the teaching of the Kabbalah, since this alone can assure the coming of the Jewish Messiah. Rabbi Chaim Vital stated that he had received these teachings, like his other mystic theories, from his teacher the Arizal.
However, Rabbi Chaim Vital still held the teachings of his former teacher, kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, in high esteem. He maintained that Rabbi Moshe Cordovero often appeared to him in dreams. One of the most prominent of Rabbi Chaim Vital's opponents was Menahem di Lonzano, who publicly denounced him in his work Imrei Emet.
Later life and passing
On 20 Elul, 1590, Rabbi Chaim Vital received rabbinical ordination from his teacher Rabbi Moshe Alshech. Four years later, in 1594, he settled permanently in Damascus, where he lectured every evening on the Kabbalah. In 1604 Rabbi Chaim Vital's sight began to fail; in 1620 he died while preparing to return to Safed.
See also
External links
- Works of Rabbi Chaim Vital
- Introduction by Chaim Vital (Hebrew)
- Sefer Gilgulim
- Great Leaders of our People - Rabbi Chaim Vital
- Encyclopædia Britannica articles