The Inquisition through the 19th Century
Mystics from 5340-5660 (1480-1900)
Rabbi Meir ibn Gabbai, c. 5340-? (1480- ?) CE.
Fled from the Spanish Inquisition.
Rabbi Yehuda Chayat , suffered terrible
persecution at the hands of the Spanish Inquisition until he managed to flee to
Venice and then Mantua. He is famous for his commentary -- called Minchat
Yehudah -- on Maarechet HaElokut.
Rabbi Yosef Caro (or Karo), 4258-5335
(1488-1575 CE) Rabbi Yosef was born in Spain and fled the Inquisition with his
family at the age of four. Settled in Safed, Israel. Author of Shulchan Aruch
(Code of the Jewish Law) and a mystical work entitled Maggid Mesharim.
Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, c. 5260-5340 (c. 1500-1580
CE). Author of the mystical hymn Lecha Dodi.
Rabbi Moshe Alshich, (1508-1593). Author of a "Torat
Moshe," a mystical commentary on the Torah.
Rabbi Moshe Cordovero RaMaK, 5282-5330
(1522-1570 CE). Kabbalist in Safed. Author of several important Kabbalistic
works, including Pardess Rimonim (completed at the age of 27), Sefer
Eilimah Rabbati, Or Ne'erav, Or Yakar (a commentary on
Zohar). Student of Rabbi Yosef Karo and Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz.
Avraham Galante, (2nd half of 16th
Century CE). Close disciple of RaMaK. Wrote Yare'ach Yakar, a commentary
on Zohar and Chesed l'Avraham.
Avraham Beruchim 5275-5353 (c. 1515-1593 CE). Born
in Morocco and probably emigrated to Israel before 1565. Disciple of RaMaK and
subsequently of Ari zal. Author of Tikunei Shabbat. Was said by
the Ari zal to be a reincarnation of Jeremiah the Prophet
Rabbi Eliyahu daVidas d. c. 5353 (c. 1593 CE).
Disciple of RaMaK; possibly studied under the Ari zal as well, whom he
certainly knew. Wrote Reishit Chochmah a kabbalistic ethical treatise.
Maharal of Prague. Rabbi Yehudah ben Betzalel Loew
c. 5285-5369 (c. 1525-1609 CE). His mystical writings include Be'er Hagolah;
Netivot Olam; Tiferet Yisrael. He is also famous for having produced a
golem (humanoid).
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (Ari zal) 5294-5332
(1534-1572 CE). Born in Jerusalem, d. in Safed. Founder of a new school in
Kabbala -- so-called "Lurianic Kabbala." Studied with Rabbi Moshe Cordovero.
Eliezer Azikri 5313-5360 (1533-1600 CE). Author of
Sefer Chareidim.
Rabbi Chaim Vital c. 5303-5380 (c. 1543-1620 CE).
Major disciple of R. Isaac (Yitzchak) Luria, and responsible for publication of
most of his works.
Rabbi Yisrael Sarug. A disciple of the Ari zal in
Egypt and Israel. Wrote Limmudei HaAtzilut and other kabbalistic works.
Rabbi Binyamin haLevi disciple of Arizal.
Sent as an emissary of the Ari zal to Italy to spread his kabbalistic teachings.
Was the teacher of Rabbi Moshe Zacuto in Italy.
Shmuel Vital son of R. Chaim Vital. Lived in the
17th C. CE. He was born in Damascus and studied Kabbala under his father. When
Rabbi Chaim Vital passed away, he inherited many of his father's manuscripts in
the kabbalistic teachings of the Ari zal. He arranged these in eight categories,
known as the Shemoneh Shaarim. He also wrote several kabbalistic works of his
own. Rabbi Shmuel had many important students, among them Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach;
Rabbi Meir Poppers. Towards the end of his life he moved to Egypt. He died in
Cairo. For more detail see Encyclopedia l'Gedolei Yisrael (Margolius) (Hebrew). To return to the previous article in this series on the History of Kabbala, go to
Mystics from the Talmud to 1500 CE
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