The Mystical Life of the Holy Ari: 10 Facts About a Kabbalistic Visionary

Tonight and tomorrow (Friday, the 5th of Av) mark the 452nd anniversary of the passing of the Holy Ari, Rabbi Isaac ben Solomon Luria (1534 - 1572), the foremost Kabbalist of 16th-century Safed. Here are 10 intriguing facts about his extraordinary life.

1. Orphaned at a Young Age

He stood out in his youth for his sharp mind, extensive knowledge, and deep learning in Torah. After his father's passing during his childhood, his mother took him to her brother, Rabbi Mordechai Frances, a wealthy and respected member of the Jewish community in Cairo, Egypt. There, Rabbi Isaac studied with Rabbi David ben Zimra, Egypt's chief rabbi.

2. Moved to Israel and Settled in Safed

At age 36, Elijah appeared to him, telling him he would leave the world in two years and the time had come to move to Israel to gain greater sanctity and divine wisdom. There he would find Rabbi Chaim Vital, to whom he would impart all the secrets of the Torah he learned. The Ari returned to Israel, settled in Safed, and opened an academy dedicated to Kabbalah. His profound knowledge of Kabbalistic secrets spread throughout the city, drawing many students from Rabbi Moshe Cordovero's yeshiva, with Rabbi Chaim Vital becoming his foremost disciple.

Rabbi Emmanuel Mizrachi delivers a captivating lecture on the wondrous life of the Holy Ari, who continued the Kabbalistic teachings since Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's time, highlighting his virtues and greatness:

3. Rabbi Chaim Vital Documented His Teachings

His greatest student, Rabbi Chaim Vital, transcribed his master's teachings into a series of books called "Pri Etz Chaim". Among his students, called the 'Young Lions of the Ari', were Rabbi Moshe Alshich, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, Rabbi Yosef Chagiz, and Rabbi Yosef Karo.

4. "Could See Souls as They Left the Body and Understood the Wisdom of Faces and Soul Rectification"

In the introduction to "Pri Etz Chaim," Rabbi Chaim Vital describes his holy teacher: "None could grasp this wisdom in its truth like him, for he knew the Mishnah, Talmud, legends, and midrashim, seeing different dimensions within them in paradise, creation stories, and celestial chariot tales. He understood the language of birds, palm trees, plants, and herbs. He saw souls upon exiting the body, at cemeteries, and every Friday evening as they ascended to paradise.He communicated with souls of the righteous from the next world, who revealed Torah secrets to him. He knew the wisdom of faces and handlines, and the true interpretation of dreams and reincarnations old and new. He recognized from a man's forehead what he thought, dreamed, and which verse he read as his soul ascended to paradise at night, teaching the interpretation of his soul's root. He discerned from the forehead one's merits and transgressions thought. He prescribed each an appropriate rectification for their choices or the root of their soul linked to the root of Adam the first ... he was full of piety, propriety, humility, God's awe, sin fear, and all good attributes and deeds ... his great piety and renunciation led him to engage in old and new books of this wisdom for many days, adding piety, purity, and holiness, and thus reaching divine inspiration ... Elijah appeared to him often."

5. Remarkable Innovations Based on Kabbalah

The Ari did not compose an entire book outlining his new Kabbalistic method. All the secrets and mysteries revealed to him were orally imparted to his students. Most of the Ari's innovations relate to meditation and intentions in performing mitzvot and prayers, utilizing gematria and permutations of holy names.

A Proven Method for Success from the Holy Ari:

6. Composed Many Songs

The Ari also composed piyyutim and zemirot. Among them are: "Azamer Bishvachin," "Asader Lesudata," and "Bnei Heichala". The poem "Yom Zeh L'Yisrael Ora V'Simcha," with an acrostic forming "Isaac Luria Chazak," is considered by some to have been authored by the Ari, while others attribute it to Rabbi Shimon Bernstein.

7. Bestowed the Title "Holy"

The Ari is one of four rabbis granted the title "Holy": The Holy Alshich, the Holy "Or HaChaim", and the Holy Shela.

8. The "Ari's Siddur"

The Ari did not compile a siddur, but introduced intentions and unique meditations for prayer. His students and their disciples created siddurim incorporating these intentions with customized prayer versions.

9. The Ari's Mikveh

According to tradition, the Ari immersed daily in the "Ari's Mikveh" near the old cemetery in Safed. It is said the Ari instructed his body be washed in this mikveh before his passing. During burial preparations, he miraculously rose to immerse himself in the mikveh.

10. Passed Away at Just 38

The Ari departed this world on the 5th of Av at the young age of 38. He is buried at the ancient cemetery in Safed, near the graves of his mentor the Ramak, the Mabit, the Radbaz, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, Rabbi Elazar Azkari, and his son Rabbi Moshe.