Yehuda Ashlag

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Yehuda Ashlag bigraphy, stories - Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and Kabbalist

Yehuda Ashlag : biography

1885 – 1954

Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag (1885—1954) or Yehuda Leib Ha-Levi Ashlag () also known as the Baal Ha-Sulam ( "Author of the Ladder") in reference to his magnum opus, was an orthodox rabbi and kabbalist born in Łódź, Congress Poland, Russian Empire, to a family of scholars connected to the Hasidic courts of Porisov and Belz. Rabbi Ashlag lived in the Holy Land from 1922 until his death in 1954 (except for two years in England). In addition to his Sulam commentary on the Zohar, his other primary work, Talmud Eser Sefirot is regarded as the central textbook for students of Kabbalah. Ashlag systematically interpreted the wisdom and promoted its wide dissemination. In line with his directives, many contemporary adherents of Ashlag’s teachings strive to spread Kabbalah to the masses.

Ashlag’s sons

  • Baruch Ashlag (1906–1991)
  • Shlomo Benyamin Ashlag
  • Yaʿaqov (Jacob) Ashlag

Books

Ashlag wrote and published two major works. The first, Talmud Eser Sefirot is a complete re-editing and commentary to the works of 16th century Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria. This is a comprehensive exposition of the system of the upper worlds, Partzufim and Sefirot, in the scientific language of Kabbalah which was developed by Luria.

As a core Kabbalistic text, it is especially unique in its utmost precision to detail to the structural organization and processes occurring in the upper worlds. It is set out as a comprehensive textbook, complete with commentaries, a section in each chapter dedicated to further reflection upon the commentaries, definitions of terms, tables of questions and answers, an introduction clarifying how to study Kabbalah in the correct manner, and also a summarized preface of the entire text.

His other masterwork was his Sulam commentary on The Zohar, which earned him the name “Baal HaSulam”. This monumental work took him ten years to complete, written between the years 1943 and 1953. It includes a translation of The Zohar from Aramaic to Hebrew as well as an extensive interpretation.

Rabbi Yehudah Tzvi Brandwein was a foremost disciple of Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi Ashlag (Baal HaSulam). His vast knowledge of the Lurianic system of Kabbalah enabled him to codify and edit the entire writings of the Ari HaKadosh, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria. He continued with a similar style of translation and commentary of Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag known as Maalot HaSulam (Extension of the Ladder) on those works of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, which Rabbi Ashlag didn’t complete during his lifetime, namely Hashmatot HaZohar (Various other Writings) and Tikkunei HaZohar.

Another publication is the notebook of Yehuda Ashlag’s son and disciple, Baruch Ashlag. His notebook, entitled Shamati (I Heard]), contains over two hundred articles which were copied down from lessons and talks of Yehuda Ashlag. Baruch Ashlag kept this notebook with him in secret, until he was on his deathbed, in 1991. It was later published in Hebrew, and has been translated into many different languages. The articles in Shamati form a unique kabbalistic work in their emotional depth of capturing the inner processes that a Kabbalist goes through on the path of spiritual attainment.

Works of Interest

  • Matan Torah (Gift of the Bible)
  • Perush HaSulam (Commentary of the Ladder on the Zohar)
  • Talmud Eser haSefirot (Study of the Ten Luminous Emanations)
  • Panim Meirot u’Masbirot (Welcoming and Illuminating Revelations)
  • Ha’Akadama Le Talmud Eser haSefirot (Introduction to the Ten Luminous Emanations)
  • Ha’Akadama Le Sefer HaZohar (Introduction to the Zohar)
  • Mavo le Sefer HaZohar (Entrance to the Zohar)
  • Pticha le Hokhmat haKabbalah (Opening to the Wisdom of Kabbalah)
  • Sefer haIlan (Book of the Tree or Book of Illustrations)
  • Pticha le Perush haSulam (Opening to the Sulam Commentary)
  • Ha’Akadama Le Sefer Panim Meirot u’Masbirot (Introduction to Panim Meirot u’Masbirot[Welcoming and Illuminating Revelations])
  • Pticha Kolelet leSefer Panim Meirot u’Masbirot (Opening to Panim Meirot u’Masbirot [Welcoming and Illuminating Revelations])