Questions tagged [arizal]

R. Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi, a sixteenth century kabbalist considered by many to be one of the foremost exponents of kabbalah.

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Connection Between Purim and Yom Kippur

I heard recently that the Arizal writes that Purim is a higher level holiday than Yom Kippur. In fact, Yom Kippur is Yom KiPurim, a day like Purim. What is the connection between the two? They seem ...
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Does 'not in heaven' apply to kabbalah?

There is a famous dictum: 'lo ba'shomayim he', meaning that after the torah was given at Sinai its rules, mandates and precepts are determined by man and not dictated by heaven. An example is when ...
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Why is Rabbi Yitzchak Luria referred to as Godly?

In shul a friend explained to me the moniker Ari actualy stands for Eloki Rav Yitzchak, meaning the Godly Rabbi Yitzchak (Luria). The appellation Godly struck me as odd. How is such a thing ...
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What is the origin and/or earliest use of the Ushpizin prayer (invitation of the 'exalted guests') during Sukkot?

While reading about Sukkot1 I came across a mention of a prayer recited during Sukkot, during which a celebrant invites the seven 'exalted guests' (well-known heroes and leaders of the Hebrew people/...
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Ari Zal and Sefira

Many people do not take a hair cut until the end of Sefira (including Lag B'Omer) because of a position of the Ari Zal. Where is the Ari Zal? What is the source for this? Did the strigency of the Ari ...
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Advantages of converts (in spiritual terms)

I've heard before that the Ari Zal says the neshemas ("souls") of gerim (converts) comes from the highest places. Is there any source for this? Where is this brought down? As well what other "...
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Does the Arizal really say Yeshu was the reincarnation of Eisav?

This web article, on page 4, states that the Arizal taught in Sefer HaGilgulim, chapter 67, that Yeshu (Jesus) was the reincarnation of Eisav. I tried looking for the Sefer HaGilgulim online, but I ...
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Learning Kabbalah from other students of the Arizal?

It says in Sforim that one shouldn't learn Kabbalah from any of the students of the Arizal except for R' Chaim Vital (as they didn't understand the Arizal properly). I have never seen such a worry ...
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The set up of the seder plate acc to the Arizal

Many of the seder plates I have seen which are called Arizal karahs(seder plate) look like this Courtesy of Star K : However from the reading of the Beir Heitiv 473:8 (who brings the shittah of the ...
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What was Hevel (Abel's) sin?

The Arizal says that Hevel was reincarnated many times to purify his sin. What was his sin?
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Why refer to Isaac Luria as the Arizal, and not Arizatzal?

One of the common ways to refer to the R' Isaac Luria is "the Arizal". I understand this to mean, The Ari, zecher L'bracha (may he be mentioned/remembered for blessing). However, one usually refers ...
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What did the Arizal's contemporaries write about him?

Over here, ray posits that the validity of certain schools of Jewish philosophy rests on the Arizal's word. The Arizal was most famous for his teachings in Safed (though he only lived there for two ...
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What is חטי קרדינותא?

** חטי קרדינותא ** This expression appears in R' Chayim Vital's Etz Chayim 1:2, מ"ב ענין הצמצום הזה הוא לגלות שורש הדינין כדי לתת מדת הדין אח"כ בעולמות וכח ההוא נקרא בוצינא דקרדינותא כמו ...
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How are we to understand Lurianic Kabbalah?

We believe that the Torah is eternal and never-changing. And yet, the Arizal brought quite a number of innovations to our religion. Although none really change halacha, they certainly do build upon it,...
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Why was it the Arizal's custom that Yigdal not be said?

The Arizal held a view that Yigdal should not be recited. As the ArtScroll Siddur (Nusach Sefard) puts it, יִגְּדַל אֲלֹהִים חַי - Exalted be the Living G-d. This song of uncertain authorship ...
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Source for Arizal’s teaching

I’m reading a book by Rabbi Shlomo Arush and he says the following: "According to our master, the Arizal, whoever wants to receive the light of Ein Sof in its entirety has to change its own nature ...
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What is the Shulchan Aruch Ha'Arizal?

What is the Shulchan Aruch Ha'Arizal? I expect it to be a compilation of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria's teachings on halacha arranged according to the order of Rabbi Yosef Karo's Shulchan Aruch, or perhaps a ...
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Taking a shower after mikveh for men - where is the Ari source that one shouldn't?

A previous question discusses whether men should avoid showering after using the Mikveh. I have heard specifically that the Ari Z"l frowned upon this. Can anyone please quote the source, if one does ...
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Why is "Hashem... l'olam va'ed" repeated after Tehillim 30?

In Nusach Sfard, why is the phrase "Hashem Melech; Hashem Malach; Hashem yimloch l'olam va'ed" repeated in the paragraph after Tehillim 30?* I've heard it has everything to do with the writings of the ...
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Is there a "peshat"-style commentary on Chaim Vital's Etz Chayim?

Does there exist a commentary that explains the basic (if it weren't kabbalah i would say "peshat") of Chaim Vital's Etz Chayim (as opposed to a commentary "al derech ha-derush" which expands or ...
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The heel of Moshiach?

I have seen quotes from various rabbis, the oldest dating back to the Ari Z"L that state that we are in the ikve d'Moshiach (the heels of the Messiah). Ostensibly that was meant to convey that ...
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3 votes
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Magen Avraham's sources from the Arizal

When the Magen Avraham (commentary on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim) refers to כתבים, writings, as his source, I take it for granted that he is referring to the writings of the students of the Arizal. ...
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Ruach Hakodesh when Naming a Child for an Ancestor?

The Arizal says that parents having a certain level of ruach hakodesh when naming their child. Sha’ar HaGilgulim (23:8) - ונמצא כי כאשר נולד האדם וקוראים לו אביו ואמו שם אחד העולה בדעתם אינו באקראי ...
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Source for the Arizal identifying many unmarked graves of legendary Jewish figures?

I remember learning that many of the famous gravesites in Israel- the Rambam, Dan of the 12 tribes, Rav Shimon Bar Yochai, Ruth from Megillas Ruth (not necessarily these exact ones, just giving ...
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Where is G-d's name in Megillat Esther?

In Megillat Esther, G-d’s Name is never explicitly mentioned, but what about implicitly? I was told that the Arizal (and perhaps the Vilna Gaon?) found many pesukim in which G-d’s Name is concealed. ...
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Source for this Arizal?

I’ve heard that Rav Chaim Vital has said in the name of the Arizal that a good deed done in their generation is “worth 1,000 times more” than deeds of previous generations. Where can I find this?
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Is the author of the Shu"t HaRidvaz the same one as the one known to be the rebbe of the Ariza"l?

I've heard that the Ariza"l was a talmid of the Ridvaz. I am wondering if it is the same person who authored the Shu"t HaRidvaz as I find that interesting since he seems to be someone that devoted his ...
joel tight's user avatar
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Practical Kabbalah consequences

I remember hearing that there was a rabbi that used practical kabbalah with his disciples to fight SM' + LL', but I cannot remember his name. Arizal has prohibited it, right? I remember that he gave ...
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Pre-Arizal Sephardi Siddur?

Where can I find a Sephardi siddur with none of the Arizal's influences - essentially, a Pre-Ari Sephardi Siddur?
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Source for Arizal sweating while learning nigleh?

I recall learning that the Arizal would sweat profusely when learning nigleh and that this was related to removing the klipot. I cannot recall the source for this; does anyone know?
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2 votes
1 answer
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Reincarnation as animals

One of the doctrines of Lurianic Kabbalah is the notion of reincarnation. My question is if it is possible to reincarnate as an animal when you die as a human?
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Can anyone source this Arizal?

I have heard that Rav Chaim Vital brings down from the Arizal to say “v’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha” before davening. Where can this be found?
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Who says Moshe sinned for killing the Egyptian and why

The Be'er Yosef in Parshas Masei quotes the Arizal's Shaar HaMitzvos parshas Shoftim as follows: ‏ ...הרג את המצרי שהוא קין, היה שוגג, כי הוא חשב שהדין עמו על שהרג הבל, ולכן הרגו בשם המפורש כדי ...
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Where do human souls come from?

In the kabbalah of the Arizal, which world does the g-dly soul inherant in a human come from? Do they for example come from the world of Atzilut?
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Was there an opposition to Arizal?

There was a big conflict about the Hashkafa of Rambam. But it seems that there was nothing to contradict the Arizal, as if everybody agreed with the fact that he learned with Elyahu, and so him being ...
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Levels of Soul ( According to Arizal, Pnei Yehoshua )

The Gemara in Masechet Brachot(10a) lists 5 worlds in which King David offered praises to Hashem( innards of his mother, when he was born etc.). In the Artscroll Edition one can find among the Notes a ...
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Souls (Neshamos) of converts

When I was in Yeshiva many years ago I heard one of the rebbeim (teachers) of the yeshiva speaking to a young man that had converted to Judaism and that was very successful in learning about "his ...
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Kislev and the letter Samech

I have seen somewhere that Kislev and the letter Samech are connected to each other. The sefer I saw it in, quoted the Likkutei Shas of the Arizal. Does anyone know what it says? And is there any ...
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In what sense does the Arizal claim that Rabbi Akiva was the reincarnation of Cain?

I'am an Italian noahide I read that in the Shaar HaGilgulim it is written that Rabbi Akiva was the reincarnation of Cain. As ignorant of Kabbalah, I cannot understand how the evil figure of Cain can ...
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What was the name of the Arizal's mother? [closed]

Can someone please tell me the name of the Arizal's mother, preferably with a source.
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Crying on Rosh Hashanah

When the Jews gathered at the water gate in Jerusalem on Rosh Hashanah to hear Ezra and the Levites read them the Torah, they cried. Hearing the Torah read and explained made them realize how far they ...
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English translation of etz chayim (arizal)

Does anyone know of a good English translation of Etz Chayim by the Arizal?
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Aside from the Arizal has anybody else been able to identify an unknown grave through supernatural means?

It’s said that many of the Kevarim in Tzfas were unknown until the Ari used Ruach Hakodesh to identify them. Has anybody else before or since been able to do this or was he the first & only?
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Is there an inyan to shake the lulav in the sukka, even when it's raining?

According to the Arizal one should shake the lulav in the sukka al pi kabbala. Does this inyan apply even if it's raining in the sukka?
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Hayyim Vital on the tallit katan

Hayyim Vital tells us that his teacher was careful to wear his tallit katan (a four-cornered vest) over his shirt but under his other garments. In his words: הטלית קטן היה לובשו למטה משאר מלבושיו ע&...
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Source for purchasing an authentic set of the Arizal's writings?

Where can I purchase kisve Arizal from an authentic source?
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What were the negative names of holy people in Tanakh, and vice versa?

Quoting from Chabad's articles on Sha'ar Gilgulim: God created a corresponding reality with respect to this as well. Therefore just as there is for a person a pre-determined name from the side of ...
ShipBuilding's user avatar
1 vote
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Which sefiros does each seder matzah correspond to according to the Ari?

The Ari says regarding the Pesach seder, (I'm not sure of the exact source though), "Arrange the Plate on the table by taking three matzahs and placing them one on the other: First the Israelite [...
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Why was Rabbi Isaac Luria called "G-dly"? [closed]

R' Luria's acronym is the AR"I. The Hebrew of that roughly translates to Godly Rabbi Isaac. Why is he called Godly, and many other great rabbis are not? Related: Why refer to Isaac Luria as the ...
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Lifting up the holy sparks - The Ari on Mitzrayim

Lifting up the holy sparks is also known as nitzotzos dikedushah (see footnote 10, see also this answer). I recently saw this article quoting the Ari HaKodesh in saying that the work the Jewish People ...
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