List of J ewish Kabbalists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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List of J ewish Kabbalists
Part of a series on
Kabbalah
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
This page lists figures in Kabbalah according to historical
chronology and schools of thought. In popular reference,
Kabbalah has been used to refer to the whole history of J ewish
mysticism, but more accurately, and as used in academic
J ewish studies, Kabbalah refers to the doctrines, practices and
esoteric exegetical method in Torah, that emerged in 12th-13th
century Southern France and Spain, and was developed further
in 16th century Ottoman Palestine. These formed the basis of
subsequent J ewish mystical development.
This is a partial list of J ewish Kabbalists; secondary literature
incorporating Kabbalah is enormous, particularly in the
voluminous library of Hasidic J udaism that turned esoteric
Kabbalah into a popular revivalist movement. Hasidism both
adapted Kabbalah to its own internalised psychological
concern, and also continued the development of the J ewish
mystical tradition. Therefore, only formative articulators of
Hasidic thought, or particularly Kabbalistic schools/authors in
Hasidism are included here. In the Sabbatean mystical heresy
that broke away from J udaism, only the founders are listed.
Solely academic-university J ewish studies researchers of
J ewish mysticism, not being "Kabbalists", nor necessarily
J ewish, are not listed here; nor are separate non-J ewish
derivative/syncretic traditions of Kabbalah.
Rabbinic figures in J udaism are often known after the name of
their magnum opus, or as Hebrew acronyms based on their
name, preceded by R for Rabbi/Rav.
Contents [hide]
1 Early J ewish mysticism
2 Medieval emergence and development of Kabbalah (12th-15th
centuries)
3 Fusional influences (15th-17th centuries)
4 16th century Kabbalistic renaissance
5 16th-19th centuries Kabbalistic commentary
6 Hasidic popularisation of Kabbalah (18th century-present)
7 20th century Kabbalah
8 Modern teachers of J ewish mysticism
9 See also
10 External links
Concepts
[show]
History
[show]
Practices
[show]
People
[show]
Role
[show]
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_Kabbalists
List of J ewish Kabbalists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_J ewish_Kabbalists[09/30/2013 2:43:25 AM]
J ewish Quarter "El
Call" in Girona,
Catalonia North-East
Spain, an early centre
of Kabbalah
Genesis in the
Schocken Bible,
1300. Kabbalists
in Castile
described Evil
gnostically,
personified in
Lilith-Samael
Early J ewish mysticism [edit]
Talmudic tannaic sages: Maaseh Merkabah (mystical Chariot)-Maaseh Bereishit (mystical Creation)
(1st-2nd centuries). Yordei Merkabah (Chariot Riders)-Heikhalot (Palaces) mysticism (1st-11th
centuries). Early-Formative texts are variously Traditional/Attributed/Anonymous/Pseudepigraphical:
Nehunya ben HaKanah Traditional attribution of the Bahir. 1st century
Four Who Entered the Pardes (including Rabbi Akiva c.40137 CE)
Simeon bar Yochai (RaSHBI) Protagonist of the Zohar 1st-2nd centuries
Hasidei Ashkenaz (1150-1250 German Pietists). Mystical conceptions influenced Medieval Kabbalah:
Samuel of Speyer (Shmuel HaHasid) 1100s
J udah ben Samuel of Regensburg (Yehudah HaHasid) 1140-1217
Eleazar of Worms (Eleazar Rokeach) c.11761238
Medieval emergence and development of Kabbalah (12th-15th
centuries) [edit]
Provence circle (Southern France - Provence and Languedoc 12th-13th
centuries):
Abraham ben Isaac of Narbonne (RAVaD II) c.11101179
Abraham ben David of Posquires (RABaD/RAVaD III) 1125-1198
Isaac the Blind (Yitzhak Sagi Nehor) Neoplatonic approach c.1160-1235
Catalonia/Girona circle (North-East Spain 13th century):
Ezra ben Solomon
Azriel of Gerona Synthesised Gnostic and Neoplatonic elements c.1160
1238
Nachmanides (Moses ben Nahman, RaMBaN) Introduced Kabbalah in
classic Bible commentary 11941270
J acob ben Sheshet
Meshullam ben Solomon Da Piera
Castile circle (Northern Spain 13th century). Developed Demonic/Gnostic theory:
J acob HaKohen
Isaac HaKohen Author of Treatise on the Left Emanation
Todros ben J oseph Abulafia c.1225-1285
Moses of Burgos
Ecstatic/Prophetic-Meditative Kabbalah (13th century):
Abraham Abulafia Spain, Italy, Malta. 1240-after 1291
Publication of the Zohar (1280s-90s Northern Spain):
Moses de Len c.12501305
13th century Kabbalistic commentary:
Abraham ben Isaac of Granada Southern Spain 1200s
J oseph Gikatilla Prolific writings, including Shaarei Orah. Spain 1248after
1305
Menahem Recanati Only Italian of his time writing mainly Kabbalah 1250-
1310
14th-15th centuries saw a slowing continuation in Kabbalistic commentary:
Isaac of Acco Pupil of Nahmanides. Israel and Spain 1200s-1300s
List of J ewish Kabbalists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_J ewish_Kabbalists[09/30/2013 2:43:25 AM]
Moses de
Len, disseminator
of the Zohar, main
text of J ewish
mysticism
1618 edition
Torah. Kabbalistic
commentaries
include 1200s
Nachmanides,
1500s Alshich and
1700s ibn Attar
Safed, Galilee,
became the centre for
the early-modern
renaissance and
comprehensive
systemisations of
Kabbalah
1600s synagogue in
Zabudw, Poland. Baal
Shem-Nistarim activists
worked among the
common folk, from which
Hasidism developed
Bahya ben Asher (Rabbeinu Behaye) Kabbalistic classic commentary on the
Torah. Spain d.1340
Fusional influences (15th-17th centuries) [edit]
Influence of Medieval J ewish rationalism in Spain declined, culminating with the
expulsion. J ewish fusions of Philosophy and Kabbalah were shared by wider
non-J ewish Renaissance trends (not listed here):
Abraham Cohen de Herrera Fusion of Philosophy and Kabbalah. Spain and
elsewhere c.15701635
16th century Kabbalistic renaissance [edit]
Emigrees, some from Spain, some founding new centre of Safed in Ottoman
Palestine:
Meir ibn Gabbai Spain to the East. Early systemiser. Kabbalistic response to
Philosophy-Rationalism b.1480
J oseph Karo (Beit Yoseph) Central legalist and mystical diary. Spain to
Safed 14881575
Shlomo Alkabetz Greece to Safed c.15001580
Moshe Alshich (Alshich Hakadosh) Turkey to Safed. Kabbalistic classic
Bible commentary 15081593
Cordoverian school. Rationally-influenced systemisation of preceding
Kabbalah:
Moses ben J acob Cordovero (RaMaK) Taught in Safed. Author of Pardes
Rimonim 15221570
Lurianic school. New mythological systemisation of Kabbalah. Basis of modern
Kabbalah. Kitvei HaAri-Writings of the Ari written by disciples:
Isaac Luria (HaARI-zal) Taught in Safed. 15341572
Hayim Vital Italy, Safed, Syria. Foremost disciple of Luria. Author of Etz
Hayim 15431620
Israel Sarug Spread Lurianism in Europe 1500s1610
Safed dissemination:
Eliyahu de Vidas Ottoman Palestine. Author of Reshit Chochmah
Kabbalistic-Ethical work 15181592
16th-19th centuries Kabbalistic commentary [edit]
Central European Kabbalist Rabbis:
J udah Loew ben Bezalel (MaHaRal) Mystical J ewish thought in
philosophical style. Prague c.15201609
Isaiah Horowitz (SheLaH haKadosh, author of Shnei Luchot HaBrit)
Prague to Palestine c.15651630
J onathan Eybeschutz Central Europe. Protagonist in Emden-Eybeschutz
mysticism controversy 1690-1764
Nathan Adler Germany 17411800
Italian Kabbalists:
Moshe Haim Luzzatto (RaMHaL) Kabbalistic dissemination and cultural
works. Italy, Holland, Israel 1707-1746
List of J ewish Kabbalists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_J ewish_Kabbalists[09/30/2013 2:43:25 AM]
Great Synagogue of
Vilna model. Rabbinic
Mitnagdic J udaism
reserved esoteric
Kabbalah for traditional
Talmudic elite
Elijah
Benamozegh (1822-
1900), in Italy,
continued a
Universalist tradition
of reading Kabbalah
Hasidim in 1845 Iai
Romania. Hasidism
changed Kabbalah's
theosophical aim to
the psychology of
Divine Omnipresence
amidst materiality
Elijah Benamozegh Universalist interpretation of Kabbalah. Italian Rabbi
and scholar 1822-1900
Sephardi-Mizrachi (Oriental) Kabbalah:
Abraham Azulai Author of Chesed le-Abraham. Morocco to Israel
c.15701643
Haim ibn Attar (Ohr ha-Haim classic Torah commentary) Morocco to
Israel 1696-1743
Shalom Sharabi (RaShaSh) Yemen to Israel. Esoteric clarifier of Luria
and Bet El Synagogue head 17201777
Haim J oseph David Azulai (HIDA) Bibliophile and Israel Rabbinic
emissary 17241806
Ben Ish Hai (Yosef Hayyim) Sephardi Hakham in Iraq 18321909
Sabbatean mystical heresy (founders only):
Sabbatai Zevi Messianic claimant. Founder of Sabbatean break with
J udaism. Ottoman Empire 16261676
Nathan of Gaza Prophet of Sabbatai Zevi. Israel and Ottoman Empire
16431680
Eastern European Baal Shem/Nistarim and other mystical circles:
Elijah Baal Shem of Chelm First to be given Baal Shem title. Poland 1550-
1583
Elijah Baal Shem of Worms. Founder of Nistarim mystical activists.
Poland/Germany b.c.1532
J oel Baal Shem of Ropshitz
Adam Baal Shem. A teacher of the Besht
Abraham Gershon of Kitov Brody Rabbinic Lurianic circle before becoming Besht's brother-in-law.
Ukraine, Israel c.1701-1761
Baal Shem of London (Hayyim Samuel J acob Falk) Ukraine/Germany and England 17081782
Baal Shem of Michelstadt (Seckel Lob Wormser) Germany 1768-1847
Mitnagdic/Lithuanian Kabbalah:
Vilna Gaon (Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, GRA) Head of Non-Hasidic Eastern European J udaism.
Opposed Hasidism 17201797
Hayim Volozhin Founder of Lithuanian Yeshivah movement. Main theorist of Mitnagdism in his
Nefesh HaHayim 17491821
Yitzchak Eizik Chaver
Shlomo Elyashiv (Baal HaLeshem, after his major work) Lithuania 1841-1926
Hasidic popularisation of Kabbalah (18th century-present) [edit]
Kabbalistic notions pervade Hasidic thought, but it developed a new approach
to Kabbalah, replacing esoteric theosophical focus with successive
psychological internalisation. Therefore, only a minimal listing of Hasidic
figures is given here; founding formative figures or commentators on esoteric
Kabbalah texts/tradition.
Founding East-European Hasidic Masters:
Baal Shem Tov (BeSHT, Israel ben Eliezer) Founder of Hasidism. Ukraine
1698-1760
J acob J oseph of Polnoye First writer of Hasidic thought. Ukraine 1710
1784
List of J ewish Kabbalists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_J ewish_Kabbalists[09/30/2013 2:43:25 AM]
Sephardi
synagogue in the
birthplace of Luria. In
J erusalem Oriental and
European traditions of
esoteric Kabbalah meet
Dov Ber of Mezeritch (Maggid of Mezeritch) Systemiser of Hasidic
thought, architect school of movement. Ukraine c.1700/17101772
Elimelech of Lizhensk Founder of General-Hasidic "Practical/Popular Tzadikism" leadership. Poland
17171787
Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev Author of Kedushas Levi mainstram Hasidic Torah commentary.
Ukraine 17401809
Schneur Zalman of Liadi Intellectual-Hasidism Habad school. Author of Tanya theorisation of
Hasidism. Russia 17451812
Nachman of Bratzlav Kabbalistic-Imaginative Breslov school. Kabbalistic storytelling. Ukraine 1772
1810
Other Hasidic commentators on Kabbalah:
Yisroel Hopsztajn (Maggid of Kozhnitz) A father of Polish Hasidism. Commentaries on Zohar and
Tikunei Zohar 17371814
Dovber Schneuri Second Habad leader. Wrote commentary on Zohar and contemplation guides.
Russia 1773-1827
Zadok HaKohen of Lublin. Kabbalistic commentaries based on Izbica personal illumination. Poland
1823-1900
Yaakov Yehuda Aryeh Leib Frenkel (Gevuras Aryeh) Kabbalistic work on Ramban's Torah
commentary. Hungary 1850/1855-1940
Menachem Mendel Schneerson Lubavitcher Rebbe. Unity of esoteric Kabbalah with exoteric
J udaism through Hasidic Thought 19021994
20th century Kabbalah [edit]
From diverse traditions in Kabbalah (excluding Hasidic thought's
internalisation approach):
Abraham Isaac Kook Chief Rabbi of Mandate Palestine and poetic-
visionary mystical thinker 18651935
Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam, after main work) Translation of Zohar
with new approach in Luria. Poland and Israel 18851954
Baba Sali (Israel Abuhatzeira) Mizrachi sage. Morocco to Israel 1890
1984
Yitzhak Kaduri Mizrachi continuation from Rashash. Iraq to Israel d.2006
Modern teachers of J ewish mysticism [edit]
Individual teachers of J ewish mysticism spirituality in modern-style articulations. Solely academic
teachers in J ewish studies research are not listed here.
Orthodox Kabbalistic/Hasidic:
Aryeh Kaplan
Adin Steinsaltz
Dovid Gottlieb
Yitzchak Ginsburgh
Non-Orthodox/Neo-Hasidic/J ewish Renewal:
Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
Arthur Green
Lawrence Kushner
Universalist-style J ewish teachers:
Philip Berg
List of J ewish Kabbalists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_J ewish_Kabbalists[09/30/2013 2:43:25 AM]
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Categories: J ewish mysticism Kabbalah Kabbalists Lists of J ews J ewish history timelines