The Arizal’s early life
The Arizal was born in the old city of Jerusalem in the year 1534. His full name was Rabbi Yitzchak Luria.He is considered the father of the Lurianic Kabbalah.
The Arizal’s father died when he was very young. The Arizal’s mother didn’t know what to do, how was she going to support herself and her young son?
She went with her young son to her brother, a rich man living in Egypt. The Arizal’s uncle was generous with them and supported them well. In Egypt, the Arizal got the best education from the Rabbis living there.
Ascent to Greatness
Hashem opened up the Arizal’s heart to the Torah and he began to understand deeper and deeper secrets of the Torah. He received more and more understanding and deeper and deeper understanding of Kabbalah.
All the wisdom of the world was revealed to the Arizal. He understood all the aspects of the Torah. He knew the language of the trees and the language of the birds. Anything that was wisdom, the Arizal knew. He received this wisdom from Hashem, and it was a special gift.
At a certain point, the Arizal got a message from Heaven that he should travel to Tzfat to teach a certain soul that was there. It was revealed to him that his entire purpose of coming to this world was to teach Rabbi Chaim Vital.
The Arizal comes to Tzfat
At that time, Tzfat was already a center of Kabbalah learning. Under the venerated Ramak [Rabbi Moshe Cordovero], the growth of Kabbalah learning had flourished. Tzfat was already the capital of Kabbalah learning and was about to receive its crown jewel: The Arizal!
The Ramak was the leader of the Kabbalah school at that time. All the Rabbis of the time learned Kabbalah from him. Among his students were Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas, the author of the Reishit Chochma, and Rabbi Chaim Vital, who was to become the main student of the Arizal.
The Arizal arrived at Tzfat shortly before the Ramak passed away.
Before the Ramak passed away, his students asked him “What will we do? Who will teach us the great and deep waters of Kabbalah?”
The Ramak answered “Whoever sees the pillar of fire as they carry my coffin...
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