messianism | David Solomon

Kabbalah Since the AR”Y: the Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto

The teachings of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the AR”Y (also known as the Ari or Arizal), have been profoundly influential on Jewish mystical thought of the past five hundred years. In this episode of the podcast, the second lecture in a series exploring post-Lurianic Kabbalah, David discusses the historical background, lives, and ideas of two iconic Jewish intellectual and spiritual figures – the Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. In doing so, he examines their remarkable contributions to kabbalistic thought on G-d, the world, and Divine revelation.

Listeners who find this material new or challenging may wish to refer to the glossary of kabbalistic terms provided here.

Kabbalah Since the AR"Y: David Solomon podcast on sephirot — Kabbalistic Tree Kabbalistic Tree of Life (Sephiroth). Public Domain

Kabbalah Since the AR"Y: David Solomon podcast on emanation — Emanation of Sefirot according to Lurianic Kabbala. Public Domain.

Kabbalah Since the AR"Y: David Solomon podcast on the four worlds — Four Worlds. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Four_World.png0 International license.

Continue reading “#60 Kabbalah Since the AR”Y (2)”

Arising in the wake of a number of dramatic historical events of the 17th century, the Chassidic movement emerged in the first half of the 18th century under the charismatic leadership of Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov, with profound effect on European Jewry. In this podcast episode, David Solomon provides an introduction and overview of Chassidism, looking at its early leaders and their ideas. David also examines the impact of the movement, how it has evolved, and the form it has come to take in the current age.

Painting by Roger David Servais – Hasidic jewish fiddler, Homage to Daniel Ahaviel, 100 cm x 130 cm, oil on canvas, 2010, R. David S.pai. Creative Commons.

Continue reading “#29 Chassidism ‘in one hour’”