Kabbalah Studies

The study of Kabbalah – Jewish mysticism – is an inseparable part of the four levels of Torah wisdom: peshat, darush, remez, and sod. Those who make this study their central occupation separate themselves from all the mundane and frivolous activities of the world around them and focus on perfecting their character traits and developing an ever deeper sense of the fear of Hashem.

The Kabbalah is founded on the esoteric teachings that were revealed to the world by Ribbi Shimon bar Yohai and his disciples, whose merit continues to protect us from evil. For many generations this wisdom was maintained as an oral tradition, passed on from teacher to student when the latter was deemed worthy. Only a handful of the most pious scholars in each generation were introduced to this wisdom. With the revelation of the basic Kabbalic text, the Zohar, in thirteenth century Spain, the knowledge of Kabbalah began to spread.

When Harav Yosef Karo immigrated to Tzefat, the city was at the height of its spiritual greatness. It was graced by the presence of the illustrious fathers of Kabbalah: Harav Moshe Cordevero, Harav Yitzhak Luria (the Arizal), and his leading disciple Harav Hayim Vital. These great men laid the founding principles of this study, based on their mastery of the Zohar and other works authored by the Tanna’im. Their published works have illuminated our eyes through the generations. Today, our scholars study Kabbalah based on the Arizal’s teachings as recorded in the published works of Harav Hayim Vital: the Etz Hayim and the eight “Gates.” The Arizal himself was taught the system by none other than Eliyahu the prophet. Although these are published volumes, Kabbalah still cannot be studied independently. To be successful, one must be taught by someone who has been taught by yet another person.

Our Rosh Yeshivah, Harav Ezriel Mansour, shalit”a, is one of those who has mastered the traditional study of Kabbalah, having studied it under the leading kabbalists of the previous generation. He has devoted himself to these studies for forty-five years, having been directed to them by his mentors, Harav Yehudah Tzadka, zs”l, and Harav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul, zs”l. Rav Mansour principle teacher was the famed kabbalist Harav Avraham Barazani, zs”l, who in turn was the favorite disciple of Harav Yehudah Fetaya, zs”l, who gained fame for his work benefitting the entire Jewish nation.

Rav Fetaya’s magnum opus is the Bet Lehem Yehudah, a commentary on the entire Etz Hayim. His unique approach to the study of Kabbalah was passed on to only a handful of his students, but most of them did not succeed in passing it onward. Among Rav Fetaya’s primary disciples was Harav Avraham Barazani, who eventually married Rav Fetaya’s niece. Rav Barazani not only excelled in the study of Kabbalah; he also became proficient in practical Kabbalah, which Rav Fetaya taught him privately, without anyone’s knowledge, and authorized him to practice what he had learned.

Before Rav Barazani immigrated to Eretz Yisrael, he studied Kabbalah with two disciples of Harav Yosef Hayim (author of Ben Ish Hai) – Harav Ben Tzion Hazan, zs”l, and Harav Efrayim Hakohen, zs”l. Despite all of Rav Barazani’s greatness in this wisdom, Rav Mansour did not limit himself to studying under him alone. He also spent a lengthy period studying every day under the master kabbalist Harav Mordechai Sharabi, zs”l, and two years studying with Harav Tzion Beracha, zs”l, who was one of Rav Sharabi’s foremost disciples. Rav Mansour supplemented his wisdom by learning with several “hidden tzaddikim” of the previous generation.

But foremost in Rav Mansour’s qualifications is the fact that he sat at the feet of Harav Yaakov Mussafi, zs”l, head of Yerushalayim’s Sephardic Bet Din, for more than a decade, learning how to use his wisdom, how to behave and how to deal with issues and problems. Rav Mussafi is known to have held Rav Mansour in great esteem.

The one who truly recognized Rav Mansour’s potential and who urged and encouraged him to establish the Shuvi Nafshi Institutions was Harav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul, zs”l. For many years, Rav Abba Shaul studied Kabbalah together with Rav Mansour, often for hours at a stretch. Thanks to Rav Abba Shaul, Rav Mansour has since then trained many students, both in Kabbalah and in other areas of Torah wisdom.

As mentioned above, some of the Kabbalah students of Shuvi Nafshi begin their day of studies well before dawn. Later in the day, they are joined by several other dozen scholars in eager pursuit of mastering the deep works of Harav Hayim Vital, especially his Etz Hayim.

Besides their many hours of study, Shuvi Nafshi’s kabbalists sponsor many powerful prayer sessions following the formulas laid down by the great kabbalist Harav Shalom Sharabi (the Rashash), zs”l, who was the head of the famed Bet El yeshivah of Kabbalah studies in Yerushalayim. During the winter weeks of Shoshavim, the kabbalists sponsor special learning sessions, and lead the public in fasting and prayers each Thursday of this special period, for the purpose of rectifying sins. The ultimate purpose of these prayers and studies is to raise the holy Shekhina’s status and to facilitate the arrival of the Mashi’ah.