In 1570, a young rabbinic mystic called Rabbi Isaac Luria arrived in Safed, northern Israel. In the brief two years that remained of his life, his impact on a select group of disciples, and through them on Judaism, reverberates to this day. Later referred to as Ari Hakadosh (“Holy Lion”), or Arizal, his comprehensive fusion of kabbalistic theology and practical Judaism was unique, and was eagerly and universally adopted.
Rabbi Dunner unlocks the background to this heady period of mystical reawakening. Why was Safed the headquarters of this revival? Who were the rabbis and key figures in this movement? Who was the Arizal, and why did he emerge as the one most associated with this movement and its legacy? What exactly is “Kabbalah”, and how does it fit in with mainstream Jewish belief?
(Filmed at Beverly Hills Synagogue on February 12th, 2018)