I thought I\u2019d fill in some blanks before going on with Ramchal\u2019s concentration on sequence.<\/p>\n
For one thing, here\u2019s the chronology of the Kabbalists we cited: Ramban (13th<\/sup> Century), Ra\u2019avad (12th<\/sup> Century), R\u2019 Yitzchak Sagi Nahor (13th<\/sup> Century), R\u2019 Azriel (13th<\/sup> Century), R\u2019 Meir Ibn Gabbai (16th<\/sup> Century), R\u2019 Yoseph Gikitilia (13th<\/sup> Century), R\u2019 Racanti (13th<\/sup> Century), and the author of Ma\u2019arechet Elohut<\/em> (16th<\/sup> Century).<\/p>\n And I\u2019d like to add this about Ari\u2019s concentration on Partzufim<\/em>. While no one added on to the Sephira<\/em> and Partzuf <\/em>system per se, some went in other directions with it. The subject calls for a long discussion but let this suffice. Ramchal concentrated on explaining Ari\u2019s references as we\u2019d mentioned, and others followed in his wake (especially R\u2019 Y.I. Chaver in Pitchei Sha’arim<\/em>); disciples of the Ba\u2019al Shem Tov<\/em> addressed certain psychological analogies to the Partzufim<\/em> (as well as the Sephirot<\/em>); R\u2019 Yehudah Ashlag (20th Century) addressed certain ethical, psychological and sociological issues suggested by Ari\u2019s revelations; and R\u2019 Shalom Sharabi (18th<\/sup> Century) and his disciples could be said to have added \u201cwidth\u201d and \u201cheft\u201d to the Sephirot<\/em> and Partzufim<\/em> by speaking of their assuming \u201cdimensions\u201d other than linear ones.<\/p>\n (c) 2011 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I thought I\u2019d fill in some blanks before going on with Ramchal\u2019s concentration on sequence. For one thing, here\u2019s the chronology of the Kabbalists we cited: Ramban (13th Century), Ra\u2019avad (12th Century), R\u2019 Yitzchak Sagi Nahor (13th Century), R\u2019 Azriel … Continue reading