Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto - Ramchal

Ramchal – Rabbi Moshe Chaim bar Yaakov Chai Luzzatto – was born in 1707 in the city of Padua, into one of the oldest and wealthiest Jewish families in Italy. Yahrzeit - 26 Iyar Burial place - Tiberias, next to the grave of Rabbi Akiva He was a child prodigy who knew several languages: Hebrew, Italian, Aramaic, Latin, Greek and French. At an early age he began studying Kabbalah under the guidance of Rabbi Moshe Zacuto (the Ramaz), one of the outstanding kabbalists of his generation. By the age of 14, Ramchal was already deeply studying the Arizal. His contemporaries said that "he did not know what it meant to forget something." He also knew the entire Talmud and Midrashim by heart. He led an extremely ascetic and pious life. Together with like-minded friends, he studied Kabbalah and methods of self-improvement. This group had its own code of ethics. They applied rules of conduct in their relationships with one another—for example, treating each other with kindness and accepting each other's criticism without offense. They tried to banish all ego from their spiritual motivation. They also adopted a number of disciplines for themselves, among them the following: Twenty-four hours a day, in turns, a member of their group would read from one of the kabbalistic works, mostly from the "Zohar." This was the way they chose to maintain a constant connection with the Higher Worlds. This group existed for several years, until it gained opponents. The chief rabbis of Padua, Venice, and Frankfurt became involved in this conflict. The first cause of the conflict was that Ramchal claimed that one of his first books on Kabbalah was not written by him personally, but under the guidance of a spiritual mentor, a Magid – a messenger from the Higher Worlds. "While alone in my room, I heard a voice saying: 'to reveal the hidden secrets of the Holy King' – I rose a little, trembling, and then I was able to strengthen myself... On the second day I tried to be alone in my room at the same hour, and indeed, the voice returned and told another secret. After that it became known to me that this was a Magid, sent from heaven to acquaint me with yichudim." (from Igrot Ramchal, 1727) The second cause of concern for the rabbis was messianic sentiment following the affair of Shabtai Tzvi. The third point of contention was Rabbi Luzzatto's idea that Kabbalah should be taught to everyone in the Jewish community, rather than being the property of select circles. He had a vision of Kabbalah accessible to all. His detractors, led by Rabbi Moshe Chagiz, forced him to emigrate. Ramchal accepted the situation with humility. He moved to Amsterdam, and there he wrote his most important work, "Mesilat Yesharim" (The Path of the Just) – with a profound analysis of human weaknesses – which is now studied in every yeshiva. Ramchal is the author of more than 40 other books. In 1743, Ramchal moved to Eretz Yisrael, arriving in the same month that the holy Or HaChaim – Rabbi Chaim ben Attar passed away. In 1747, he and his family fell victim to an epidemic in Acre. The Vilna Gaon said that Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto was one of the few who truly understood the teachings of the Arizal. He also stated that if Ramchal had been alive in his generation, he would have walked from Vilna to Italy to sit at his feet and learn from him. The foundation of all creation is to rectify one's character traits and turn evil into good – which is exactly what Ramchal teaches in his works. The most widely read of all the books of Mussar is "Mesilat Yesharim." Among his works: "Klach Pitchei Chochma" – "138 Gates of Wisdom" — a systematic presentation of Lurianic Kabbalah. The introduction to this work, "Derech Etz HaChaim" — "The Way of the Tree of Life," was published as a separate book and enjoyed enormous popularity, explaining the religious value of studying Kabbalah. There is also "Chokher u-Mekubal" (The Investigator and the Mystic), written during the first period of his life in Italy, in the form of a dialogue between a philosopher and a kabbalist. Also "Zohar Tinyana" (The Second Zohar), written in Aramaic. Most of this work has been lost, and only certain portions were later published under the titles "Megilat Setarim" ("Scroll of Secrets"), "Razin Genizin" ("Hidden Secrets"), and "Tikkunim Chadashim" ("New Rectifications"). All these works were devoted mainly to the overarching idea of redemption, and were written by dictation from an angel – the Magid – and are similar in style to the "Zohar" itself. Rabbi Akiva and Ramchal The Mekubalim teach that Ramchal was a gilgul of Rabbi Akiva. For 40 years, Rabbi Akiva was unlearned. Who rectified and completed Rabbi Akiva? Ramchal – the years of his life were 40 years. Ramchal is buried in Tiberias next to Rabbi Akiva. The last book he wrote concerns the secret of "Kriat Shema" (as is known, "Shema" were Rabbi Akiva's last words). In this book, Ramchal writes that meditating on one's readiness to die for Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of the Name), if done with proper kavanah (intention), is counted as if the person had actually done so.   Ramchal and Moshe Rabbeinu The Sages say that Ramchal also carried a spark, "nitzotz nishmato," of Moshe Rabbeinu, and that his wife was also named Tzipora, which is not merely a coincidence. Whoever knows and studies his book "Mesilat Yesharim" possesses the power of mechayei hametim – so say the Mekubalim.   The Segula of Ramchal for All Salvations When Ramchal immersed in the mikveh, he had kavanot on the following verse from Bereishit 49:18: לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִּיתִי יְהוָה – "Lishuatcha kivisi Ado-nai" For Your salvation I hope, O L-rd! לִישׁוּעָתְךָ יְהוָה קִוִּיתִי – "Lishuatcha Ado-nai kivisi" For Your salvation, O L-rd, I hope! קִוִּיתִי יְהוָה לִישׁוּעָתְךָ – "Kivisi Ado-nai lishuatcha" I hope, O L-rd, for Your salvation! קִוִּיתִי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ יְהוָה – "Kivisi lishuatcha Ado-nai" I hope for Your salvation, O L-rd! יְהוָה לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִּיתִי – "Ado-nai lishuatcha kivisi" O L-rd, for Your salvation I hope! יְהוָה קִוִּיתִי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ – "Ado-nai kivisi lishuatcha" O L-rd, I hope for Your salvation!" (Rabbanit Yamima Mizrachi)   May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael! (based on articles in Yeranen Yaakov, Dreaming of Moshiach)   Ramchal's Prayer During Times of War https://silatehilim.com/8688-2/   2 Psalms of Ramchal That Have Survived to Our Day https://silatehilim.com/псалмы-рамхаля/   Ramchal's Prayer for the Redemption and Blessings in the Days of Moshiach https://silatehilim.com/молитва-рамхаля-о-машиахе-и-брахот-в-