Rabbi Yosef Irgas

Rabbi Yosef ben Emanuel Irgas (1685 - 1730), an Italian rabbi and kabbalist, one of the greatest opponents of Nehemiah Hayon. Yahrzeit - 3 Sivan Resting place - Livorno   He was born in Livorno in 1685 to Rabbi Emanuel, the local rabbi. He studied Torah in the yeshiva of Rabbi Shmuel di Fasa and became renowned for his brilliance at a young age. He later settled in the city of Pisa, where he founded a yeshiva called "Neve Shalom." He became famous for his important kabbalistic work "Shomer Emunim," in which he disputes with Rabbi Emanuel Chai Riki. Irgas's book is considered a foundational work of Kabbalah and the most prominent representative of the view of "HaTzimtzum HaBilti Zafui." To distinguish this book from the "Shomer Emunim" written by Rabbi Aharon Roth, the former is customarily referred to as the earlier (HaKadum) introduction to "Shomer Emunim." He also wrote a halachic responsa collection titled "Divrei Yosef." He wrote an introduction to Kabbalah in the form of a debate between "Shaltiel," who emphasizes the study of Nigleh (the revealed Torah), and "Yehoyada," who emphasizes the study of Kabbalah. He passed away in Livorno on the 3rd of Sivan, 1730, at the age of forty-five. His works Divrei Yosef (Livorno, 1902) - questions and responsa. Shomer Emunim (Amsterdam, 1906) - Introduction to Kabbalah. Minchat Yosef (Livorno, 1902) - Kabbalah. Introductory Discoveries (Berlin Trf"z) - Introduction and rules of the writings of the Arizal Tochachat Megula (London IAI) - against Nehemiah Hayon and the Shabbateans Hatzad Hanachash (The Serpent's Side) (London IAI) - against Nehemiah Hayon and the Shabbateans May the merit of the Tzadik Rabbi Yosef ben Emanuel Irgas protect us all. (https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/1284-Rabbi-Yosef-ben-Emanuel-Irgas)