History of Reb Chaim Vital

מוֹרינוּ ורבינוּ הרב חיים בן יוֹסף וויטאל

1543 - 1620 ( yarzheit 30th Nissan 5380 ) Buried in Damascus - Syria , he lived in Israel sefad and in Syria . A pupil of the Ari, he was respected worldwide both ashkanazic and sefardic jews alike . Reb Chaim Vital was the author of many Kabbalist, Talmudic and Biblical works including Etz Chaim (Tree of Life) on Kabbala, and Lekutai Torah (Gleanings of Torah) . He had sole possession of the Ari's writings, and most of our knowledge of the Ari's life and teachings are from Reb Chaim Vital.

The Disciple

Rabbi Chaim Vital (sometimes referred to as Rabbi Chaim Vital Calabrese, since his family was from Calabria, Italy) was born 1st Cheshvan in the jewish year 5303 ( that is 1543 CE ). Rabbi Chaim is renowned primarily as the recorder and editor of the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, although he himself was also an accomplished kabbalist and writer.

Rabbi Chaim's father, Rabbi Yosef was famed as an expert scribe whose tefillin were much sought after, having been written in holiness and purity, and with special kabbalistic intentions. Rabbi Yosef Caro said in the name of his maggid (an angelic teacher) that half the world existed by virtue of Rabbi Yosef Vital's tefillin. Rabbi Yosef was born and lived in Calabria until he was given a blessing by the Famous Rabbi Chaim Ashkanazi and advised to go and live in Zefas - Sefad in Northern Israel, a village famous for spiritual great leaders whom have lived there ( such as Rabbi Yonosson - Yonatan - Ben Uziel ). He was blessed that by moving to Israel he would have a son who will become a very great spiritual Rabbi , and therefore two year later Reb Chaim Vital was born , named after Reb Chaim Ashkanazi .

Rabbi Chaim studied the revealed aspects of Torah under Rabbi Moshe Alshich, one of the foremost rabbis in Safed. Rabbi Yosef Caro, at the behest of his maggid, advised Rabbi Alshich to invest as much effort in his young student as possible, for he would be Rabbi Caro's successor. Rabbi Chaim studied Kabbala under the leading kabbalistic luminary in the world at that time, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (Ramak). One of the senior kabbalists living in Safed, Rabbi Shabtai Lapidot, recognizing that Rabbi Chaim was destined for greatness, urged the young man to extract himself from all worldly matters and devote himself to the study of Kabbala, promising him that he would reach unimaginably lofty levels.

Indeed, in the year 5329 (1569 CE), at the relatively young age of 26, Rabbi Chaim began writing a commentary on Zohar, the primary text of Kabbala, according to the teachings of Ramak. However, by the following year Rabbi Chaim's life took a completely different direction.

In the year 5330 (1570 CE) Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (the Arizal) came to Safed from Egypt. Initially Rabbi Chaim was not attracted to the Arizal, but after the passing of his teacher, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, he became attached to the Arizal, quickly becoming his chief disciple. He tells that Ramak appeared to him in a dream a few months after his passing, and when Rabbi Chaim adjured him to tell him the truth - whether they studied Kabbala according to his system or according to the Arizal's in the Heavenly Academy - his former teacher replied. "Both approaches are true. However, my approach is the simple one, suitable for beginners in the wisdom of Kabbala, whereas the teachings of your teacher [the Arizal] are deeper and are the primary approach. I, too, in the Heavenly Academy, study only according to the approach of your master."

Rabbi Chaim describes his initiation into the Arizal's new approach to Kabbala as follows: "When I [first] came to my teacher of saintly memory [the Arizal] to study this wisdom under him, he was about to leave for Tiberias. He took me with him. We boarded a boat, and as we were sailing [across the Kinneret] at a point opposite the arches of the Old Synagogue of Tiberius, my teacher dipped a cup into the water and gave it to me to drink. He told me that now I would be able to grasp this wisdom [the teachings of Kabbala] for I had just drunk water from the well of Miriam [which is buried in the Kinneret]. From that time on I began to enter the depth of this wisdom."

Rabbi Chaim remarked that the works of earlier kabbalists, from after the Ramban [Nachmanides, 4955-5030 (1195-1270 CE)] until the Arizal, were built on mortal intellect, whereas the teachings of his master, the Arizal, were revelations received by the Arizal through Divine inspiration (ruach HaKodesh).

Within a year of his initiation into the Arizal's teachings, Rabbi Chaim had become famous throughout Israel and the Diaspora as one of the great kabbalists. When the Arizal passed on in 5332 (1572 CE), a mere two years after Rabbi Chaim had begun studying with him, Rabbi Chaim was almost universally regarded as his successor.

The Arizal was not accustomed to record his teachings in writing. Many of his disciples, however, recorded his oral teachings, despite the Arizal's explicit prohibition to do so. He had given only Rabbi Chaim permission to record his teachings. After the Arizal's passing, Rabbi Chaim gathered all their manuscripts and began editing and organizing them. Today these are known as Kisvei Arizal - the Writings of the Holy Ari.

He began teaching the kabbalistic insights he had received from his master to his many disciples and thus he became the revered leader of a significant group of kabbalists. He also gained a reputation as a miracle worker, a healer and a master of practical kabbala. He was able to discern the nature and history of the souls of men. As he was able to discern the "root" SHORESH HA NESHAMA - שוֹרש הנשמה, and thereby able to fix the soul from above which healed and corrected anything wrong physically .

In 5347 (1587 CE) Rabbi Chaim was appointed a leading judge in the rabbinical courts in Jerusalem by his teacher, Rabbi Moshe Alshich. He remained there for several years and then returned to Safed. He moved to Damascus in 5354 (1594) where he passed away in 5380 (1620 CE) at the age of seventy-seven.

His Gravestone from Damascus, Syria

Reb Chaim Vital died and was buried in Damascus Syria, his entire grave was moved from the old cemetery in Damascus to Kiriat Malachi in Israel .

Reb Chaim Vital - His kever (tomb) was moved to Kiriat Malachki, photo on the right is of his grave with thanks to www.thirdtemple.com

The blue strings are "Kedusha- Kever" strings wrapped around the site

These "Kedusha Connection Cords" segments of 100% pure wool ( on Reb Chaim's Grave the light blue color was designated ) were wrapped around 7 times each of the kevers of our special holy people, the tzadikim.

As the tradition is to walk around in a counter clock wise direction encircling the grave 7 times when visiting graves of Holy People . This is done to help to remind oneself of the person and what they stood for, and to reflect on this physical world is indeed a journey to take us further spiritually forward to the 7 heavens above . The colour is usually the colour of their AURA - אוֹרה, the spiritual light / colour that they saw in their lifetime , and which enveloped them spiritually .

Asking GOD to guide us with all the inner and outer strength to be a true to GOD and reveal to us our true purpose in this life - in a real material sense just like the spiritual colours of the rainbow which are constantly revealed to special people into eternity. - אוֹר הגנוּז לצדיקים . Which according to RASHI (Genesis 1), the righteous are able to see even in this physical world with their "3rd Eye" . ( see more on this with respect to Yosef - Joseph and his coat of many colours . )

Torah Codes גילגול

The 5373 letter of the Torah is a Gimmel, then every 3rd letter spells the hebrew word GILGUL גילגול . The verse is in Genesis Chapter 4 the 2nd to last word in Verse 25; The verse explains that after Cain murdered Abel, because he was Jealous that Abel's offering to GOD was accepted; Adam and Eve had another child called "Sheis".

Kabbalah (Sefer Shinuyim) teaches that this "child" Sheis, was the Reincarnated soul of Abel, hence this soul became the very 1st GilGul in the world. Verse 26 continues to explain that Sheis prayed to GOD, this teaches that even if a person was murdered their soul has the gift of reincarnation to live life again to fulfill their true destiny and purpose in life.

Adam & Eve knew they needed to have their destined child who would to start the generations of mankind following a correct and good spiritual pathway.

כה וידע אדם עוד את אשתו ותלד בן ותקרא את שמו שת כי שת לי אלהים זרע אחר תחת הבל כי

הרגו קין ולשת גם הוא ילד

בן ויקרא את שמו אנוש אז הוחל לקרא בשם יהוה

The 3rd letter in the large font in the middle sentence above starts to spell the word גילגול; then take every 3rd letter you get the word גילגול . The fact that 5373 letter of the Torah starts the word GILGIL גילגול is no fluke nor accident as Reb Chaim Vital had collected all his writings and compiled the book Shaar Gilgulim in the Jewish Year 5373 which was 7 years before he died. Absolutely Amazing ! Ofcourse it is ! It makes us recognize the enormity and precision of every letter of the Torah and how everything is written in the Torah, every moment of life on earth - this is truly DESTINY !

Sefer Gilgulim ספר גילגולים

But without doubt the most famous and profound book he wrote was Sefer Gilgulim the Book of re-incarnation ....ספר גילגוּלים.

According to Jewish tradition, it has been accepted that only, the most learned and knowledgable Rabbis can understand the writings of his books at the age of 40 . However, with a special "Bracha"- blessing, we have undertaken to explain Sefer Gilgulim in simple terms, as the leading Rabbis of our generation feel that by making this knowledge available , people will complete their role and fulfil their purpose in life . With the sincere objective of the ultimate perfection on earth, peace and love amongst all of humanity with no more wars and hatred, and thereby bringing closer the time of MOSHIACH במהרה בימינוּ אמן.

As Reb Chaim Vital explains , in the times close to MOSHIACH , all the souls on earth will indeed be reincarnated souls , with the ultimate task of completion and wholeness of mankind through peace SHALOM - שלוֹם, and love of our neighbours , אהבת הבריוֹת.

Below is a photographs of his hand written script from Sha'ar Ruach HaKodesh

Below the Photograph (on the left) of one of the front cover , first printed Sefer Gilgulim in Frankfort Germany in the Jewish year 5444 , that is the Year 1684 ce. On the right are photos of front covers of some of the other books Reb Chaim Vital wrote.

The Sefer Shaar Kavonus - שער כוונות

This full Sefer is available free online at with thanks to the Tzaddik, Rabbi Simcha Halevi Ashlag שליטא whose father Reb Yehuda Ashlag זצל, whom wrote an extraordinary explanation , click on the book to download in pdf format, (it may take a few minutes as it is 13 MB of 160 pages) or click here if the link does not work סבלנוּת and please be patient for it to download as it takes a few minutes to download this whole Sefer.

Special Note Kislev 5767 - December 2006

Please note that in the interest of uploading this website - we shall continue adding to this webpage once we have completely uploaded all our spiritual websites especially Sefer Shinuyim - the Book of Changes & Sefer Tikunim - the book of Corrections.