Chagigah 14b, quoted in inner space by rabbi aryeh kaplan pg. God said, the waters under the heaven shall be gathered to one place, and dry land shall be seen. In this volume published by the ou and ncsy, rabbi aryeh kaplan asks hard questions about judaism and its commandments, and he gives compelling answers that have broadened the horizons of countless people. Aryeh kaplan biography aryeh moshe eliyahu kaplan 23 october 193428 january 1983 was a noted american orthodox rabbi and author known for his intimate knowledge of both physics and kabbalah. Avraham eliyau kaplan born in 1854 in rakov, died in 1899 in kaidan. Did he in fact just claim this in order to sell his books. It not only sets a course to the practical meditation but demonstrates how meditation takes us closer to the divine. Manufactured in the united states of america 95 987654321. It still remained possible, however, for any individual to convert to judaism. Kaplan did not grow up religious and was known as len. Avraham eliyau of rakov studied in volozhin and minsk.
By all appearances, he had assimilated into the ashkenazic jewish community, having absorbed the lithuanian method of torah study from the yeshivos he attended. This is part iv in a series on rabbi aryeh kaplan see part i, part ii, and part iii for prior biographic discussion much of which has already been incorporated into wikipedia. Rabbi aryeh kaplan introduction and footnotes by reuven meir caplan. K288 1985 2967 8423589 isbn 0805210377 the publisher acknowledges with gratitude the assistance of mrs. Its a tragedy that rabbi aryeh kaplan is no longer with us.
The vast majority of jews, however, still reject these teachings in the most emphatic terms. It is safe to say that this is the most authoritative book about jewish meditation ever written in the english language. Its like your good friend explains to you a complex subject. By aryeh kaplan w e hear quite a bit today about a movement called jews for jesus. Did you know rabbi aryeh kaplan s living torah is online. There will be parts v and part vi within the next two weeks, maybe even later this week.
If you were god is a short book containing three works by the late aryeh kaplan. He was lauded as an original thinker and prolific writer and is most well known for his translations of the torah, writings on kabbalah, and introductory pamphlets on jewish beliefs and. Asked in celebrity births deaths and ages when was aryeh kaplan. October 23, 1934 january 28, 1983 was an american orthodox rabbi and author known for his knowledge of physics and kabbalah. We have visited israel as kids, tourists, volunteers, students, residents and parents. Asked in celebrity births deaths and ages when was aryeh kaplan born. I would like to begin by stating that the main thrust of my discussion will not involve kabbalah. Rabbi aryeh kaplan, a prominent researcher of jewish meditations, mentions in his books lsd and mescaline as a source of positive spiritual experience. Eliezer rated it it torahh amazing th 03, this article does not cite any sources.
He was lauded as an original thinker and prolific writer, from studies of the torah, talmud and mysticism to introductory pamphlets on jewish. The midrash states that it alludes to a pair of particularly great sea creatures, the leviathan and its mate. Aryeh kaplan was born in the bronx, new york city to samuel and fannie lackman kaplan of the sefardi recanati family from salonika, greece. The first, if you were god, is a short thought experiment where kaplan asks the reader to imagine an island with several tribes of violent natives. The maggids only son was the saintly rabbi avraham hamalach the angel17401776. How fortunate we are that rabbi aryeh kaplan, one of the most influential orthodox rabbis of the 20th century, left us this gift. Meditation and the bible by rabbi aryeh kaplan, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The language of the book is easy, live and pleasant. York beach, maine first published in by samuel weiser, inc. Aryeh kaplan living torah pdf search for happiness.
This model is seen as the primeval man adam kadmon. It was originally titled kabbalah and the age of the. Aryeh kaplan rabbi aryeh kaplan has translated sefer yetzirah, the oldest and most mysterious of all kabbalistic texts, and now brings its theoretical, meditative, and magical implications to light. Each trip was a unique adventure that deepened our connection to. He was born in the bronx, new york city, and studied to the local yeshiva. Chasidism, talmudic dialectics and philosophy, and integrated them into his everpure jewishness. Every appetite for jewish themes will be whetted and satisfied by this book. Rabbi aryeh kaplan was the bronxborn renowned author of over 50 books. My main reason in bringing kabbalah into the question at all is that there are very few books that discuss hashkafah jewish thought. After the death of his first wife, who was the daughter of the rabbi of rakov, he moved to kaidan with wenia, where he became the husband of the daughter of zalman troyev. The living torah by rabbi aryeh kaplan published by moznaim publishing corp.
Russell barber discuss jewish mysticism on the first estate broadcast on wnbctv channel 4 in 1979. Extract from the aryeh kaplan reader published by mesorah publications ltd. The aryeh kaplan anthology part i online book olami. Rabbi aryeh kaplan is claimed to be almost as brilliant as einstein it is also claimed that he has masters degrees from a university. He suggested that some medieval kabbalists used some psychedelic drugs, though it was discouraged by. Kaplan died at his home of a heart attack on january 28, 1983, at the age of 48.
In addition to his brilliant success as a youthful prodigy in various yeshivas, as a university graduate student, he was described in a scientific whos who as the most promising young. Aryeh kaplan living torah pdf did you know rabbi aryeh kaplan s living torah is online. Kaplan also based his work on wertheimer, correcting it according to other versions. Nevertheless, his lifetime achievement, in terms of the work he. Aryeh moshe eliyahu kaplan was an american orthodox rabbi, author, and translator known. Rabbi aryeh kaplan dead at 48 jewish telegraphic agency. This morning were going to be talking about the kabbalah, or jewish mysticism, in rabbi aryeh kaplans book meditation and the bible. Israel first hand tours story when you have a great experience its natural to want to share it with others. Rabbi aryeh kaplan ztl was a worldwellknown author. The readers assignment is figure out a way to improve life on the island without revealing himherself. Translation based on traditional jewish sources, with notes, introduction, maps. Rabbi kaplan married tobie goldstein in 1961, and they had nine children together before he died suddenly in 1983 at the age of 48 from a heart attack. He later continued his training at different yeshivot in israel.
Aryeh moshe eliyahu kaplan was an american orthodox rabbi and author known for his. During his short lifetime he died suddenly in 1983 at the age of fortyeight, rabbi. In this manner, he could still include himself in avrahams tree of his own free will. His mother, fannie kaplan, died on december 31, 1947 when he was, and his two younger sisters, sandra and barbara, were sent to. The thirteenth gate there is one pathway through which. He was lauded as an original thinker and prolific writer, from studies of the torah, talmud and mysticism, to introductory pamphlets on jewish beliefs and philosophy aimed at nonreligious and newly. Gravesite of rabbi aryeh kaplan kaplan died at his home of a heart attack on january 28, 1983, at the age of 48. When man and wife come together, they bring about a union of the supernal attributes. He was buried monday on the mount of olives in jerusalem. Many of which seem to contain some very dubious science, used to reinforce his religious. Introduction to the sefer yetzirah aryeh kaplan as a graduate student, aryeh kaplan was described in a scientific whos who as the most promising young physicist in america.
Moreover, the breadth of his knowledge did not suffer from the pitfall of superficiality. Rabbi aryeh kaplan why the rohr jewish learning institute. If you only read one book about jewish meditation, this should be it. Rabbi avraham sutton discusses rabbi aryeh kaplan s teachings on jewish meditation, kabbalah and biblical tradition. Funeral services were held at the shomeri hadas chapel in brooklyn sunday for rabbi aryeh kaplan, scholar and author of numerous books on jewish thought and philosophy on basic practice and observance, who died suddenly of a massive heart attack last friday at the age of 48. About israel first hand tours israel first hand tours. A short history of the life and legacy of rabbi aryeh kaplan, his involvement with ncsy, and how he changed the game of the teshuva movement. Rabbi aryeh kaplan was a multifaceted, prolific exponent of jewish thought skilled in both kabbalah and jewish law, as well as the natural sciences he was listed in whos who in physics.
Rabbi aryeh kaplan, a writer on religion and philosophy, died friday of a heart attack at his home in the flatbush section of brooklyn. He expounds on the dynamics of the spiritual domain, the worlds of. But it is an intensely satisfying experience as well, because this book is crammed with substance and enlightenment. Rabbi aryeh kaplan was man with a brilliant mind, who left this world too soon. The aryeh kaplan anthology part i online book english. Sepher yirah, book of formation, or book of creation is the title of the earliest extant book on jewish mysticism, although some early commentators treated it as a treatise on mathematical and linguistic theory as opposed to kabbalah. Rabbi aryeh kaplan was a multifaceted, prolific exponent of jewish thought skilled in both kabbalah and jewish law, as well as the natural sciences he was. In 1982, rabbi aryeh kaplan presented again roughly the second half of hr in english in meditation and kabbalah york beach. Rabbi akiba entered in peace and left in peace the angels also wished to cast down rabbi akiba but the blessed holy one said, leave this elder alone, for he is worthy of making use of my glory.