Q&A: A Question About the Ari (the Holy One?)
A Question About the Ari (the Holy One?)
Question
Hello, Rabbi.
I happened to read the Rabbi’s books and was very impressed. I also saw the Rabbi’s approach regarding Kabbalah and whether it should be relied upon, but I got stuck on a certain question that I didn’t really see an answer to.
The Ari and his student Chaim Vital wrote various things on kabbalistic topics, such as reincarnation of souls, unifications, sefirot, and the like. It could be that these really were certain intuitions they had and that is why they thought this way, but from what I saw, this seems to be something a bit beyond that.
Chaim Vital wrote a book called “Sha’ar HaGilgulim,” in which he explains regarding every biblical or rabbinic figure which reincarnation they were, and here I ask the Rabbi: how does he know? What is his source? How does he know that reincarnation of souls is even a real thing? Did it stem from some intuition he had? And even if we assume it did, who can guarantee for us that his intuition is correct, and that reincarnation of souls must therefore be taught today as a principle of faith?
I happened to argue with several people about this topic as well, and I presented them with the views of the Geonim and the medieval authorities on the issue. Saadia Gaon very strongly rejected the whole idea of reincarnation of souls, and so did Maimonides, so how and on whom can one rely in these matters?
I would appreciate it if the Rabbi could help me make sense of this.
Answer
I have no idea. Maybe he had delusions and maybe intuitions. No one can guarantee anything to you, and there is no reason at all to accept this. What practical difference does it make?
I will just note that I do not know how you rely on Saadia Gaon and Maimonides, since they certainly had no clue whatsoever about these matters.
Discussion on Answer
I suggest asking them.
Reincarnation of souls is a reality. At the University of Virginia there is a research department on this, and after forty years of investigating it they say there definitely is reincarnation of souls, and also near-death experiences. There is no faith involved here; this is scientific research.
Daniel,
this topic, like many other mystical topics, has definitely been the focus of heated debate throughout the generations, but it is not part of Judaism. The fact that Jewish sages expressed different opinions about it does not make it part of Judaism, just as differing approaches among sages on medical or economic issues do not make those things part of Judaism.
I actually think the idea of reincarnation of souls is reasonable, and there are some findings that support it, and I am not bothered by the fact that it did not fit with the philosophy of Saadia Gaon and Maimonides. But the words of Rabbi Chaim Vital are not meaningful in my eyes, because the nature of the man and his connection to reality are not really clear to me, especially in light of the Book of Visions that he wrote, which is a very strange book.
I do not rely on them in these matters, and I am not citing them as a source for rejection.
Today people look at reincarnation of souls as a principle of faith, and whoever denies it is considered a heretic, so I came to show that none of the medieval authorities or later authorities were even familiar with this subject, and it’s doubtful anyone would call Saadia Gaon a heretic.
And regardless, why do rabbis still quote the words of the Ari and his student so enthusiastically (usually kabbalists)? When I asked people where Chaim Vital got this whole idea of reincarnation of souls, they answered me that these were things he received through divine inspiration. Does that have any significance?
And likewise regarding that—how do they know that he had divine inspiration at all?