Rabbi Moshe Cordovero

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The Ramak
Rabbi Moshe ben Yosef di Trani
Hebrew:
רבי משה קורדובירו - הרמ״ק
Life:
1522 – 1570 Safed, Israel
Spelling:
Kordovero
Kever:
Tzfas Cemetery
Hillulah:
23rd of Tamaz
Description:
Leading 16th-century Kabbalist living in Tzfat.

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero was one of the leading Kabbalists of Tzfat and brother in law of Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz. He is known by the acronym the Ramak and is buried in the Tzfas cemetery.

Contents

Early Life

Rabbi Moshe was born in 1522 to Rabbi Yackov Cordovero. His family originated in Cordoba, Spain. He studied Nigleh from Rabbi Yosef Karo, who favored him a lot and was eventually appointed as judge on the Tzfat Beit Din.

At age 20 Rabbi Moshe Cordovero began studying Kabbalah from Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, his wife's brother. Together they would often go to the fields and Kivrei-Tzadikim around Tzfat and perform Gerushin meditations.

Kabbalist

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero was considered the main Kabbalist of Tzfat. When the Arizal arrived in Tzfat he joined the Ramaks kabbalah study group for a few months and even referred to him as 'our teacher and master'. However shortly afterwords Rabbi Moshe Cordovero passed away at the young age of 48. During the funeral a pillar of fire was seen by the Arizal over his casket. During the hesped given by the Ari he said Rabbi Moshe Cordovero was not deserving to die due to any of his own sins but only because he was human and had to die as a result of Adams sin of eating from the 'tree of knowledge'.

After his passing the Arizal replaced him leading the kabbalists of Tzfat and the Luranic system of Kabbalah started to dominate. Although the systems of the Ramak and the Ari seem to contradict, in essence they do not and are just referring to different states of the spiritual worlds.

Reincarnations

Rabbi Chaim Vital said the Ruach of Zecharia HaNavi was reincarnated in Rabbi Moshe Cordovero.

Kever Rabbi Moshe Cordovero

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero is buried in the old Tzfas cemetery right underneath the Arizal in the same area as Rabbi Elaza Azkari, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz and Rabbi Moshe Metrani, the Mabit.

Hillula of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero

The yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero is on the 23rd of Tamaz and his Kever is visited by many on that day.

More Photos

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