Rabbi Yitzchak Luria

|image        = [[File:00000696-men-praying-by-kever-arizal.jpg|215px|alt=Rabbi Yitzchak Luria]]

|header1 = Hebrew:

|data2 = רבי יצחק לוריא ,האר"י הקדוש

|header3 = Life:

|data4 = 1534 Jerusalem – July 25, 1572 (ה'  אב ה'של"ב) Safed

|header5 = Other Names:

|data6 = Rabbi Isaac Luria, Rebbe Yitzchak ben Shlomo Ashkenazi, The Holy Ari, The Arizal, Ha'ARI, Ha'ARI Hakadosh

|header7 = Spelling:

|data8 = Yitzhak, ARIZaL

|header9 = Kever:

|data10 = Old Cemetery, Tzfat

|header11 = Hillula:

|data12 = 5th of Av

|header13 = Description:

|data14 = Leading Kabbalist and the founder of the modern Kabbala.}}

'''Rabbi Yitzchak Luria''', also known as the '''Ari Hakadosh''' (the Holy and G-dly Rabbi Yitzchak) and the '''Arizal''' was one of the leading Kabbalists to ever live. According to Breslov tradition, he was one of the 5 Tzadikai Yesod Olam throughout history. Born in Yerushalaim, the Ari moved to Egypt at a young age, where through tremendous self effort, prayers, meditations and seclusion he managed to reach tremendous spiritual heights. At age 35, the Ari moved to [[Safed|Tzfat]], becoming its leading Kabbalist after the passing of the Ramak. Despite the short amount of time he lived in Tzfat before passing away in 1572, the Ari managed to implant his teaching in a group of students headed by Rabbi Chaim Vital beginning a new era in the history of the [[Kabbalah]]. So respected was the Arizal that even his actions were taken as sufficient proof to uproot existing customs. Each year tens of thousands of people visit the kever of the Arizal in the [[Ancient Tzfat Cemetery]].

Referred to as the Guri HaAri (the lion cubs), the students of the Arizal included Rabbi Chaim Vital, [[Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Nun]]

Each Friday night the Arizal and his students went to greet the Shabbos in a field at the edge of the city right next to the Gerigos Synagogue where the repented marranos used to pray. This Beit Knesset was renamed the [[Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue|Ari Ashkinazi]] after the passing of the Arizal. It was named Ashkenazi to differentiate it from the [[Ari-Sephardi-Synagogue|Ari Sepharadi Shul]]. Later a second Bais Midrash was built right next door. It is assumed that the exact location where the Arizal and his students used to pray is the courtyard outside the building.

Originally named Beit Knesset Eliyahu Hanavi, the [[Ari Sephardi Synagogue|Ari Sepharadi]] is the oldest Synagogue remaining in Tzfat. It was here that the Arizal would pray. In a small room on the side of the Beit Knesset, the Arizal would study with Eliyahu Hanavi. After the passing of the Ari, the Beit Knesset was renamed in his memory. Parts of the current structure were rebuilt twice, after both the [[Safed 1759 Earthquake|1759]] and [[Safed 1837 Earthquake|1837 earthquakes]].

Right above the old cemetery of Tzfat there is a small stream flowing from inside the mountain into a Mikva basin. It was here that the Arizal used to immerse. Each year many people visit the [[Ari-Mikva|Arizal Mikva]] to immerse. It is a well know segula that all those that immerse in the Ari Mikvah, will have thoughts of repentance before death.