His mother, fannie kaplan, died on december 31, 1947 when he was, and his two younger sisters, sandra and barbara, were sent to. 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. 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. He later continued his training at different yeshivot in israel. 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. Avraham eliyau of rakov studied in volozhin and minsk. Moreover, the breadth of his knowledge did not suffer from the pitfall of superficiality. Its like your good friend explains to you a complex subject. 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. Rabbi avraham sutton discusses rabbi aryeh kaplan s teachings on jewish meditation, kabbalah and biblical tradition. About israel first hand tours israel first hand tours. Try as i might, i cant locate any universitycollege who have records of this.
Nevertheless, his lifetime achievement, in terms of the work he. Asked in celebrity births deaths and ages when was aryeh kaplan. 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. But it is an intensely satisfying experience as well, because this book is crammed with substance and enlightenment. The maggids only son was the saintly rabbi avraham hamalach the angel17401776. 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.
This model is seen as the primeval man adam kadmon. Rabbi aryeh kaplan introduction and footnotes by reuven meir caplan. By all appearances, he had assimilated into the ashkenazic jewish community, having absorbed the lithuanian method of torah study from the yeshivos he attended. If you only read one book about jewish meditation, this should be it. It not only sets a course to the practical meditation but demonstrates how meditation takes us closer to the divine. Rabbi aryeh kaplan 23 october 1934 january 28, 1983 was a noted american orthodox rabbi and author, known for his intimate knowledge of both physics and kabbalah. Aryeh moshe eliyahu kaplan was an american orthodox rabbi and author known for his.
He was lauded as an original thinker and prolific writer, from studies of the torah, talmud and mysticism to introductory pamphlets on jewish. 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. Chagigah 14b, quoted in inner space by rabbi aryeh kaplan pg. In 1982, rabbi aryeh kaplan presented again roughly the second half of hr in english in meditation and kabbalah york beach. It is safe to say that this is the most authoritative book about jewish meditation ever written in the english language. We put it down enriched by the intellectual company of aryeh kaplan, and grateful for this gift he left behind. The readers assignment is figure out a way to improve life on the island without revealing himherself.
If you were god is a short book containing three works by the late aryeh kaplan. He was buried monday on the mount of olives in jerusalem. My main reason in bringing kabbalah into the question at all is that there are very few books that discuss hashkafah jewish thought. In this manner, he could still include himself in avrahams tree of his own free will. Did you know rabbi aryeh kaplan s living torah is online. Just a moment while we sign you in to your goodreads account. He later devoted himself to writing and teaching of the torah. Aryeh kaplan living torah pdf search for happiness. Translation based on traditional jewish sources, with notes, introduction, maps. 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.
By aryeh kaplan w e hear quite a bit today about a movement called jews for jesus. Each trip was a unique adventure that deepened our connection to. Rabbi aryeh kaplan was the bronxborn renowned author of over 50 books. The aryeh kaplan anthology part i online book olami. 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 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. Rabbi aryeh kaplan ztl was a worldwellknown author. October 23, 1934 january 28, 1983 was an american orthodox rabbi and author known for his knowledge of physics and kabbalah. Kaplan also based his work on wertheimer, correcting it according to other versions.
York beach, maine first published in by samuel weiser, inc. 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. The language of the book is easy, live and pleasant. 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. Its a tragedy that rabbi aryeh kaplan is no longer with us.
The aryeh kaplan anthology part i online book english. Israel first hand tours story when you have a great experience its natural to want to share it with others. Chasidism, talmudic dialectics and philosophy, and integrated them into his everpure jewishness. 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 midrash states that it alludes to a pair of particularly great sea creatures, the leviathan and its mate.
Rabbi aryeh kaplan dead at 48 jewish telegraphic agency. K288 1985 2967 8423589 isbn 0805210377 the publisher acknowledges with gratitude the assistance of mrs. How fortunate we are that rabbi aryeh kaplan, one of the most influential orthodox rabbis of the 20th century, left us this gift. Many of which seem to contain some very dubious science, used to reinforce his religious. God said, the waters under the heaven shall be gathered to one place, and dry land shall be seen. Rabbi aryeh kaplan, a writer on religion and philosophy, died friday of a heart attack at his home in the flatbush section of brooklyn. 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. Kaplan died at his home of a heart attack on january 28, 1983, at the age of 48. Rabbi aryeh kaplan was man with a brilliant mind, who left this world too soon. 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. Every appetite for jewish themes will be whetted and satisfied by this book. Extract from the aryeh kaplan reader published by mesorah publications ltd. Rabbi aryeh kaplan why the rohr jewish learning institute. Meditation and the bible by rabbi aryeh kaplan, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
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. Eliezer rated it it torahh amazing th 03, this article does not cite any sources. Asked in celebrity births deaths and ages when was aryeh kaplan born. Rabbi aryeh kaplan is claimed to be almost as brilliant as einstein it is also claimed that he has masters degrees from a university.
Manufactured in the united states of america 95 987654321. It still remained possible, however, for any individual to convert to judaism. 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. Avraham eliyau kaplan born in 1854 in rakov, died in 1899 in kaidan. 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. 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. There will be parts v and part vi within the next two weeks, maybe even later this week. The vast majority of jews, however, still reject these teachings in the most emphatic terms.
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. He expounds on the dynamics of the spiritual domain, the worlds of. During his short lifetime he died suddenly in 1983 at the age of fortyeight, rabbi. Kaplan did not grow up religious and was known as len. We have visited israel as kids, tourists, volunteers, students, residents and parents. Rabbi aryeh kaplan, a prominent researcher of jewish meditations, mentions in his books lsd and mescaline as a source of positive spiritual experience. This morning were going to be talking about the kabbalah, or jewish mysticism, in rabbi aryeh kaplans book meditation and the bible. Aryeh moshe eliyahu kaplan was an american orthodox rabbi, author, and translator known. Did he in fact just claim this in order to sell his books. Aryeh kaplan living torah pdf did you know rabbi aryeh kaplan s living torah is online. He was born in the bronx, new york city, and studied to the local yeshiva.