List of Jewish Kabbalists

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This page lists figures in Kabbalah according to historical chronology and schools of
thought. In popular reference, Kabbalah has been used to refer to the whole history of
Jewish mysticism, but more accurately, and as used in academic Jewish studies, Kabbalah
refers to the doctrines, practices and esoteric exegetical method in Torah, that emerged in
12th-13th century Southern France and Spain, and was developed further in 16th century
Ottoman Palestine. These formed the basis of subsequent Jewish mystical development.

This is a partial list of Jewish Kabbalists; secondary literature incorporating Kabbalah is

enormous, particularly in the voluminous library of Hasidic Judaism that turned esoteric
Kabbalah into a popular revivalist movement. Hasidism both adapted Kabbalah to its own
internalised psychological concern, and also continued the development of the Jewish
mystical tradition. Therefore, only formative articulators of Hasidic thought, or particularly
Kabbalistic schools/authors in Hasidism are included here. In the Sabbatean mystical
heresy that broke away from Judaism, only the founders are listed. Solely academic-
university Jewish studies researchers of Jewish mysticism, not being "Kabbalists", nor
necessarily Jewish, are not listed here; nor are separate non-Jewish derivative/syncretic
traditions of Kabbalah.

Rabbinic figures in Judaism are often known after the name of their magnum opus, or as
Hebrew acronyms based on their name, preceded by R for Rabbi/Rav.

Early Jewish mysticism

Talmudic tannaic sages: Maaseh Merkabah (mystical Chariot)-Maaseh Bereishit (mystical
Creation) (1st-2nd centuries). Yordei Merkabah (Chariot Riders)-Heikhalot (Palaces)
mysticism (1st-11th centuries). Early-Formative texts are variously
Traditional/Attributed/Anonymous/Pseudepigraphical:

Hasidei Ashkenaz (1150-1250 German Pietists). Mystical conceptions influenced Medieval

Kabbalah:

Medieval emergence and development of Kabbalah (12th-

15th centuries)
Provence circle (Southern France - Provence and Languedoc 12th-
13th centuries):

Catalonia/Girona circle (North-East Spain 13th century):

Ezra ben Solomon Jewish Quarter "El

Azriel of Gerona Synthesised Gnostic and Neoplatonic Call" in Girona,
Catalonia North-
elements c.1160–1238
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 East Spain, an early
Nachmanides (Moses ben Nahman, RaMBaN) Introduced
centre of Kabbalah
Kabbalah in classic Bible commentary 1194–1270
Jacob ben Sheshet
Meshullam ben Solomon Da Piera

Castile circle (Northern Spain 13th century). Developed Demonic/Gnostic theory:

Jacob HaKohen
Isaac HaKohen Author of Treatise on the Left Emanation
Todros ben Joseph Abulafia c.1225–1285
Moses of Burgos

Ecstatic/Prophetic-Meditative Kabbalah (13th century):

Abraham Abulafia Spain, Italy, Malta. 1240-after 1291

Publication of the Zohar (1280s–90s Northern Spain):

Moses de León c.1250–1305

13th century Kabbalistic commentary:

14th-15th centuries saw a slowing continuation in Kabbalistic commentary:

Fusional influences (15th-17th centuries)

Influence of Medieval Jewish rationalism in Spain declined, culminating with the expulsion.
Jewish fusions of Philosophy and Kabbalah were shared by wider non-Jewish Renaissance
trends (not listed here):

Abraham Cohen de Herrera Fusion of Philosophy and Kabbalah. Spain and

elsewhere c.1570–1635

16th century Kabbalistic renaissance

Emigrees, some from Spain, some founding new centre of Safed in
Ottoman Palestine:

Cordoverian school. Rationally-influenced systemisation of preceding

Kabbalah:

Moses ben Jacob Cordovero (RaMaK) Taught in Safed. Author

of Pardes Rimonim 1522–1570 Safed, Galilee,
became the centre
Lurianic school. New mythological systemisation of Kabbalah. Basis of for the early-
modern Kabbalah. Kitvei HaAri-Writings of the Ari written by disciples: modern
renaissance and
comprehensive
Safed dissemination: systemisations of
Kabbalah
Central European Kabbalist Rabbis:

Italian Kabbalists:
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 Moshe Haim Luzzatto (RaMHaL) Kabbalistic dissemination and
cultural works. Italy, Holland, Israel 1707–1746
Elijah Benamozegh Universalist interpretation of Kabbalah.
Italian Rabbi and scholar 1822–1900

Sephardi-Mizrachi (Oriental) Kabbalah:

Elijah
Sabbatean mystical heresy (founders only): Benamozegh
(1822-1900), in
Italy, continued a
Eastern European Baal Shem/Nistarim and other mystical circles: Universalist
tradition of
Mitnagdic/Lithuanian Kabbalah: reading Kabbalah

Vilna Gaon (Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, GRA) Head of Non-

Hasidic Eastern European Judaism. Opposed Hasidism 1720–1797
Hayim Volozhin Founder of Lithuanian Yeshivah movement. Main theorist of
Mitnagdism in his Nefesh HaHayim 1749–1821
Yitzchak Eizik Chaver
Shlomo Elyashiv (Baal HaLeshem, after his major work) Lithuania 1841–1926

Hasidic popularisation of Kabbalah (18th century-present)

Kabbalistic notions pervade Hasidic thought, but it developed a new
approach to Kabbalah, replacing esoteric theosophical focus with
successive psychological internalisation. Therefore, only a minimal
listing of Hasidic figures is given here; founding formative figures or
commentators on esoteric Kabbalah texts/tradition. Hasidim in 1845
Iași Romania.
Founding East-European Hasidic Masters:
Hasidism changed
Kabbalah's
Baal Shem Tov, (BeSHT, Israel ben Eliezer). Founder of theosophical aim to
Hasidism. Ukraine 1698–1760 the psychology of
Divine
Jacob Joseph of Polnoye. First writer of Hasidic thought.
Omnipresence
Ukraine 1710–1784 amidst materiality
Dov Ber of Mezeritch (Maggid of Mezeritch). Systemiser of
Hasidic thought, architect school of movement. Ukraine
c.1700/1710–1772
Elimelech of Lizhensk. Founder of General-Hasidic "practical/popular Tzadikism"
leadership. Poland 1717–1787
Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev. Author of Kedushas Levi mainstram Hasidic Torah
commentary. Ukraine 1740–1809
Schneur Zalman of Liadi. Intellectual-Hasidism Habad school. Author of Tanya
theorisation of Hasidism. Russia 1745–1812
Nachman of Bratzlav. Kabbalistic-Imaginative Breslov school. Kabbalistic storytelling.
Ukraine 1772–1810

Other Hasidic commentators on Kabbalah:

Hayyim Tyrer. Author of Sidduro shel Shabbat, kabbalistic homilies on Sabbatical

subjects, and Sha'ar ha-Tefillah, kabbalistic reflections on prayer. Died at Jerusalem
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 1813.
Yisroel Hopsztajn (Maggid of Kozhnitz) A father of Polish Hasidism. Commentaries
on Zohar and Tikunei Zohar 1737–1814
Dovber Schneuri Second Habad leader. Wrote commentary on Zohar and
contemplation guides. Russia 1773–1827
Zadok HaKohen of Lublin. Kabbalistic commentaries based on Izbica personal
illumination. Poland 1823–1900
Yaakov Yehuda Aryeh Leib Frenkel (Gevuras Aryeh). Kabbalistic work on Ramban's
Torah commentary. Hungary 1850/1855–1940
Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.(1878–1944), father of the seventh and last Chabad-
Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Lubavitcher Rebbe. Unity of esoteric Kabbalah with
exoteric Judaism through Hasidic Thought 1902–1994

20th century Kabbalah

From diverse traditions in Kabbalah (excluding Hasidic thought's internalisation approach):

Abraham Isaac Kook Chief Rabbi of Mandate Palestine and poetic-visionary mystical
thinker 1865–1935
Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam, after main work) Translation of Zohar with new
approach in Luria. Poland and Israel 1885—1954
Baba Sali (Israel Abuhatzeira) Mizrachi sage. Morocco to Israel 1890–1984
Yitzhak Kaduri Mizrachi continuation from Rashash. Iraq to Israel d.2006

Modern teachers of Jewish mysticism

Individual teachers of Jewish mysticism spirituality in modern-style articulations. Solely
academic teachers in Jewish studies research are not listed here.
Orthodox Kabbalistic/Hasidic:

Aryeh Kaplan
Adin Steinsaltz
Dovid Gottlieb
DovBer Pinson
Yitzchak Ginsburgh

Non-Orthodox/Neo-Hasidic/Jewish Renewal:

Universalist-style Jewish teachers:

See also
Kabbalah: Primary texts

External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kabbalists.

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