Abraham Azulay ( Hebrew אברהם בן מרדכי אזולאי ; 1570-1643) - Moroccan Kabbalist , author of the commentary Or ha-haama (Russian - “Light of the Sun”) to the Book of Zohar and the book of Chesed le-Abraham (Russian - “ Mercy of Abraham ").
Abraham Azulay was one of the first to announce the lifting of all restrictions on the study of Kabbalah , writing in his book “Mercy of Abraham” that since 1540 the ban on the study of Kabbalah has been lifted.
Azoulay wrote in “Mercy of Abraham” that the most important spiritual transformation will begin in 5760 according to the Jewish calendar. It will be an era when Kabbalah will spread to all ends of the earth, a period when time and distance will be reduced. The time when the secrets of immortality will begin to open before the eyes of the whole world. The year 5760 according to the Jewish calendar corresponds to 2000 according to the Gregorian calendar .
In the last years of his life, Abraham Azoulay moved to the city of Hebron , where he was buried in the old Jewish cemetery.
Abraham Azulay and the sword of the Sultan
The last years of his life, Abraham Azulay spent in the city of Hebron , which is considered a saint for both Jews and Muslims.
The main shrine of Hebron is the Machpel Cave , which the Kabbalists consider to be a window connecting the spiritual and material worlds. According to legend, a person who entered the cave, which is located under the house of worship, must leave the material world.
Once the Turkish sultan visited the cave of Machpelah and accidentally dropped his saber into the well. The saber was dear, and the Sultan sent his servants to the cave, located under the house of worship. However, the servants did not return. Local residents told the Sultan the secret of the cave and even under pain of the death penalty were not ready to go down to it. Then one of the sultan's advisers advised him to demand that the Jews get a saber, otherwise the sultan promised to severely punish them.
Avrram Azulay took on this mission and went down into the cave. According to legend, he met Adam with Eve, Abraham with Sarah and other forefathers, who announced to him that he should leave our world. However, to avoid the punishment of the sultan against the Hebron Jews, Abraham Azulay was allowed to be the first person in history to return from the cave of the forefathers. Abraham Azulay returned the saber to the sultan, gathered the Jews and announced to them that he should leave the material world. After that, he taught the whole night, and died in the morning.
Literature
- Azulai, family // Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron . - SPb. , 1908-1913.