Isaiah Horowitz: A Jewish Sage

Isaiah Horowitz: A Jewish Sage

Isaiah Horowitz (1570-1626)

Isaiah Horowitz (1570-1626)

Jewish spirituality is to lead to two things: Cleaving to God and uniting the Divine Name.

Jewish spirituality is to lead to two things: Cleaving to God and uniting the Divine Name.

Two Tablets of the Covenant

Two Tablets of the Covenant

The two tablets refer to the Jewish tradition that there is a written torah and an oral torah.

The two tablets refer to the Jewish tradition that there is a written torah and an oral torah.

Two Tablets of the Covenant

Two Tablets of the Covenant

The two tablets refer to the Jewish tradition that there is a written torah and an oral torah.

Isaiah’s book is a commentary on both the Torah and the Talmud from the mystical perspective of the Kabbalah

The two tablets refer to the Jewish tradition that there is a written torah and an oral torah.

Isaiah’s book is a commentary on both the Torah and the Talmud from the mystical perspective of the Kabbalah

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

1. God is one.

Therefore, the religious goal is to realize and experience this oneness in one’s heart.

1. God is one.

Therefore, the religious goal is to realize and experience this oneness in one’s heart.

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

2. Israel is one entity.

Today is the day of salvation. Today God makes his covenant with you. What will you do about it?

2. Israel is one entity.

Today is the day of salvation. Today God makes his covenant with you. What will you do about it?

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

3. Inner fear and love.

Isaiah teaches that there are four levels of adherence to God’s laws.

3. Inner fear and love.

Isaiah teaches that there are four levels of adherence to God’s laws.

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

4. Divine service for the need above.

The command-ments become a way of increasing awareness and contemplative abilities.

4. Divine service for the need above.

The command-ments become a way of increasing awareness and contemplative abilities.

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

5. Eternal service.

All we do needs to be done in constant worship of God. This is unceasing prayer.

5. Eternal service.

All we do needs to be done in constant worship of God. This is unceasing prayer.

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

6. The essence of service in the heart.

The heart of all mystical prayer is gratefulness. When we are grateful we are in a state of joy.

6. The essence of service in the heart.

The heart of all mystical prayer is gratefulness. When we are grateful we are in a state of joy.

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

7. Gate of the attributes.

The goal is not simply to do what God asks, but to become like God.

7. Gate of the attributes.

The goal is not simply to do what God asks, but to become like God.

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

8. Cleaving of the heart ot God in all ways.

This quality is associated with the verse in the Bible: “In all your ways know him.”

8. Cleaving of the heart ot God in all ways.

This quality is associated with the verse in the Bible: “In all your ways know him.”

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

9. Purity of thought in the heart.

Isaiah emphasizes the need to bring our thoughts into alignment with God as well as our actions.

9. Purity of thought in the heart.

Isaiah emphasizes the need to bring our thoughts into alignment with God as well as our actions.

The Ten UtterancesThe Ten Utterances

10. Shekhinah (Divine Presence) in the heart.

The practice of the constant presence of God.

10. Shekhinah (Divine Presence) in the heart.

The practice of the constant presence of God.

ConclusionConclusion

1. Isaiah taught the kabbalistic understanding of a holistic universe.

The world has no independent existence apart from God.

1. Isaiah taught the kabbalistic understanding of a holistic universe.

The world has no independent existence apart from God.

The universe is an emanation of God that is continually being created and held in being.

The universe is an emanation of God that is continually being created and held in being.

ConclusionConclusion

1. A holistic universe.

2. Isaiah emphasized that Hebrew was a holy language.

1. A holistic universe.

2. Isaiah emphasized that Hebrew was a holy language.

Even the letters of the alphabet have spiritual energies associated with them.

Even the letters of the alphabet have spiritual energies associated with them.

ConclusionConclusion

1. A holistic universe.

2. Isaiah emphasized that Hebrew was a holy language.

3. Isaiah includes “the evil urge.”

1. A holistic universe.

2. Isaiah emphasized that Hebrew was a holy language.

3. Isaiah includes “the evil urge.”

You don’t find holiness by separating from the world, but rather by embracing the world.

You don’t find holiness by separating from the world, but rather by embracing the world.