B”H
Av 5 5758
Today is the Yahrtzeit of the holy Arizal.
It’s amazing how Divine Providence works. Over 27 years ago, a man (and now dear friend) named Jim Damavandi walked through our doors for the very first time. We were still finding our way as a shul in Malibu, trying to figure out how to serve this beautiful, unique community. And then Jim showed up.
 |
| Jim and I at the Wall in 2003 |
Jim wasn’t your typical shul guy. He came with, well, let’s just say, a mission, even if he didn’t call it that. If you were around in those days, you remember. He’d listen to my sermon… then call out, “Corruption!” (Yes, really!:-) ), and follow it up by quoting… the Arizal.
Now, who was the Arizal? Rabbi Yitzchak Luria was more than just a brilliant rabbi, he was a spiritual revolutionary. He opened up the deepest, most mystical teachings of Torah. He showed us the inner wiring of reality itself, the Divine blueprint of heaven and earth. But let’s be honest: these teachings are no walk in the park. They’re raw, deep, cryptic, and for generations were reserved for only a rare few souls.
So what did I do? I started digging, week after week, just to keep up with Jim’s challenges. And then something beautiful happened: one of our dear members, Yuri Pikover, a true visionary, said, “This is too good to keep hidden. Let’s get real translations, real commentary, and let’s learn this together.”
 |
| Yuri and I in Israel |
So we did. My brother Chaim at Chabad House Publications reached out to Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky, and soon, every Thursday, a freshly translated teaching of the Arizal would land in my inbox. And every Shabbat morning, two hours before services, Jim, Yuri, and whoever wanted to join would gather to explore these mystical pearls.
 |
| With my brother Chaim |
Did we understand every word? No. But that didn’t matter. The energy, the neshama of these teachings, seeped into us, and it changed the way we looked at life itself.
Eventually, Yuri said, “Let’s make this into a book.” And with his generosity, “Apples from the Orchard” was born. Three printings later, thousands of copies are in hands and homes and study groups all over the world, still doing what they were always meant to do: help people go deeper.
 |
| L. to R. Rabbi Chaim Kosofsky, James Smith, Alan Lerman, Rudy Vogel and Guillermo Muhlmann. Weekly class for 11 years and going strong. |
Some people ask: Why bother with mystical, esoteric teachings? Shouldn’t we just stick to the basics?
But the Arizal himself gave us the answer: these teachings must be shared with everyone. Because they open our eyes to the story behind the story. They awaken the Divine spark within every moment, every creation, every one of us. And once that spark wakes up, nothing looks the same again.
So, on this holy day, I encourage you to take a moment, open up these teachings , and let them shine their light into your life.
Thank You, Hashem. Thank You, Rebbe. Thank you, Jim, for sparking this journey. Thank you to all of the Chevra and those who participated in our weekly sessions. Thank you, Yuri and Deana Pikover, for your vision and generosity and including us in this great Mitzvah! Thank you, my dear brother Rabbi Chaim Cunin, for your brilliance and heart in making this project happen.
Together, may we merit the full revelation of Moshiach, now.
Comments