Katnut d'Katnut

Shaar ha Gilgulim is often translated as the Gate of Reincarnation. In fact it would be better translated as the Gate of the Rounds or Cycles. This unfortunate confusion with the Eastern doctrines of reincarnation has made most modern commentaries on the teachings of the Ari (Isaac Luria) dangerous and confusing. The Shaar ha Gilgulim itself makes it pretty clear at the start that it is talking of mystical states and levels of the soul in its journeys in the mystical rounds that purify the soul and make reparation (tikun) in the process of sanctification. Most English translations assume that the work is about reincarnation and thus this reflects their choice of words in the translations.

As Jews are celebrating the festival of Sukkot (tabernacles) I learnt from another Hebrew Catholic, on the Hebrew Catholic discussion board run by the Association of Hebrew Catholics, the sad news of the murder of Shmuel Menachem Tobol- a young 19 year old Breslover Chasid. He was murdered by Ukrainian thugs in Uman on the 200th anniversary of the death of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.