Today In Jewish History
22 Tammuz
Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (1522-1570), a great kabbalist known by the acronym of his name, Ramak. He was born in Tzfat, Israel, to a distinguished family of Spanish descent, originally from the town of Cordova. In Tzfat, he studied with Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Code of Jewish Law, and he headed his own academy of mysticism, during the time of the great Arizal. Ramak's classic book, Pardes Rimonim (Garden of Pomegranates), written when he was only 26, presents the primary kabbalistic topics in an orderly system. He also authored the popular Palm Tree of Devorah, an ethical treatise devoted to the idea of emulating God. (Some sources list his yahrtzeit as Tammuz 23.)
