Rabbi Philip Berg | |
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Personal | |
Born | Shraga Feivel Gruberger August 20, 1927 Brooklyn, New York |
Died | September 16, 2013 | (aged 86)
Religion | Judaism |
Spouse |
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Children | 8 (with Brandwein)
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Denomination | Orthodox |
Alma mater | Beth Medrash Govoha |
Position | Dean |
Organisation | Kabbalah Centre |
Buried | Safed Jewish cemetery, Israel |
Philip S. Berg (original name Shraga Feivel Gruberger, Hebrew: שרגא פייבל; August 20, 1927 – September 16, 2013)[1] was an American rabbi and dean of the worldwide Kabbalah Centre organization.
Berg was a great populariser of Ashlagian Kabbalah. Having written a number of books on the subject of Kabbalah, Berg expanded its access to a greater audience than traditionally permitted, one which included secular Jews, non-Jews and women.[2] Berg initially aimed at returning alienated Jews to their heritage through the teachings of Yehuda Ashlag;[3] he later adopted a more universalistic approach.
There is disagreement about whether Berg's teachings, as relayed through the Kabbalah Centre, have sufficient grounds and/or genuine authority according to halakha (Jewish law), as they include some dogmas and translations differing markedly from those of more-traditional Kabbalists. Some Jewish scholars emphatically reject such teachings, deeming them as foreign to both the Kabbalah in particular and to Judaism in general.[4]
In poor health following a stroke in 2004, Berg died on September 16, 2013.[5]