Back فيليب بيرغ (حاخام) Arabic فيليب بيرج ARZ Philip Berg German Philip Berg French שרגא ברג HE Берг, Филипп Russian
Rabbi Philip Berg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | Shraga Feivel Gruberger August 20, 1927 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | September 16, 2013 (aged 86) |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Spouse |
|
| Children | 8 (with Brandwein)
|
| 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]
- ^ Petition for Naturalization of Max Gruberger, Philip Berg's father accessed at Ancestry.com. Selected U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.
- ^ Myers 2007, p. 33.
- ^ Myers 2007, p. 51.
- ^ "Rabbi Philip Berg".
- ^ Harriet Ryan (September 16, 2013). "Kabbalah Centre founder Philip Berg dead at 84". Los Angeles Times.