Seventy-one years ago, on the 10th of Tishrei 5715 (October 7, 1954), Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag — known to the world as the Baal HaSulam, the “Master of the Ladder” — passed from this world. Yet his light and his method still shine, guiding us and countless friends around the globe towards connection with the Creator.

Born in Warsaw in 1884, he was recognized early for his brilliance in Torah study and quickly drawn to the wisdom of Kabbalah – it is said that at just seven years old, he would hide pages of Etz Chaim inside the Talmudic tractate he was meant to be studying. At nineteen, he was ordained as a rabbi and served for many years as a dayan and teacher in Warsaw. His teacher, Rabbi Yehoshua of Porsov, introduced him to the study of Kabbalah, which would later shape his new way of teaching and leave a world-wide impact on the spiritual work of our generation.

I have already enslaved myself to the Creator, to serve Him in any way I can. No work is too heavy for me to do for His great name. On the contrary, I always love and relish at great exertions that bring Him contentment, and the evidence is that I chose the land of Israel as my workplace, where the ruling of SAM is the most. 

Baal HaSulam, Letter No. 52

In 1921, he immigrated to Jerusalem. The word of his coming quickly spread among Jews who emigrated from Poland, and he soon became known as an authority in Kabbalah, and students would gather in the Old City to learn with him. Over the following years, he devoted himself to sharing the wisdom of Kabbalah with all of humanity through his writings.

He composed his commentary on the writings of the Ari, Panim Meirot uMasbirot. He published essays that remain central today: Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah), HaArvut (Mutual Guarantee), and HaShalom (Peace). His greatest work was The Study of the Ten Sefirot, a systematic commentary on the Ari, and above all HaSulam — his commentary of the “Ladder” on the Zohar.

He also met with leaders of the Jewish community, including Ben-Gurion and Bialik, not for political influence but because he saw in the social changes of his time a potential for spiritual renewal – he was constantly devoted to disseminating the wisdom of Kabbalah to all of humanity.

With the Creator’s blessing, I have been found agreeable in the eyes of my Creator, to reveal to me the full lowliness of the generation and all sorts of easy and faithful corrections to bring each soul back to its root as quickly as possible.

Baal HaSulam, Letter No. 9

The Baal HaSulam wrote in a much more accessible and academic style than the Kabbalists before him. It used to be generally unclear how to advance in order to come closer to the Creator and establish a connection with Him. Only great experts of the Torah were awarded with understanding the structure of the upper worlds, and engaging in spiritual work. With the Baal Shem Tov, this methodology became clearer, but it was still not meant for ordinary people. There were significant limitations on this path.

Just two hundred years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine that completely secular people like us, with no preparation or connection to the Torah, could have any chance of approaching the spiritual. However, thanks to the work of Baal HaSulam, this goal became more achievable. Even a simple person, by learning from a wise Kabbalist, could now come closer to the revelation of the Creator. 

Baal HaSulam made it so that if an ordinary person follows his way, he can achieve Dvekut [adhesion] with the Creator just like a dedicated wise disciple.

RABASH, Article 75, The Work of the Greatest in the Nation

The teaching of Baal HaSulam, his method of correction, is a very great light that every person can attract to himself. Baal HaSulam spoke, explained, taught, and described to us all the steps for the proper advancement of our souls to correction, so that we could connect them together and thus realize our destiny.

Ultimately, we must be grateful to the Creator for sending us such a soul, such an immense help. In the wisdom of Kabbalah, a person receives as much attainment as they bow down before everything they receive from the teacher, who teaches them from the sources that came from the teachers of all generations. Only in this form can the small one receive from the big one.

When we study Baal HaSulam’s books and, with his guidance, approach the goal, we must value, honor, and love this extraordinary person, this unique instrument that creates the connection between us, who are below, and those who are above.

Know my friends that since we were together with Baal HaSulam we are more capable of approaching the Creator, but we need to listen to his voice and to keep his covenant, for the voice of the living ARI [Baal HaSulam] will certainly not stop from us. As we were near him, he is certainly speaking on our behalf, and his voice is heard when he comes into the holy place. When a person approaches Kedusha (holiness), his voice is heard and we are certain to succeed.

RABASH, Letter No. 18

We should take pride in such an honor and assume even greater responsibilities in order to be worthy of a connection with such a soul. We cannot fully grasp his contribution to us or his power, yet we must still love him, as children love their parents. In the same way, we should draw near and attach ourselves to this soul, which in our time opened the passage to the Creator. Without him, we would have had no chance.