Rav Yosef Irgas of Levarno zt"l
הרב יוסף בן עמנואל אירגאס זצ"ל
Sivan 3 , 5490
Rav Yosef Irgas of Levarno zt"l
Mechaber of Shomer Emunim Hakadmon, Mavo Pesachim & Shu"t Divrei Yosef.
One of the greatest Italian Kabbalists, Rav Yosef Irgas is perhaps most well-known for his sefer, Shomer Emunim HaKadmon. This great work was written in the form of an argument in which he explains concepts from Kabbalah and defends them against detractors.
He was a disciple of Rav Binyamin Kohen of Regio who received the tradition from Rav Moshe Zechut who studied under Rav Yisroel Saruk, a talmid of the Arizal. Rav Yosef Irgas was noted for his scholarly greatness in the revealed Torah as demonstrated in his responsa, Shu”t Divrei Yosef. His erudition was only surpassed by his piety. Through growing in saintliness, he acquired the tradition of esoteric secrets of Kabbalah under his rebbes. He eventually became an authority in Kabbalistic teachings in his hometown of Livorno (Leghorn).
Rav Yosef Iragas is also known for his war against the Sabbateans, especially the false Kabbalist, the despicable Nehemia Chiya Chayun. Chayun (may his name be blotted) paraded himself --dressed in white and sporting a long white beard-- as an elder Kabbalist and master of rabbis from the Holy Land. He distributed amulets along with his sefer, Mehemenusa D’Kola which was a disguise for his true intentions which was to spread the nefarious teachings of the false messiah, Shabtai Tzvi under a new name.
Though Rav Irgas was young in years—he was half Chayun’s age—he recognized the deceptiveness of Chayun and exposed him as the sly snake he was. Rav Irgas’ reputation was solid enough that Chayun was chased from Livorno in shame and dishonor. Afterwards, Chayun traveled from town to town managing to deceive a great many Jews. He even fooled the Semichas Chachamim, Rav Naftali HaKohen Katz of Prague. When the Chacham Tzvi discovered Chayun’s ruse, he wrote letters to Rav Naftali, who then realized he had been tricked. Rav Naftali revoked all his previous support for Chayun who, by then, had moved on, eventually reaching Amsterdam where he invoked machlokes against the Chacham Tzvi himself. Chayun fought against his detractors and wrote many vile letters and treatises against the rabbis who opposed him.
Rav Irgas again challenged Chayun’s chicanery in defense of the honor of Torah and the true Kabbalah. He denounced Chayun in a series of seforim such as Tochachas Megula – An Open and Revealed Rebuke, and Tzad Nachash – Hunting the Serpent, where he exposed all his fraudulent claims and lies. Eventually, Chayun was ousted from Amsterdam as well and news spread that he was a liar and a rasha. Finally, he threatened the Jewish communities that if they withdrew financial support he would publicly convert to Christianity and denounce them. Chayun’s final end is unknown; but we do know that his son did indeed convert and became an informer against Jews and a denouncer of Torah.
Rav Irgas’ disciple, Rav Malachi, collected his writings, edited them, and helped produce the great works of his rebbe that we have today.