The Problem of Human Purpose in Ramhal’s Religious and Philosophical Teaching

Abstract

Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramhal) is one of the most authoritative re-ligious philosophers and kabbalists whose works influenced the development of Jewish religious-philosophical tradition. Nowadays, Ramhal’s works are men-tioned among the most exciting and straightforward Kabbalistic texts and his ethical works are studied in many Jewish religious educational institutions for several hundreds of years. This research is devoted to the investigation of Ramhal’s human purpose doctrine and his view of the ways to achieve this pur-pose. The paper is based on the two authoritative works “Derekh Hashem” (“The Way of God”) and “Da’at Tevunot” (“The Knowing Heart” or “Knowing the Reasons”) representing the author’s interpretation of the fundamentals of Jewish religious doctrine from a Kabbalistic perspective. The paper examines Ramhal’s view of the context that humans get and achieve this goal in and the ways of eradicating the deficiencies of their nature and the nature of the world as well as describes the examples of such purification, in particular, keeping the commandments, perceiving the world, suffering, reincarnation, and being in Hell.

Özet

Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramhal) is one of the most authoritative religious philosophers and kabbalists whose works influenced the development of Jewish religious-philosophical tradition. Nowadays, Ramhal’s works are mentioned among the most exciting and straightforward Kabbalistic texts and his ethical works are studied in many Jewish religious educational institutions for several hundreds of years. This research is devoted to the investigation of Ramhal’s human purpose doctrine and his view of the ways to achieve this purpose. The paper is based on the two authoritative works “Derekh Hashem” (“The Way of God”) and “Da’at Tevunot” (“The Knowing Heart” or “Knowing the Reasons”) representing the author’s interpretation of the fundamentals of Jewish religious doctrine from a Kabbalistic perspective. The paper examines Ramhal’s view of the context that humans get and achieve this goal in and the ways of eradica-ting the deficiencies of their nature and the nature of the world as well as desc-ribes the examples of such purification, in particular, keeping the command-ments, perceiving the world, suffering, reincarnation, and being in Hell..