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Philip S. Berg (original name Feivel Gruberger, he, שרגא פייבל; August 20, 1927 – September 16, 2013) was an American
rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...
and dean of the worldwide
Kabbalah Centre The Kabbalah Centre International is a non-profit organizationworldwide located in Los Angeles, California that provides courses on the Zohar and Kabbalistic teachings online as well as through its regional and city-based centers and study groups ...
organization. Berg was a great populariser of Ashlagian Kabbalah. Having written a number of books on the subject of
Kabbalah Kabbalah ( he, קַבָּלָה ''Qabbālā'', literally "reception, tradition") is an esoteric method, discipline and Jewish theology, school of thought in Jewish mysticism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ( ''Məqūbbāl'' "rece ...
, Berg expanded its access to a greater audience than traditionally permitted, one which included secular Jews, non-Jews and women. Berg initially aimed at returning alienated Jews to their heritage through the teachings of Yehuda Ashlag, however 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 ''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandm ...
'' (Jewish law), as they include some
dogma Dogma is a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted by the members of a group without being questioned or doubted. It may be in the form of an official system of principles or doctrines of a religion, such as Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Islam ...
s 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 Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...
in general. In poor health following a stroke in 2004, Berg died on September 16, 2013.


Biography

Berg was born as Shraga Feivel Gruberger in 1929 in
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, to an
Orthodox Jewish Orthodox Judaism is the collective term for the traditionalist and theologically conservative branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Written and Oral, as revealed by God to Moses on M ...
family.Udovich, Mim. "Kabbalah Chronicles: Inside Hollywood's hottest cult", ''Radar Online'', June 15, 2005. (Copy at ) His father, Max Gruberger, immigrated from Nadvorna, Galicia (now in
Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
), and worked as a clothes presser in Williamsburg. In his youth, Berg underwent
Talmud The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cente ...
ic education at
Lakewood Yeshiva Beth Medrash Govoha ( he, בית מדרש גבוה, Sephardi pronunciation: ''Beth Midrash Gavoha''. lit: "High House of Learning"; also known as Lakewood Yeshiva or BMG) is a Haredi Jewish Lithuanian ''yeshiva'' in Lakewood Township, New Jerse ...
under
Aharon Kotler Aharon Kotler (1892–1962) was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and a prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Lithuania and the United States; the latter being where he founded Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. Early life Kotler w ...
. He later returned to Williamsburg, where in 1951 at age 22 he received ordination from
Yeshiva Torah Vodaas Yeshiva Torah Vodaas (or Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Vodaath or Yeshiva Torah Vodaath or Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary ) is a ''yeshiva'' in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. History The yeshiva was conceived in 1917 and for ...
. Berg went into the business world and worked as an insurance agent for
New York Life New York Life Insurance Company (NYLIC) is the third-largest life insurance company in the United States, the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States and is ranked #67 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list of the largest United State ...
. He also became involved in real estate, and by 1962 it is claimed he was a
millionaire A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. Depending on the currency, a certain level of prestige is associated with being a millionaire. In countries that use the short scal ...
. It is likely that he began to be called Philip during this time, as it is usual practice among Jews with
Yiddish Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ver ...
names to use an English equivalent to be more comfortable in a secular environment. Berg's first wife, Rivkah Brandwein, had an uncle named Yehuda Brandwein, whom Berg first met on a trip to
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
in 1962. Brandwein, a
Hasidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...
rabbi from the Stretiner Hasidic dynasty and a close student in the Kabbalistic circle around
Yehuda Ashlag Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag (1885–1954) or Yehuda Leib Ha-Levi Ashlag ( he, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה לֵיבּ הַלֵּוִי אַשְׁלַג), also known as the Baal Ha-Sulam (Hebrew: , "Author of The Ladder") in reference to his magnum ...
, would become Berg's Kabbalistic mentor. Brandwein was the head of the Religious Department of the Israeli national workers union,
Histadrut Histadrut, or the General Organization of Workers in Israel, originally ( he, ההסתדרות הכללית של העובדים בארץ ישראל, ''HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael''), is Israel's national trade union center ...
, and established Yeshivat Kol Yehuda (named after Ashlag) as a continuation of his mentor's yeshiva/publishing house "Beit Ulpana Itur Rabbanim". The uniqueness of Kol Yehuda was that students focused on kabbalistic study. The students would receive a salary to cover their living expenses so they could devote themselves to full-time learning. However, Brandwein faced difficulty in finding funds for the
yeshiva A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are s ...
and publishing. Berg had become Brandwein's book distributor and fund raiser in the United States, and it is likely he was encouraged by Brandwein to establish the National Institute for the Research in Kabbalah in New York in 1965 to aid the yeshiva. Berg was studying with another of Ashlag's American students, Levi I. Krakovsky, of Brooklyn. Krakovsky was interested in publishing his books through the National Institute, but Brandwein did not agree. In Brandwein's letters to Berg, he also clarified that he did not encourage seeking or accepting funds from non-Jews for the yeshiva, as this was forbidden according to ''halakha''. Eventually, Brandwein allowed Berg to teach one student Kabbalah, and in 1966 Berg received an additional
rabbinic ordination Semikhah ( he, סמיכה) is the traditional Jewish name for rabbinic ordination. The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 C ...
from Brandwein which certified his knowledge of Kabbalah. This was subsequently revoked when he started publishing works which were deemed
heretical Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religi ...
due to
pantheistic Pantheism is the belief that reality, the universe and the cosmos are identical with divinity and a supreme supernatural being or entity, pointing to the universe as being an immanent creator deity still expanding and creating, which has ex ...
dogmas. He was subsequently excommunicated by Brandnwein. This excommunication was affirmed by all major rabbis within the Ashlag school of thought. The Kabbalah Center Berg founded was subsequently deemed a school of heresy and idol worship by the entirety of Orthodox Jewish leadership . After Brandwein's death in 1969, Berg returned to the United States and began working again with his former secretary (and future wife)
Karen Karen may refer to: * Karen (name), a given name and surname * Karen (slang), a term and meme for a demanding woman displaying certain behaviors People * Karen people, an ethnic group in Myanmar and Thailand ** Karen languages or Karenic l ...
, on the condition that she let him teach her Kabbalah, a discipline he claimed was reserved exclusively for men. In 1971, Philip and Karen married and traveled to Israel. It was there that they changed their surname from Gruberger to Berg, as it was a common practice to shorten a European Jewish surname upon moving to Israel. In 1973, the Bergs returned to
Queens Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...
, New York, where they established their full-time headquarters during the 1980s. Berg, who had been ill since suffering a stroke in 2004, died on September 16, 2013. He was generally reported to be 86 (although the ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' reported that according to public records he was 84). He is survived by his wife Karen and two sons, Yehuda and Michael, who have led the Kabbalah Centre since his stroke. They and their mother, Karen were also excomunicated. Besides these two children Berg also had eight children from his first marriage that renounced Berg and his teachings.


The Research Centre of Kabbalah

In July 1965, Berg was initially involved in the founding of a publishing house called "The National Institute for the Research in Kabbalah" along with Aslag's American student Levi Krakovsky, who died the following year. The institute was most likely a fundraising branch of Brandwein’s Yeshiva Kol Yehuda, as books published by the institute have Brandwein named as the senior figure, while Berg was listed as its president. Krakovsky was an emissary of Ashlag’s yeshiva "Itur Rabbanim", and had translated some of Ashlag's writings into English to support the yeshiva. He also wrote his own English introductory books to Kabbalah, and in the 1930s established his own yeshiva in the United States for the purpose of teaching Kabbalah in English. Krakovsky’s writings were also published by the new Institute. In 1970, Berg legally changed the name of the National Institute to "The Research Centre of Kabbalah", establishing it as an independent centre and publishing books of his own. His writings ranged from a basic introduction and explanation of
Lurianic Isaac ben Solomon Luria Ashkenazi (1534Fine 2003, p24/ref> – July 25, 1572) ( he, יִצְחָק בן שלמה לוּרְיָא אשכנזי ''Yitzhak Ben Sh'lomo Lurya Ashkenazi''), commonly known in Jewish religious circles as "Ha'ARI" (mean ...
and Ashlagian Kabbalah to
astrology Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of Celestial o ...
and
reincarnation Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Resurrection is a ...
. In 1971, Berg moved to Israel where he strengthened the centre, gave lectures and disseminated his books. In 1980, he established a yeshiva, "Or Hozer le’Limud ha-Nigleh ve ha-Nistar" (Returning Light for the Study of the Revealed and the Concealed) in
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...
, which circulated various kabbalistic works. On his return to the United States in 1984 with a number of Israeli students called the ''Hevre'' (friends), Berg expanded the centre to more locations. The aim of the now independent research centre was to resolve a widespread spiritual crisis affecting Jews, where many found traditional Judaism dry and unfulfilling. Large numbers of young Jews were seeking Eastern spiritual practices, involving themselves in dangerous
cult In modern English, ''cult'' is usually a pejorative term for a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal. This ...
s or resorting to
atheism Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no d ...
. Berg, who believed Judaism was being taught dogmatically, was determined to show inquisitive soul searching Jews that the answers could be found in Kabbalah.


Controversy

There is some disagreement over who succeeded Brandwein as dean of the 80-year-old Yeshiva Kol Yehuda in
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. Berg has claimed to have replaced Brandwein, his ex-uncle-in-law by his first wife, in that role; that claim is disputed by Brandwein's son Avraham, who is the current dean. The Los Angeles Task Force on Cults and Missionaries claimed he was not affiliated with the yeshiva,Ellin, Abby; Sacks, Adam J. "The Kabbalah Centre Wants your Heart - and your Money: The String that Binds" in ''
The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...
'', August 11, 2004.
although a letter sent to him by Brandwein in July 1968 indicated he was President of the yeshiva. In 2010, the
Internal Revenue Service The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting U.S. federal taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory ta ...
launched an investigation, reportedly investigating whether funds were directed to the personal enrichment of the Berg family, and subpoenaed financial records of the organization and two affiliated charities connected to
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
. The centre called the allegations "merit-less", and said it "intends to defend the case vigorously".


Publications of Berg and the Research Centre of Kabbalah

* Philip S. Berg, ''The Wheels of a Soul''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1984. * Philip S. Berg, ''Astrology, the Star Connection: The Science of Judaic Astrology''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1987. * Philip S. Berg, ''Kabbalah for the Layman'', Vol. I. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1981. * Philip S. Berg, ''Kabbalah for the Layman'', Vol. II. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1988. * Philip S. Berg, ''Kabbalah for the Layman'', Vol. III. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1988. * Philip S. Berg, ''Kabbalistic Astrology Made Easy''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1999. * Rav P. S. Berg, ''Kabbalistic Astrology: And the Meaning of Our Lives''. Kabbalah Publishing, 2006. * Philip S. Berg, ''Power of Aleph Beth'', Volume 1. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1988. * Philip S. Berg, ''Power of Aleph Beth'', Volume 2. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1988. * Philip S. Berg, ''Time Zones''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1990. * Yehuda L. Ashlag, Compiled and edited by Philip S. Berg, ''An Entrance to The Zohar''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1974. * Yehuda Ashlag, Compiled and edited by Philip S. Berg, ''An Entrance to The Tree of Life''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1977. * Philip S. Berg, ''The Kabbalah Connection''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1983. * Yehuda L. Ashlag, Translated by Rabbi Levi I. Krakovsky, ''Ten Luminous Emanations'', Volume 1. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1969. * Yehuda L. Ashlag, Compiled and edited by Philip S. Berg, ''Ten Luminous Emanations'', Volume 2. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1973. * Rabbi Levi I. Krakovsky, ''The Light of Redemption''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1970. * Rabbi Moses C. Luzzatto, ''General Principles of The Kabbalah''. Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1970.


See also

* Yehuda Berg


Notes


References

*
Daphne Merkin Daphne Miriam Merkin (born in New York City) is an American literary critic, essayist and novelist. Merkin is a graduate of Barnard College and also attended Columbia University's graduate program in English literature. She began her career as ...

''In Search of the Skeptical, Hopeful, Mystical Jew That Could Be Me''
New York Times Magazine, April 13, 2008 * Tamara Ikenberg, ''Madonna, et al. have watered down Jewish mysticism, scholars charge'' Louisville Courier-Journal, August 26, 2004 * David Rowan, ''Chief Rabbi sounds alarm on mystical Kabbalah group'' ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...
'', April 3, 2004 * Robert Eshman, ''L.A.'s Kabbalah Learning Center seems to attract many searching Jews, but criticism of it is widespread'' The Jewish Journal, February 14, 1997 * Aynat Fishbein, ''The Cabal of the Cabbalah Centre Exposed: New Relations'' "Tel Aviv" (An Israeli magazine) September 1994, pp. 31–35 * Nadya Labi, ''What Profits Kabbalah?'' Time Magazine, November 24, 1997 * ''The Truth about the Kabbalah Centre'' Task Force on Cults and Missionaries, Los Angeles, CA 1995 * *


Further reading

* Jody Myers. Kabbalah and the Spiritual Quest: The Kabbalah Centre in America, London 2007. *
Boaz Huss Boaz Huss (born 1959) is a professor of Kabbalah at the Goldstein-Goren Department of Jewish Thought at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is a leading scholar in contemporary Kabbalah. Early life and education Boaz Huss was born in Jerusalem ...
. "The New Age of Kabbalah: Contemporary Kabbalah, the New Age and postmodern spirituality", Journal of Modern Jewish Studies, 6 (2006), pp. 107–125 *
Jonatan Meir Jonatan is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Jonatan (footballer) (born 1992), Brazilian football midfielder, full name Jonatan da Silva Lima *Jonatan Berg (born 1985), Swedish football midfielder * Jonatan Briel (1942–1988), ...
. "The Revealed and the Revealed within the Concealed: On the Opposition to the "Followers" of Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag and the Dissemination of Esoteric Literature", Kabbalah: Journal for the Study of Jewish Mystical Texts 16 (2007), pp. 151–258 *
Jonatan Meir Jonatan is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Jonatan (footballer) (born 1992), Brazilian football midfielder, full name Jonatan da Silva Lima *Jonatan Berg (born 1985), Swedish football midfielder * Jonatan Briel (1942–1988), ...
. "Phillip Berg and the Kabbalah Centre", Daat 70 (2011), pp. 159–162 *
Jonatan Meir Jonatan is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Jonatan (footballer) (born 1992), Brazilian football midfielder, full name Jonatan da Silva Lima *Jonatan Berg (born 1985), Swedish football midfielder * Jonatan Briel (1942–1988), ...

"The Beginnings of Kabbalah in America: The Unpublished Manuscripts of R. Levi Isaac Krakovsky
, Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism 13, 2 (2013), pp. 237–268


External links


Kabbalah Centre

Kabbalah Centre Israel
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Philip 1927 births 2013 deaths 20th-century astrologers 20th-century American rabbis 21st-century American rabbis 21st-century astrologers American astrologers American astrological writers American male non-fiction writers American occultists Businesspeople from Brooklyn Jewish American writers Jewish astrologers Rabbis from New York City Writers from Brooklyn