User:Shenkin25/Avraham Mordechai Gottlieb

Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Gottlieb (born 7th January 1963) is an Israeli rabbi, self-help guide, and leader of the Ashlag community in Telse Stone.

He has compiled dozens of books on Kabbalah and self help. He teaches in the methods of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag and Rabbi Baruch Shalom Ashlag.

Biography
Gottlieb was born and raised in Bnei Brak. From the age of 4, he began to learn with Rabbi Baruch Shalom Ashlag, the eldest son of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag, as one of his youngest students.

After 14 years of learning with Rabbi Ashlag, he went on to study in Yeshivat Beit Meir from Rabbi Zalman Rothberg.

Already from a young age, with approval from Rav Ashlag, Rabbi Gottlieb began to teach married students in the ways of Kabbalah.

In 1993, Rabbi Gottlieb left Bnei Brak to settle in Telse Stone. A short time after that, he established the community 'Birkat Shalom' where he continues to lecture on Ashlagian Kabbalah.

World View and Method of Teaching
Gottlieb, like Rabbi Baruch Shalom Ashlag, teaches Kabbalah according to the method of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag. Ashlag's Kabbalistic method involves thorough textual analysis, similar to methods of Talmud study. The commentaries of Rabbi Yehuda and Baruch Ashlag are utilised in a similar manner to the Rashi and Tosafot commentaries on the Talmud.

Rabbi Gottlieb's method of studying Kabbalah is to study the spiritual worlds from the perspective of the human world. This is in contrast to the Sephardic method, mainly perpetuated by the students of Rabbi Shalom Sharabi, who study Kabbalah in the abstract.

His views on various social issues are characterized by a marked social progressivism within a Haredi cultural context.

Most distinct in this is Gottlieb's feminist approach, where he believes women should be an integral part of public action, rigorous Torah study and self-employment.

In regards to the LGBT+ community, and other minorities living in Israel, Gottlieb advocates for a broader tolerance of these communities by the Israeli public.

Gottlieb is a strong critic of the meat industry, and has advocated a reduction in the use of disposable plastics.

Social Advocacy
As part of his efforts to promote social cohesion in Israeli society, Gottlieb lectures in institutions belonging to all sectors. He has done so at the Van Leer Institute and Bar-Ilan University, as well as various Dati and Haredi yeshivot.

Gottlieb has met with and taught multiple public figures in Israel, including Dr. Avichai Mandelblit, Tehila Friedman, Irit Mani-Gor, the philosopher Dr. Avraham Elkayim, Dr. Boaz Huss, and others.

In August of 2021, Gottlieb attended a lesbian wedding, and blessed the couple. The outcry from members of the Orthodox public lead Gottlieb to take a temporary hiatus from his rabbinic duties.

Published Works

 * Belevav Shalem - biographies and teachings of Rabbis Yehuda and Baruch Shalom Ashlag, as well as their students.
 * Ma'agalot HaShana - articles addressing Jewish holidats and the weekly Torah portion according to the method of Rabbi Ashlag.
 * Matan Torah - Various teachings of Rabbi Baruch Shalom Ashlag, with Rabbi Gottlieb's commentary.
 * Talmud Eser Sefirot - A stylistic editing of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag's commentary on Rabbi Isaac Luria's work.
 * Hakdamot LeHokhmat HaEmet - A compilation of work by Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag with articles and comments by Rabbi Gottlieb.
 * Petihah LeHokhmah HaKabbalah
 * Pri Hakham Igrot - Annotations on the letters of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag directed to his students.
 * Birkat Shalom Maamarim - A collection of articles written by Rabbi Gottlieb from between 1984 to 1991.
 * Brakha V'Shalom - Essays on fulfilling the religious and spiritual obligations of the Torah
 * Hashem Shemati Shemecha - Compiled teachings of students of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag.