Translation of Rabbi Yitzhak Benzecry’s Endorsement

Rabbi Avinoam Fraenkel presented me with a precious jewel, an English translation of the holy work Shomer Emunim by the Kabbalist, the godly one, Rabbi Yosef Ergas, of saintly, holy and blessed memory. This was after he had proven himself with his translation of the famous work Nefesh HaChaim by the student of the Vilna Gaon, of saintly, holy and blessed memory, the great genius, the Kabbalist, Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, of saintly, holy and blessed memory. He received approbation for his substantial work from several important Rabbis and Kabbalists of our generation.

It is well-known that the abovementioned work, Shomer Emunim, is one of the basic books for those wanting to initiate Kabbalah study. It also validates and clearly proves that Kabbalah study is an absolute obligation for every single one of [the People of] Israel. With great wisdom it dismantles the views of all those who oppose this holy study. [It explains] that without study of the innermost parts of the Torah, understanding [of the Torah] is deficient. Not only this, but the foundations of our Holy Torah such as the belief in One God, Divine Providence, etc., cannot be properly understood without Kabbalah study. It also explains many of the Kabbalistic concepts that are brought in the writings of the Zohar and the Arizal.

Now, that which brought the abovementioned Rabbi to translate the work Shomer Emunim into English is: That he saw among our People those who are thirsting to understand Kabbalah, an impossibility for them as they do not have a proper command of Hebrew; And to properly define the concept of Kabbalah study for those who stray in their understanding of it; In addition, for those who turn to study [Kabbalah] from people who masquerade as Rabbis, pretending that they have Kabbalistic knowledge, whereas in truth they have no part of it, and they cause all those who are deceived to follow them to stumble with lies and falsehood, and this is a significant impediment, especially outside of the Land [of Israel].

Therefore, the abovementioned Rabbi was motivated out of holiness to translate the work Shomer Emunim into English, which explains the importance and benefits of Kabbalah: To provide the possibility for all those who yearn, to see the Hidden Light [of Kabbalah] in our Holy Torah; And to properly define what Kabbalah study is; And to demonstrate to those who stray after the abovementioned imposters what the Kabbalah truly is and what are its true definitions.

I pray and believe that no fault will be caused by the abovementioned Rabbi as his intention is for the sake of Heaven, and he should merit, with God’s help, to have all the Heavenly assistance required to publish this important work for the benefit of the public who thirst for the word of God.

I hereby give my heartfelt blessing that his wellsprings should disseminate outwards, and that he should merit to publish additional important compositions to merit the public, with good health and enlightenment. He should ascend to the loftiest heights of Torah and Divine service and merit abundant holy pleasure from all his family, and we should all merit to greet our saintly Messiah and the imminent building of our holy and glorious Temple. Amen, may it be His Will.

Yitzhak Benzecry

Author of the Pachad Yitzchak series of works on the holy works of the Etz Chaim and Shaar HaKavanot.