Day of Hilula
Rabbi Moshe Cordovero
כ״ג בתמוז
Safed, the Land of Israel
In Jewish tradition, the day of a tzadik's passing — the 'Hilula' — is not a day of mourning, but a day of spiritual elevation and awakening. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, on this day the soul of the tzadik ascends to a higher realm, and their light and merits shine upon the world. Many Jews mark the day through Torah study, reciting Tehillim, lighting a memorial candle, and good deeds for the elevation of the soul — to connect with the tzadik's path and qualities.
His Life and Legacy
The Ramak's legacy stands at the foundation of the esoteric tradition of the later generations. Pardes Rimonim is the first systematic work of Kabbalah, and Tomer Devorah became a widespread work of ethics across all streams of Judaism. Although the Kabbalah of the Arizal pushed his system aside, the study of his books has not ceased to this day, and many see it as a necessary introduction to understanding the Kabbalah of the Arizal. His grave in the old cemetery of Safed, near the Arizal, is a pilgrimage site.
"Everything that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought about in His world is for the good"