Born in Jerusalem, he was a student of the holy Rabbi Moshe Cordevero. After the passing of his mentor, he started elucidating the wisdom of kabbala. The Ridbaz told him that he should not engage in the esoteric teachings of Torah publicly, because it was far too deep and scholarly. The Ari did not put his teachings in writing, rather he transmitted them orally to his outstanding student, R’ Chaim Vital, who later compiled the Ari’s words for public use. He lived in the Holy City of Tzfat for about a year and a half, and passed away there on the 5th of Menachem Av 5332, at the age of thirty-eight.
