Education of a Kabbalist

In this memoir, Rav Berg illuminates the profound bond between teacher and student, painting a beautiful portrait of one of the greatest kabbalists of our time Rav Yehuda Brandwein. Set in Israel during the tumultuous days before and after the Six Day War, this book traces the development of their special relationship and shares the wisdom gleaned from it. Within its pages, we sense their passion for bringing the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah to the contemporary world. This is the spiritual journey that ultimately resulted in Rav Brandwein passing the responsibility of leadership of The Kabbalah Centre to Rav Berg.

Rav Berg was born August 20, 1927, in New York City. After many years of traditional religious study, he was ordained as a rabbi at Torah VaDaat. A businessman who wanted to make a difference in this world, he was always searching for his true path. Upon a chance meeting with Rav Yehuda Brandwein, Rav Berg knew he had found his teacher, and moved to Israel to study with Rav Brandwein at The Kabbalah Centre. After he returned to New York, Rav Berg maintained a written correspondence with Rav Brandwein who passed on his legacy as director of The Kabbalah Centre to Rav Berg.

Rav Berg made it his mission to continue editing, writing, printing, and distributing all that he learned from his teacher and began sharing the secrets of Kabbalah texts, which historically had been reserved for scholars. His book, Kabbalah for the Layman, was the revolutionary step that made Kabbalah accessible to every person. Rav Berg s other books include The Kabbalah Connection, Wheels of a Soul: Kabbalah and Reincarnation, To the Power of One, Energy of the Hebrew Letters, Immortality, Nano, The Kabbalah Method, Taming Chaos, and Education of a Kabbalist.

Together with his wife, Karen, Rav Berg opened the doors of The Kabbalah Centre to all who desire to learn this universal wisdom. Following Rav Berg's passing in September 2013, Karen Berg, the spiritual leader of The Kabbalah Centre, continues their work and vision with their son and co-director, Michael Berg.