Question

A disciple of this thinker discussed one of his ideas in terms of a “folded garment” with 231 “gates.” A process discussed by this thinker begins with the formation of the Father and the Small Face among other “faces” in the world of emanation. This thinker imagined a cosmic catastrophe in which light emanated from the Primordial Man and then shattered the vessels that were meant to receive it, (15[1])causing sparks to be trapped in “husks” called (*) qlippoth (“kleep-OTE”). This thinker (10[1])lived in Safed and taught (10[1])Chaim Vital, who collected his teachings like tikkun olam in the book Etz Chaim. According to this thinker, creation began when Ein Sof, the Infinite, performed an act of “withdrawal” or “contraction” called tzimtzum. For 10 points, name this 16th-century rabbi known as “the lion” who pioneered a namesake branch of Kabbalah. ■END■ (10[1]0[1])

ANSWER: Isaac Luria [or Yitzchak Luria or the Arizal or Ha’Ari or Ha’Ari Hakodosh] (The disciple in the lead-in is Israel Sarug.)
<JF, Religion (Judaism)>
= Average correct buzz position

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