Naphtali Bacharach

Naphtali Bacharach was born in Frankfurt. He spent some time among kabbalists in Poland before returning to Frankfurt in 1648, when he published his important kabbalistic work, Emek ha-melekh (Valley of the King). In this work, Bacharach comprehensively and systematically presents theology according to Lurianic kabbalah, drawing on a wide range of sources without formally acknowledging them. The work came to be regarded as the authoritative source on Lurianic doctrine and was quoted extensively. However, Bacharach has also been criticized for claiming that he was the “true interpreter” of Luria. Bacharach was an enthusiastic kabbalist, with a penchant for incorporating mystical and nonphilosophical elements. Although he refers to many other books that he wrote, only one, Gan ha-melekh (Garden of the King), on the Zohar, has survived (partially) in manuscript form.