R. Moses Hayyim Luzzatto (Ramhal, 1707–1746), kabbalist, writer of ethical works, and Hebrew poet; leader of a group of religious thinkers, who were mainly interested in the problems of redemption and messianism and probably tried to use their mystical knowledge to hasten the era of redemption. Ramhal was born in Padua, Italy, into one of the most important, oldest, and most respectable families in Italian Jewry. Regarded as a genius from childhood, he knew Bible, Talmud, Midrash, halakhic literature, and classical languages and literature thoroughly. He also had an extensive knowledge of contemporary Italian culture. Ramhal had a good scientific education, but his chief interest in Western culture was in literature. His main teachers were R. Isaac Cantarini, who taught him poetry and secular sciences, and R. Isaiah Bassan, who taught him mainly Kabbalah and became his friend and protector. Ramhal's achievements, personality, and great knowledge of mysticism made him a leader of a group of young men in Padua, many of whom came there to study at the city's famous university and thus represented the more open and aware element among young Jews in Italy and in Eastern Europe. The group was formed originally for collective study, but eventually a more active line was adopted.

Probably the most important event in Ramhal's personal life occurred in 1727. While he was immersed in kabbalistic speculations, he suddenly heard a divine voice, which he believed to be that of a maggid (i.e., a divine power inclined to reveal heavenly secrets to human beings). From that moment, the Maggid spoke to Ramhal frequently and he noted these revelations, which comprised his kabbalistic writings for a few years. Most of them have not survived; only a few are known and have been published. Ramhal used the maggid's revelations in his teachings to the members of the group around him, which by then had become a secret group dealing in messianic speculations and activity. One of the members of this group, R. Jekuthiel Gordon, described in some letters the activities and character of the group. One of these letters fell into the hands of Moses Hagiz, who believed it to be a description of a typical Shabbatean heretical group. R. Hagiz addressed the rabbis of Venice, warning them of the danger he believed this activity signified, and the rabbis turned to R. Isaiah Bassan, Ramhal's teacher, who tried to defend his beloved pupil. A vehement controversy followed, in which many of the leading rabbis of Italy took part, and numerous personal attacks were made on Ramhal. It was believed that only a perfect scholar and kabbalist could receive a revelation from a maggid, and many thought that the young, unmarried Ramhal did not measure up to that standard. According to a later testimony, a search was made at his home, and evidence of dealings in magic were uncovered. After a long struggle, Ramhal yielded (1730) and agreed to give his kabbalistic writings to R. Bassan for safekeeping, to refrain from writing the maggid's revelations (at least while out of the Holy Land), and not teach Kabbalah. This compromise did not resolve the conflict. In 1731 Ramhal married. The continuing controversy in Italy forced him to leave for Amsterdam in 1735. While breaking his journey in Frankfort, he asked for the protection of R. Jacob ha-Kohen. The latter, instead of helping him, used threats to make Ramhal sign a statement denouncing the Maggid's revelations and his kabbalistic teachings as false (the rabbis of Venice had meanwhile announced that these writings should be burned). Ramhal's writings were handed over to R. Jacob ha-Kohen, who probably burned some of them and hid the rest. Settling in Amsterdam, where he was left in peace, Ramhal wrote on many subjects, but he did not openly teach Kabbalah. In 1743 he went to Erez Israel, probably in order to escape from the prohibition on teaching Kabbalah. He lived a short time in Acre, and died there, with his family, in a plague.

דף [5,ב]: זמרת האר"ש. שיר לכבוד המחבר מאת תלמידו דוד פראנקו מינדיס, שברשותו נמצא כתב-היד של הספר. פותח: מה זה יוסיפו לך במנוחתיך. [1], ג דף, עם שער מיוחד: מאמר על ההגדות; בו מדובר... על דברי חז"ל והגדותיהם... למען לא ישלחו הסכלים ובלתי מלומדים... ידיהם לפרש דברי חז"ל בדיעות זרים... [1], ז דף, עם שער מיוחד: מאמר העיקרים; ישא מדברותיו על ה' ועל משיחו: על הנבואה ועל ההשגחה: על גן עדן ועל גהינם. על התורה ועל העבודה: על הנסים... ועוד... [1], י דף, עם שער מיוחד: מאמר החכמה... בסוד ה`, על תפלת ראש השנה, על הגלגול, מגלה רזיא בסדר ליל פסח... על עשר הספירות... על הנשמה ועל ד עולמות... הסכמות: ר' דוד הכהן די אזיוידו, אמשטרדם, משפטים תקמ"ג; ר' שאול [ב"ר אריה ליב לעווענשטאם], אמשטרדם, י אדר-א תקמ"ג; ר' אברהם טובייאנה מארגיל [אלג'יר], אמשטרדם, כח אדר-א תקמ"ג.