Shalom Buzaglo


Shalom Ben Moses Buzaglo was a Moroccan kabbalist born in Marrakesh and filled the position of dayyan. Owing to voyages in the Orient made in his capacity of collector of alms for the relief of the poor in Palestine, he became acquainted with the chief Kabbalists of the period. He also visited Europe, and sojourned for some time in London. He was tortured by the Sultan and left for England in 1745, where he remained until his death.
Although his Kabbalistic works bear his name on the title-page, they are merely compilations of teachings attributed to Isaac Luria and Hayyim ben Joseph Vital. Buzaglio took part in the discussion, which arose among many Kabbalists, as to whether Jews should be allowed to undergo vaccination, which had been discovered shortly before that day. Buzaglio pronounced himself in favor of vaccination, but disputed the priority of Jenner in regard to its discovery.

Published works

Miḳdash Melek, a commentary on the Zohar, published by Meldola ;
Hadrat Melek, a commentary on the Zohar, compiled from Isaac Luria and Ḥayyim Vital ;
Kisse Melek, annotations on the Tiḳḳune Zohar ;
Hod Melek, commentary on the book Zeni'uta of the Zohar ;
Sefer ha-Zohar, notes on the Zohar, published together with the text ;
Kebod Melek, a collection of Kabbalistic derashot ;
Ma'aseh she-Hayah Kak-Hayah, report of the proceedings of a lawsuit ;
Kunṭras Ma'aseh Adonai Ki Nora Hu, an appeal to the public concerning the authority of Buzaglio's judgment in a lawsuit, in Hebrew and Judæo-German ;
Tokaḥat le-Shobabim we-Taḳḳanah le-Shabim, consisting of two letters to Israel Meshullam Solomon, also concerning Buzaglio's lawsuit.
He authored a number of commentaries on Zohar:
This is the first systematic commentary on the Zohar to be published.
"These were based mainly on Lurianic Kabbalah,
including all the scattered work of Isaac Luria's disciples,
which Buzaglo usually copied word for word,
occasionally quoting other opinions.
Although this book does not convey the literal meaning of the Zohar,
it has continuing value for scholars."
Encyclopaedia Judaica. Scholem, Bib. Kabbalistica, 188:15. Vinograd, Amsterdam, 1633. Zedner 163.