Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel is the head of the Kabbalah Yeshiva Ahavat Shalom in Jerusalem. He's been described as a prolific author and [|publisher] of sefarim; most of his [|numerous works], are about Kabbalah. Among his primary students are rabbis Daniel Frisch and Shimshon Pinkus.
Biography
He was born in Mumbai, India to Moshe Hillel. In adulthood, he lived in England, studied at the Gateshead Yeshiva, and later immigrated to Israel and studied at the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, where he became attached to and became a Talmid Muvhak of Rav Shach. He married Ziona, daughter of Rabbi Yitzhak Ohana, who was the chief rabbi of Kiryat Shmona. After marrying, he studied at the Dane and Rabbinical Training Institute established by Rishon Lezion, Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim, and at the Harry Fishel Institute. Among other things, he learned the basics of Kabbalah from Rabbi Mordechai Attia. Among his organization-building accomplishments are:
He founded a yeshiva named Ahavat Shalom in the early 1970s, at which he began his daily classes in Kabbalah. Nowadays is the thirg biggest Yeshivah of the world, after Lakewood's and Mir.
Uses his English-speaking background from his years at Gateshead to facilitate his Kiruv work.
Founded a girl's seminary, Bnos Elisheva, in 2002.
Personal
He had 19 children. Prior to marrying, he was an artist, hence the title of Kol Hazman's biography: From Artist/Painter to Gaonic Kabbalist."
Works
Many of the titles that use the word Yam refer to Hillel's initials, Yud Mem. Similary, HaYam adds the letter Hay, for Hillel. His books are:
Aspaklariya DeNahara - Annotation on the Preface of the River Streets of the Rash. Contains two commentaries: one called "Nahara uPashta" and the other named "MayAmKay HaYam."
GeVurot Ha-Ari - Answers and Articles on resolving halachic and Kabalistic disputes
Ruach HaYam - assorted conversations and articles : Kiruv, Peter Chamor, laws dealing with a new Sefer Torah, the mitzvah of Torah study, preventing desecration of graves, proper inspection of Torah scrolls & Tefillin.
* Ruach HaYam - Hespedim : a same-year publication of Divrei Hesped for Rav Shach, Rav Elyashiv, and 11 others. Also has 4 more chapters done in honor/in memory of.
Pe'At HaYam al Shaar HaKaVaNot - writings about Passover, the counting of the Omer, and Shavuot.
PeTach Shaar HaShamayim & Binyan Ariel - about studying Kabbalah
Shorshei HaYam at Etz Chaim - teachings based on Chaim Vital's Etz Chaim.
English
Faith and Folly: The Occult in Torah Perspective was originally published in Hebrew as Tamim Tiheyeh.
Ascending Jacob's Ladder - a collection of essays on basic Jewish topics, based on "Midrash, Mussar, and Kabbalah."
Roni Akarah'': A Guide for the Childless
The Ben Ish Hai: The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Yosef Hayym
Manuscripts/editing
He also edited works, based on existing manuscripts, on various Halachic topics:
Bein ZroOs Olam - regarding positioning of a bed
Oter Yisroel BeSifAra - regarding Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin; whether they may both be worn simultaneously.
VaYaTzetz Tzitz - Kabbalistic view on having the fringes of the "minor" Talis should be visible.
Hillel oversees publication of works published by his yeshiva; these are not limited to writings about Kabbalah. A professional reviewer praised one such work's introduction by Hillel, that it "observes correctly.. that the notes taken.. author.. proficiency."
In his name
An article about a 3 volume set, "KitVuNi LeDoRot" says that "large parts of the book were copied from his book Binyan Ariel. The published work was written to honor Hillel, and the title, which means write about me for posterity refers to a statement by Queen Esther.
MeKavTsiel magazine
His teachings are also published in MeKavTsiel magazine.
''Darchei'' link
As a Sephardic sage, he has been visiting Yeshiva Darchei Torah since 2004.
