Pascal Themanlys
Encyclopedia
Pascal Themanlys was a French (later Israeli) poet, Zionist
, and Kabbalist
. His books on Jewish mysticism have been published in French, English and Hebrew.
Pascal was born in Paris; his French parents Louis and Claire Themanlys were important disciples of Max Theon
, and in charge of the "Cosmic Movement" in France. Pascal himself only met Theon once in 1920 (when he was eleven, Théon was well into his seventies), although he claimed later he was initiated
by his father Louis. This supplemented his own studies of traditional Lurianic
Kabbalah.
At fifteen, he published his first collection of poems, work of poems, a booklet called the Emerald Monocle, in 1924. He met a number of important authors and artists such as Rabindranath Tagore
and Paul Valéry
. In 1934 his book Les merveilles du Becht (Wonders of Becht) was published, the first book in French about the Baal Shem Tov.
During the Second World War he was a member of the French resistance
. In 1947, he married his wife, Raymonde; they would later have three children.
In 1949 he emigrated to Israel where he became the head the French section of the Department of Information of the Jewish Agency.
He was also the founder of the Amitiés Israël-France (Israel-France Friendship) society.
After his retirement from the civil service he founded the Argaman Center, and taught and studied Kabbalah. He seems to have had a very poor opinion of liberal Judaism.
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
, and Kabbalist
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
. His books on Jewish mysticism have been published in French, English and Hebrew.
Pascal was born in Paris; his French parents Louis and Claire Themanlys were important disciples of Max Theon
Max Theon
Max Théon perhaps born Louis-Maximilian Bimstein, was a Polish Jewish Kabbalist and Occultist. In London while still a young man, he inspired The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor in 1884, but seemed to have little to do with the day to day running of the organisation, or indeed its actual teachings...
, and in charge of the "Cosmic Movement" in France. Pascal himself only met Theon once in 1920 (when he was eleven, Théon was well into his seventies), although he claimed later he was initiated
Initiation
Initiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components...
by his father Louis. This supplemented his own studies of traditional Lurianic
Isaac Luria
Isaac Luria , also called Yitzhak Ben Shlomo Ashkenazi acronym "The Ari" "Ari-Hakadosh", or "Arizal", meaning "The Lion", was a foremost rabbi and Jewish mystic in the community of Safed in the Galilee region of Ottoman Palestine...
Kabbalah.
At fifteen, he published his first collection of poems, work of poems, a booklet called the Emerald Monocle, in 1924. He met a number of important authors and artists such as Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
and Paul Valéry
Paul Valéry
Ambroise-Paul-Toussaint-Jules Valéry was a French poet, essayist, and philosopher. His interests were sufficiently broad that he can be classified as a polymath...
. In 1934 his book Les merveilles du Becht (Wonders of Becht) was published, the first book in French about the Baal Shem Tov.
During the Second World War he was a member of the French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. In 1947, he married his wife, Raymonde; they would later have three children.
In 1949 he emigrated to Israel where he became the head the French section of the Department of Information of the Jewish Agency.
He was also the founder of the Amitiés Israël-France (Israel-France Friendship) society.
After his retirement from the civil service he founded the Argaman Center, and taught and studied Kabbalah. He seems to have had a very poor opinion of liberal Judaism.
External links and references
- Pascal Themanlys - biography on Cosmique Review
- Oscar Laurens Schrover 2002 Pathotism is empathy - includes biographical comments
- Pascal Themanlys miscellaneous notes, on Kheper