Pascal Themanlys

Pascal Themanlys was a French-born Israeli poet, Zionist and Kabbalist who wrote books on Jewish mysticism.

1909 to 2000Books on Jewish mysticismFirst French book on Baal Shem TovFounding the Argaman CenterFounding Israel-France Friendship society

Born: 27 September 1909, Paris
Died: 25 June 2000, Jerusalem
Occupation: writer, poet

Pascal Themanlys was born in 1909 in Paris

Pascal Themanlys was born in Paris in 1909. His parents, Louis and Claire Themanlys, were followers of Max Theon and ran the Cosmic Movement in France. He met Theon once, in 1920, and later said his father had initiated him, alongside his own study of Lurianic Kabbalah.

In 1924 he published his first booklet of poems, called the Emerald Monocle. He met writers and artists such as Rabindranath Tagore and Paul Valéry. His 1934 book Wonders of Becht was the first book in French about the Baal Shem Tov.

During the Second World War he took part in the French resistance. In 1947 he married Raymonde, and they had 3 children.

In 1949 he moved to Israel and headed the French section of the Jewish Agency's Department of Information. He founded the Israel-France Friendship society. After retiring from the civil service, he founded the Argaman Center, where he taught and studied Kabbalah. He died in 2000.