Explore the members of our departmental board, a select group of leaders guiding our institution's vision and initiatives.
Sebastiano Gulli
SENIOR DIRECTOR, DEPT OF JUDAIC STUDIES
Sebastiano Gulli, born in Roccaforte del Greco (RC) on August 28, 1954, embarked on his journey into the world of Kabbalah at the age of 18, under the guidance of a Catholic priest. His pursuit continued until 1979, when he delved deeper into the esoteric realms of the Western tradition, exploring groups such as the Rosicrucians, Templars, and Golden Dawn. It was in 1986 that he found himself drawn to the Kabbalah Center of Rabbi Philip Berg, where he immersed himself in the study of Lurianic Kabbalah. His dedication led him to Paris every 15 days until 1998. Since then, Sebastiano Gulli has remained connected to various rabbinic sources, diligently continuing his exploration of Lurianic Kabbalah and practical Kabbalah. He is a prolific writer on Kabbalah, having penned numerous texts and translated pivotal works of the tradition, including the complete Zohar with Baal Ha-Sulam's commentary and the entirety of the Kitvei Ha-Ari. Since 2006, he has served as a valued member of the Academic Board for the Department of Jewish Studies at Providence University, where his expertise contributes to the evaluation and certification of translations of texts from the rich tradition of Jewish mysticism.
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Baal Even
SENIOR DIRECTOR, DEPT OF JUDAIC STUDIES & ULC RABBI
Born in 1972, the Baal Even embarked on a journey into Kabbalah from a tender age. He stands as the visionary behind the establishment of Providence University, an institution rooted in the creed of the Universal Life Church (ULC), which advocates for the inclusivity of all religious beliefs and the unification of diverse faiths to foster global harmony. Alongside the principles of the ULC, the Baal Even emphasizes mysticism as the heart of religion and asserts that a profound connection with the divine is essential for personal growth. He champions the idea that the gates of heaven should reopen to all and advocates for the accessibility of spiritual knowledge to everyone, promoting individual enlightenment and spiritual elevation. The Baal Even has promoted the translation of previously untranslated masterpieces of Jewish Kabbalah, facilitating their worldwide dissemination and contributing to a broader understanding of mysticism across cultures.
Yair Alon
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, DEPT OF JEWISH STUDIES & RABBI OF BETHEL SINAGOGUE
Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Yair Alon graduated in linguistics and holds a master's degree in Hebrew Language, Literature, and Culture from the University of São Paulo. A student of Kabbalah since the age of 13, he has had access to hundreds of Kabbalistic books. Learning this science, he began to apply it in his classes, lectures, consultations, and study groups. Over time, responding to requests from his students, he started writing books about Kabbalah and, to date, has many published works.