Wednesday is the yahrzeit of one of the most important Kabbalists of the modern era, Rabbi Chayim Vital (see first three articles), the only one permitted to record in writing the teachings of the Holy Ari of Safed (Rabbi Yitchak Luria). We read two portions this week; a common theme that bonds them is an unusual spiritual affliction that manifested as a skin eruption (see the last three articles). The middle article is for the second chapter of Pirkei Avot (as explained last week).