Rabbi Ariel Bar Tzadok is a frequent guest on the History Channel's Ancient Aliens and the founder of the KosherTorah School. He is known for bridging the gap between Orthodox Jewish tradition, Kabbalah, and the modern "Ancient Astronaut" theory.
His perspective is unique because he argues that what modern society calls "aliens" or "UFOs" are actually the same entities described in ancient Jewish texts as angels, demons, and the Nephilim.
Core Philosophy: "We Are Not Alone"
Bar Tzadok teaches that Torah and Kabbalah explicitly document encounters with non-human intelligences. He posits several key ideas:
• Identical Entities: He believes that "aliens" are simply a modern, secular label for spiritual or physical beings that were well-known to the ancients. To him, an "alien abduction" might be what a Kabbalist would call a "visionary experience" or an "encounter with a Shed (demon)."
• The Nephilim & Fallen Angels: He often discusses the "Watchers" (from the Book of Enoch) and the Nephilim (Genesis 6), interpreting them as extraterrestrial or interdimensional beings who interacted with and genetically influenced humanity.
• Dimensional Reality: Rather than just "beings from other planets," he often describes these entities as interdimensional. He uses the Kabbalistic concept of multiple worlds (Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah) to explain where these beings reside and how they cross into our physical realm.
• Ma’aseh Merkavah: He interprets the "Work of the Chariot" (Ezekiel’s vision) as a literal description of advanced technology or celestial craft, rather than purely symbolic poetry.
Media Appearances and Works
Bar Tzadok’s role on Ancient Aliens is usually to provide the "Jewish/Kabbalistic perspective" on specific topics like the Ark of the Covenant, the Mana machine, or ancient high technology.
Key Books on the Subject:
• Aliens, Angels, and Demons: His most prominent work on this topic, exploring extraterrestrial life through the lens of Judaism and Kabbalah.
• What Torah Says About Extraterrestrial Life: An Orthodox review of UFO phenomena, close encounters, and government conspiracies.
Reception
In the Orthodox world, Bar Tzadok is a polarizing figure. While he is a traditionally trained Rabbi (ordained in Jerusalem), his willingness to engage with UFO culture and "Ancient Astronaut" theories is viewed by many mainstream scholars as "unconventional" or "fringe." However, he maintains that he is simply uncovering "Sitrei Torah" (secrets of the Torah) that have been hidden for centuries.
Would you like me to find a list of specific Ancient Aliens episodes he has appeared in, or perhaps a summary of his views on a specific biblical object like the Ark of the Covenant?
