Kabbalah
Explore Kabbalah
WHAT IS KABBALAH?
Kabbalah (meaning “to receive”) is regarded as the soul of the Torah and the most well-known school of thought of Jewish Mysticism. It embodies the philosophy, insight and practices aimed at understanding the secret meaning, relationship and workings between the universe, the eternal, unchanging God, Creation and Man. While the teachings may be transcendental, theoretical and mystical, the ultimate purpose in the study of Kabbalah is simple and practical; to attain the perfection of Self by overcoming Ego and negativity. It is a study of life through living and everyday experiences to be a better, more expanded, present and sharing individual connected to God and Soul. At the heart of the teachings is the notion that man lives in a 1% reality - an illusion limited by the five senses, separate from others and the Creator, stuck in a time continuum of past and future. Kabbalah illuminates the true 99% reality - that there is nothing but the Infinite/Light and humanity are all one Soul.
Another name for Kabbalah is “Torah ha-Sod”. This can be translated as “secret teachings” or “teaching of the secret”. It is for this reason that many incorrectly believe that the lessons are reserved for a select few (men over 40 who have been studying Torah their whole lives). When the truth is that the teachings are for everyone. As anyone who ever wondered and asked Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose? Who is my Soulmate? What is Love? Where is God? Kabbalah provides insight and guidance to address these profound thoughts. However, in order to achieve the desired result of understanding and attaining lasting fulfillment, effort is required. Inspired action, transformation, acts of kindness, unconditional love, sharing and charity are essential. One must give in order to receive. However the desire to receive should not be for the self alone - it must be for the purpose of sharing and revealing Light.
HOW TO PRACTICE KABBALAH
In Kabbalah, Hebrew is considered to be the language of Creation and great significance is attached to the formulation of words, roots, numerical values and connecting the deeper meanings of words and phrases. Gematria is the numerical methodology where each Hebrew letter has a corresponding number (Aleph, the first letter of the Alphabet is 1, Bet is 2, Gimel 3, etc.) By adding together the values of each letter, the numerical value of the word is derived. Words that have the same numerical values may have hidden meanings or are significantly connected in profound ways. Further, as outlined in the Sefer Yetzirah (one of the earliest texts) it is written that God created the entire Universe through the power of the Hebrew letters and their numerical values. A beautiful example of this is the Hebrew word for Love (Ahava) with a numerical value of 13. The Shema Prayer (the cornerstone of Judaism and Kabbalah) ends with the final verse “the Lord is One”. “One” in Hebrew is “Echad” which also has a numerical value of 13. The sages teach that on the deepest mystical level, God’s Oneness is inextricably connected to the concept of Love. “One Love” can only be achieved within the Divine Light of this existence that offers the opportunity to make one’s correction and complete the process of the body/soul experience in this lifetime. Also, love must be shared in order to be revealed. In addition, when two are joined in Love; 13 + 13 the total is 26. This is the numerical value of the Tetragrammaton, the four letter name of God that represents the highest spirituality. It is so elevated that Kabbalists do not pronounce this word and instead refer to it as YHVH. Further study reveals the connection between this 26 letter name for God and Phi which reflect the Golden Ratio/Divine Proportion as seen through Creation. There are infinite connections between words with the same numerical values, however, the ultimate goal is to reveal that we are all One (Echad) and that it is Ahava (Love) that achieves Unity and the ultimate goal of Peace, Happiness and Abundance. When mankind can truly Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself eternal fulfillment will be achieved. This is the fundamental lesson of Kabbalah.
Man can connect directly with God through the practice of Kavanah. Translated as “Intention” or “Direction of the Heart”, it refers to the state of mind, sincerity, focused concentration and emotional devotion required prior to praying, saying blessings, meditating and performing good deeds (mitzvot). In the context of Kabbalah, one’s heart, mind and soul are united with God through prayer.
WHERE DID KABBALAH ORIGINATE?
Most scholars believe Kabbalah pre-dates world religions, forming the primordial blueprint for creation's philosophies, religions, sciences, arts, and political systems. The earliest known Jewish text on magic and cosmology, the Sefer Yetzira (“Book of Creation”), appeared sometime between the 3rd and the 6th century. It explained creation as a process involving the 10 divine numbers (sefirot) of God the Creator and the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Taken together, they were said to constitute the “32 paths of secret wisdom.” (It is from this reference that the name of this website was derived).
Translated as “Splendor” or “Radiance” The Zohar is a collection of written, mystical commentaries on the Torah and considered to be the cornerstone of Kabbalah. Written in Aramaic, the sacred teachings were compiled in the 2nd century by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and were handed down from one generation of mystics to another. Kabbalah experienced a renaissance in Safed, Israel in the16th-century. Isaac Luria and Yisrael Ben Eliezer (The Bal Shem Tov), considered to be the fathers of contemporary Kabbalah, taught and popularized in the form of Hasidic Judaism from the 18th century onwards. During the 20th century, academic interest in Kabbalah was led by the German-born Israeli, Gershom Scholem. He is considered by many to be the founder of the modern academic study of Kabbalah as the first professor of Jewish Mysticism in Jerusalem at Hebrew University.
WHY PRACTICE KABBALAH?
Kabbalah is the belief in direct communication with God that transcends ordinary understanding through physical and spiritual experiences. Kabbalah is wonderful at providing helpful frameworks that can be used to make sense of and derive deeper meaning from daily experiences. As God exists everywhere at all times, Kabbalists view everyone and everything as part of God and the One Reality. Learning and practicing Kabbalah helps to understand the secrets of the universe to live a purposeful and fulfilled life.
Kabbalah Resources
Kabbalah Podcasts
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Kabbalah Books
Aryeh Kaplan | Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan has translated Sefer Yetzirah, the oldest and most mysterious of all kabbalistic texts, and now brings its theoretical, meditative, and magical implications to light. He expounds on the dynamics of the spiritual domain, the worlds of the Sefirot, souls, and angels. When properly understood, Sefer Yetzirah becomes the instruction manual for a very special type of meditation meant to strengthen concentration and to aid the development of telekinetic and telepathic powers.
Aryeh Kaplan | The Kabbalah is divided into three branches―the theoretical, the meditative, and the practical. While many books, both in Hebrew and English, have explored the theoretical Kabbalah, virtually nothing has been published regarding the meditative methods of these schools. This is the first book published in any language that reveals the methodology of the Kabbalists and stresses the meditative techniques that were essential to their discipline. Kaplan offers a lucid presentation of the mantras, mandalas, and other devices used by these schools, as well as a penetrating interpretation of their significance in light of contemporary meditative research.
Laibl Wolf | Kabbalah is an ancient Jewish wisdom that explains the laws of spiritual energy. Up until very recently the Kabbalah was reserved for the elite, those who only after years of scholarship and practice were allowed to enter this mystical realm. However, one doesn't need to devote one's life to intense study to reap the rich rewards of the Kabbalah. With just a basic understanding of a few key concepts, our lives can be enriched immensely. We can then begin to fulfill our deepest dreams and reach our most important goals, becoming the people we long to become.
Rav P.S. Berg | According to the Zohar, among God’s first creations were the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Kabbalah teaches that the alphabet, called “ivrit in Hebrew, comes from the root word lavir, or to transfer. Far more than simple symbols of communication, the letters transfer energy from the Light of God into the physical world. The story of the letters as they pleaded their respective cases for the primary role in God’s creative process is the blueprint by which Creation was made possible. In his new book, Rav Berg reveals the spiritual meaning and history of each of the 22 letters: how and why each was created, and what energy it transmits. Berg uses quantum physics to illustrate this bedrock of Kabbalah, proving that this truly is a time when physicists and metaphysicists are joining hands and minds.
Kabbalah Classes & Learning
Live online courses and pre-recorded video lessons allow you to explore the wisdom of Kabbalah to improve your daily life. At the core of the world’s great religions and spiritual traditions is the wisdom of Kabbalah. Understanding this wisdom and living it has the power to reveal your unique purpose and align you with your best life.
Dive into articles, videos, and full online lessons on the wisdom of Kabbalah with Aish. Embrace the spiritual wisdom to enhance your everyday existence.
Kabbalah & Mysticism 101 | MyJewishLearning
Learn all about Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism, from its origins and foundations to its modern practice and integration within the New Age spirituality movement.
An Introduction to Kabbalah for the 21st Century | Udemy
Are you looking for answers to the big questions of life? Do you want to engage the world with meaning and purpose? Are you seeking more depth in your day to day routine? This course is for you! In this introductory course we will learn what mysticism is and how it is found in the Jewish religion. We will learn the history and development of Kabbalah, its major concepts and rituals, and its application in our real lives.
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