Kabbalah, << kab uh LAH, >> is the traditional name for the teachings of Jewish mysticism. The term–also spelled Cabala, Kabala, or kabbala–means what is handed down or received in Hebrew.
Jewish mysticism dates back to ancient times.The early writings describe the wondrous journeys of sages who ascend through heavenly palaces filled with angels to behold the Divine Presence on His throne. Other early works explore the secrets of creation as well as magical formulas and practices.
The greatest period of Kabbalah came in the Middle Ages, reaching its peak in the 1200’s in Spain. There, a mystic named Moses de Leon “discovered” and published the Zohar (Book of Splendor). Although de Leon and his followers claimed the Zohar was written by an ancient sage named Simeon bar Yohai, most modern scholars believe de Leon was the author. In vivid detail, the Zohar spells out the different aspects of God. These aspects consist of qualities such as Beauty, Glory, Judgment, and Mercy that are called Sefirot (Emanations). The Zohar urges believers to study and meditate on these Sefirot. The book also stresses religious observances and ethical deeds.
A second important center of Kabbalah arose in Palestine (now Israel) in the early 1500’s. Building on the Zohar’s teachings, a Jerusalem-born rabbi named Isaac Luria taught what he called the doctrine of Tikkun (repair). Luria instructed his followers that strict observance of Jewish law, understood mystically, could release sparks of imprisoned divine light and hasten the coming of the Messiah.
The last major flowering of Kabbalah came in Hasidism, a mystical movement that began in the 1700’s in Poland and spread throughout Jewish eastern Europe. Hasidism emphasizes prayer and song and other religious experiences as a way of communing with God.
Some people associate Kabbalah with fantastic interpretations of the hidden meanings of numbers and letters in the Bible and with miraculous acts. However, these elements play a smaller role in Kabbalah than popularly supposed.
