You may have read in the popular media of “Kabala”. People in the limelight such as Madonna have become involved with this mystical aspect of spirituality. You may well of wondered about Cabala – what it is all about and even if in any manner are Cabbalists related in any manner to Scientology in its various aspects. Or even has this aspect of Jewish spirituality taken over in the limelight by any manner from Scientology and its followers and precepts.
Literally in the Hebrew language (the historic language of the bible), the word Kabala translates as “tradition”. Kabbalah as a spiritual practice can be summarized and explained as a form, or even in many authorities’ eyes, as Jewish mysticism.
Kabbalah can be said to be an attempt to fathom the mysteries of the master of the universe and the mysteries of the creation of entirety. The Kabbalists developed a complete and full philosophic system during the Middle Ages. The Talmud itself contains mystical interpretations of the Biblical story of creation. With the appearance of the “Zohar” in the thirteen (13’ Th) centuries, the study of Kabbalah gained great renown and popularity.
Jewish mysticism attracted itself to many and varied remarkable personalities , some of whom even considered themselves even to be the messiah or Messiach” themselves Amazingly even one such event transfixed itself with Abraham Abulafia ( 1240 – 1291) who regarded himself as the fore runner of said Messiah / Messiach, even attempting to convert none less than the Pope himself to Judaism.
Kabalistic teaching gained in intensity and scope in sixteenth century Safed/ This town in the upper Galilee in the modern day state of Israel, became a center of Jewish mysticism ; its foremost teachers of Kabbalah included Issac Luria ( 1534 1572). A practical or miracle working mystic, Luria claimed that the prophets of creation had been revealed to him personally, by none other than the prophet “Elijah”. Luria believed that human beings could attain full identification with the Divine Spirit through intense concentration, referred to as kavvanah”.
This theory was described by Luria’s disciple Hayim Vital, in his book “Et Hayim” (which translates fully as “The Tree of Life” Another famous Kabbalist. Moshe Cordovero, formulated Kabbalistic teachings in a philosophic system. His contemporary, Isiah Hurwitz (1555 1625) interpreted the teachings of Judaism in light of the Kabala. Isiah Hurwitz sought with the other inspired mystics of his generation to hasten the coming and arrival of the Messiah.
It can be said that during extreme hardship as well difficult and strenuous times for Jews and Jewish communities far flung across Europe, Asia and Africa, that the teachings of Kabala greatly contributed to the rise of messianic hopes and in time influenced Hasidism profoundly. Indeed fully Jewish folklore grew and thrived on the Kabbala’s poetic and magical elements.
In summary it can be said that while Kabala, its teachings and philosophy are new on the mainstream limelight. On the other hand Kabbala and Cabbalist teachings are nothing new. The come with a solid and deep historical history and foundings’.
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