Kabbalah (pronounced kah-bah-LAH) (Hebrew: קַבָּלָה, Qabbalah lit. "receiving"; Qabala) is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the mystical aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It is a set of esoteric teachings meant to explain the relationship between an eternal and mysterious Creator and the mortal and finite universe (His creation).
The term "Kabbalah" comes from the Hebrew verb lekabbel, "to receive" or "to accept." Kabbalistic knowledge is said to have been passed down from Abraham through the generations. As with Halakhah, Kabbalah evolved by word of mouth, with each kabbalist leaving his own unique imprint.
While it is heavily used by some denominations, it is not a denomination in and of itself; it is a set of scriptures that exist outside the traditional Jewish Scriptures. Kabbalah seeks to define the nature of the universe and the human being, the nature and purpose of existence, and various other ontological questions. It also presents methods to aid understanding of these concepts and to thereby attain spiritual realization.
Kabbalah originally developed entirely within the realm of Jewish thought and constantly uses classical Jewish sources to explain and demonstrate its esoteric teachings. These teachings are thus held by kabbalists to define the inner meaning of both the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and traditional rabbinic literature, as well as to explain the significance of Jewish religious observances.
The Sephardic community in Spain also saw the emergence or revival (as you will see, this has yet to be determined) of Jewish mysticism, or Kabbalah, a Jewish mystical tradition that would spread to other Jewish communities. Kabbalah was shrouded in mystery and required years of study for initiation.
Mystical Origins
The pre-eminent Kabbalistic writing is the Zohar ("The Book of Splendor"). Appropriately enough, its origin is shrouded in mystery. According to tradition, it is believed that following the failed revolt of Bar Kokhba and the execution of Rabbi Akiva in the second century Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, or Rashbi (an abbreviation of his name), escaped with his son and went into seclusion for thirteen years.
Many kabbalists believe that while hiding out in caves, Rashbi had composed the Zohar,working it out in his head. Later, he dictated it to Rabbi Aba, who transcribed the material in the form of parables. However, not long after the time of the Rashbi, the Zoharmysteriously vanished.
Kabbalistics claim the the Zohar remained hidden until it was found again in Spain. Others belive that the Zohar origins are a fable, and ir was written sometime in the 1280's by Moses Ben Shem Tov, a leading spanish Kabbalist. Regardless of its origins, however the Zohar is the foremost tome on Kabbalah.
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