Seeking information about the Kaballah please?

Question

I hear odd tidbits in the general media about what the Kaballah actually is, and what language in which it is written. I've even heard some say that you do not have to be able to read the text, they believe just holding the book is enough? Is this ancient text available in print?

Yes indeed, the many ways I have found it spelled have caused me much grief in trying to find a concise definition. I do thank all who have responded politely, but am still questioning if this is a "book" available for purchase, or a "spiritual journey" that must be taken with a guide of somekind?

Answer 1

First of all, to TRULY honor the Qaballah, you should be male and at least 40, but those rules have been thrown out the window.
Anyway, the Qaballah is a branch of Jewish mysticism, parallel to the lines of witchcraft and sorcery.
The rituals include intoning the ancient names for God (YHVH, Adonai, etc.).
I believe that the Hollywood version of studying the Qaballah deals mostly with the spiritual messages and not the actual practices.

Answer 2

Kaballah is not an ancient text, it is an ancient belief. There are many books written on the study of Kaballah, and there is also much information on the internet about it. Look something up, but be prepared. It is a life-long study. Every time you think you get it, you find there is a deeper meaning to it all. The free masons study the Kaballah. There are also many different accepted ways to spell it. Good luck on your new adventure in spirituality.

By the way, unless you can absorb information through osmosis, just holding a book will not be enough. You will have to read it.

Answer 3

The kaballah is a number of different things ranging from a deeper exegetical interpretive work on the bible (requiring not just a new vocabulary, but an understanding of the technical devices and allusions of the kabbalistic tradition) to separate mystical texts which include elements of meditation and spiritual cleansing in order to ascend to a higher spiritual level and more fully understand the nature of god and creation. But these other texts also require a firm grounding in Judaism and Jewish thought and cannot be accessed by someone starting without the basis. You can't frost a cake that isn't there.

Answer 4

There are a number of texts comprising the Kabbalah, the most common are Sefer Yetzirah (originally Hebrew) and the Zohar (originally, Aramaic). They and many other Kabbalistic works are available in English, but many consider that translation destroys them because they are so dependent upon minor nuances in their original language.

Here is the Wikipedia article as a start in trying to understand this topic and it has many good additional links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah

Be advised that because many titles and key words are transliterated (attempted spelling in English to mimic the sound in the original language) you can find the same word spelled a number of different ways. The classic comment on transliteration is found in T.E. Lawrence's ("Lawrence of Arabia") introduction to his book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which has nothing to do with Kabbalah.

I am sure that some would consider merely touching a sacred text to be sufficient to get some value but remember, these are the same people who believe wearing a red string has value.

Enjoy your search. For many in Judaism, we consider Kabbalah almost as a spice in food, it adds value, but it is not the whole story and maybe not even the key part of the story. Kabbalah is found in bits and pieces throughout Judaism now, in part because the codifier of the standard of Jewish Law, the Schulchan Aruch, Rabbi Joseph Karo (1488-1575) was a noted Kabbalist.

Kabbalah in Orthodox Judiasm is not supposed to be studied before you are 30-35 because if misinterpreted it can cause you to lose faith.

Answer 5

Holding a book is holding a book it does nothing. You need to read and understand it, which quite honestly without knowing Torah and how to read Hebrew is almost impossible.

There is english translations of course but again it looses alot in the translation (just as the Torah does).

The book is available and called the Zohar.

Answer 6

they all seem to got nuts (tom cruise)to name one.that's all i need to know i don't want nothing to do with it.

Answer 7

look it up