what is kabbalah really?

Question

i know madonna is super into it... and someother celebs. but what is it? (please dont compy and paste from websties... im stupid... i need it explained to me simply)

Answer 1

Ok Shel, a couple people have already explained that it's Jewish mysticism, which it is, but I have a hunch that that explanation still leaves you hanging.
The next question that needs to be answered is what is mysticism?
To put it as simply as I can, mysticism is the study , or practice, of ways and or means and methods, where on can experience a direct and personal knowledge of ones creator. That is, gaining an intimate "knowing," that part of yourself that is in direct linkage with that which created you. You no longer believe in your creator, you "know" cause you have proved it to yourself. Most major religions have this at their roots, The Jews call it "Kaballah", To the Muslim world it is Sufism, and Christian Mysticism is what has been practiced for centuries by groups such as the Gnostics, Rosicrucians, some Masonic sects and several others
Over the last couple years, Kaballah has become popular as a kind of "cult du jur" . Most likely because of its exotic appeal. It is not something to be taken lightly, nor are any of the other groups, but if you are serious, if you are a pupil who is ready, then the Master will appear.

Answer 2

The Kabbalah Center is a highly organized, highly profitable group which is considered to be the Berg family business. Phillip Berg, a former insurance salesman, heads up the Kabbalah Center in the United States, which in addition to giving pricey courses, sells books, tapes, scents and expensive skincare products both at its centers and at Kabbalah.com. The bottled Kabbalah water according to the group's site, is "dynamic 'living' water" with "a highly organized structure, crystalline formations and a fractal design." Kabbalah water, the Center's Yehuda Berg insists, is a tradition dating back centuries. "We charge the water with positive energy," he tells the Scoop. "So that it has healing powers," he says. But Rabbi Immanuel Shochet, an ultra-Orthodox expert on Kabbalah who has clashed with the Kabbalah center in the past, has told the Jerusalem Post, "There's no such thing as Kabbalah water." The practice of wearing the red string is said to have grown from a tradition of winding a red string around the stone marker over the West Bank tomb of Rachel, a Jewish matriarch, while reciting Hebrew prayers. The string was then cut into bracelet-size lengths and worn as a symbolic request for spiritual and physical protection and blessings. Jewish scholars have repeatedly made it clear that trinkets like the red string have no real connection to Kabbalah.

Answer 3

Kabbalah (Hebrew קַבָּלָה "reception", Standard Hebrew Qabbala, Tiberian Hebrew Qabbālāh; also written variously as Cabala, Cabalah, Cabbala, Cabbalah, Kabala, Kabalah, Kabbala, Qabala, Qabalah, Kaballah, Kabballa) is an interpretation (exegesis, hermeneutic) key, "soul" of the Torah (Hebrew Bible), or the religious mystical system of Judaism claiming an insight into divine nature.

The term "Kabbalah" was originally used in Talmudic texts, among the Geonim, and by early Rishonim as a reference to the full body of publicly available Jewish teaching. In this sense Kabbalah was used in referring to all of known Oral Law. Over time it became a reference to doctrines of esoteric knowledge concerning God, God's creation of the universe and the laws of nature, and the path by which adult religious Jews can learn these secrets.

Kabbalah, according to the more recent use of the word, stresses the esoteric reasons and understanding of the commandments in the Torah, and the occult cause of events described in the Torah. Kabbalah includes the understanding of the spiritual spheres of creation, and the ways by which God administers the existence of the universe.

According to Jewish tradition dating from the 13th century, this knowledge has come down as a revelation to elect saints from a remote past, and preserved only by a privileged few. It is considered part of the Jewish Oral Law by the majority of religious Jews in modern times, although this was not agreed upon by many Talmudic and medieval scholars, as well as many modern liberal rabbis and a minority of Orthodox rabbis.

Answer 4

Kabbala is jewish mysticism. Traditionally, it was never studied by anyone (even jewish) unless the person was thoroughly well versed in all other areas of jewish law and unless the person was seen as fit for such study. Otherwise it is assumed the person probably won't have a real good idea of what is going on and will likely emerge from the experience with very many stupid ideas.
It is these stupid ideas which are the meat and potatoes of madonnas kabbala movement. i.e. it's a sham.

In terms of what it is, I can only speculate (not having really studied it): it discusses very deep and profound ideas about the torah, G-d, life, and everything! (it doesn't provide "holy kabala water" for healing headaches or any such nonsense.) ... and none of that red-string craziness either!

Answer 5

The wisdom of Kabbalah teaches a practical method to attain the upper world and the source of our existence. By realizing our true purpose in life, man attains perfection, tranquility, unbounded enjoyment and the ability to transcend the limitations of time and space while still living in this world.

Kabbalah (Hebrew קַבָּלָה "reception", Standard Hebrew Qabbala, Tiberian Hebrew Qabbālāh; also written variously as Cabala, Cabalah, Cabbala, Cabbalah, Kabala, Kabalah, Kabbala, Qabala, Qabalah, Kaballah, Kabballa) is an interpretation (exegesis, hermeneutic) key, "soul" of the Torah (Hebrew Bible), or the religious mystical system of Judaism claiming an insight into divine nature.

The term "Kabbalah" was originally used in Talmudic texts, among the Geonim, and by early Rishonim as a reference to the full body of publicly available Jewish teaching. In this sense Kabbalah was used in referring to all of known Oral Law. Over time it became a reference to doctrines of esoteric knowledge concerning God, God's creation of the universe and the laws of nature, and the path by which adult religious Jews can learn these secrets.

Kabbalah, according to the more recent use of the word, stresses the esoteric reasons and understanding of the commandments in the Torah, and the occult cause of events described in the Torah. Kabbalah includes the understanding of the spiritual spheres of creation, and the ways by which God administers the existence of the universe.

According to Jewish tradition dating from the 13th century, this knowledge has come down as a revelation to elect saints from a remote past, and preserved only by a privileged few. It is considered part of the Jewish Oral Law by the majority of religious Jews in modern times, although this was not agreed upon by many Talmudic and medieval scholars, as well as many modern liberal rabbis and a minority of Orthodox rabbis.

Answer 6

Hebrew word meaning "tradition." It is derived from the root word qibel, meaning "to receive." This refers to the ancient custom of handing down esoteric knowledge by oral transmission. What the word Qabalah encompasses is an entire body of ancient Hebrew mystical principles that are the cornerstone and focus of the Western Esoteric Tradition. For real.

Answer 7

Mysticism

Answer 8

A form of mysticism.

Originally a Jewish form of mysticism. Now has become wider than that (kind of mixture of occult and new-age elements).

Cordially,
John

Answer 9

John is absolutely correct.

Answer 10

its a diet