what is kabbala?

Answer 1

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

Kabbalah (Hebrew: קַבָּלָה, Tiberian: qabːɔˈlɔh, Qabbālāh, Israeli: Kabala) literally means a "receiving", in the sense of a "received tradition". The word קַבָּלָה is most commonly transliterated as "Kabbalah" but also can be rendered as Cabala, Kabbala, Qabalah, and other permutations. It is an esoteric form of Jewish mysticism, which attempts to reveal hidden mystical insights in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and offers mystical insight into divine nature.

The term "Kabbalah" was originally used in Talmudic texts, among the Geonim (early medieval rabbis) and by Rishonim (later medieval rabbis) as a reference to the full body of the oral tradition of Jewish teaching, which was publicly available. Even the works of the Tanakh's prophets were referred to as Kabbalah, before they were canonized as part of the written tradition. In this sense Kabbalah was used in referring to all of Judaism's oral law. Over time, much of the oral law was recorded, but the esoteric teachings remained an oral tradition. Now, even though the esoteric teachings of the Torah are recorded, it is still known as Kabbalah.

Thus, this term became connected with doctrines of esoteric knowledge concerning God, the human being and the relationship between them. Ontology, cosmogony, and cosmology are the main components of this esoteric lore. The reasons for the commandments in the Torah and the ways by which God administers the existence of the universe are also a part of the Kabbalah.

According to most segements of Orthodox Jewry, this esoteric Kabbalah dates from Adam and is an integral part of the Jewish tradition. They believe that this esoteric knowledge has come down as a revelation to elect Tzadikim ("saints") from a remote past, and for the most part, was preserved only by a privileged few. The proper protocol for teaching this wisdom, as well as many of its concepts, are recorded in the Talmud (second chapter of tractate Haggiga). In the Talmudic texts the esoteric teachings are called Ma'aseh Merkuva and Ma'aseh B'resheyth. After a composition known as the Zohar was presented to the public in the 13th century, the term Kabbalah began to more specifically refer to teachings derived from or related to the Zohar; at an even later time period the term began to generally be applied to Zoharic teachings as elabrated upon by Arizal. Historians generally date the start of Kabbalah as a major influence in Jewish thought and practice with the publication of the Zohar and climaxing with the spread of the Arizal's teachings. The majority of Haredi Jews accept the Zohar as the representative of the Ma'aseh Merkuva and Ma'aseh B'resheyth that are referred to in Talmudic texts. There is more dispute among Haredim as to the status of Arizal's kabbalistic teachings. While a portion of Modern Orthodox Rabbis, Dor Daim, and many students of the Rambam completely reject Arizal's kabbalistic teachings, as well as deny that the Zohar is authoritive or from Shimon bar Yohai, all three of these groups completely accept the existence of the esoteric side of Torah referred to in the Talmud as Ma'aseh Merquva and Ma'aseh B'resheyth. Their disagreement is only over whether the Kabbalistic teachings promulgated today are accurate representations of those esoteric teachings to which the Talmud refers. Within the Haredi Jewish community one can find Rabbis who both sympathize with such a view, while not neccessarily agreeing with it, as well as Rabbis who consider such a view absolute heresy.

Answer 2

The word 'kabbala' is a Hebrew word meaning 'received or to receive'. Kabbala encompasses a body of esoteric knowledge about God and the Universe that was first transmitted to Moses on Mt. Sinai and passed down orally from then. Certain parts of kabbala have since been written down, but in heavily nuanced allusions and metaphors. Without a thorough knowlege of all of the Bible (OT) and the oral law given with the written, kabbala is gibberish.

What is being passed off as 'kabbala' at the Kabbalah Center in LA to people like Madonna and other is plagiarized material that should only be learned by those with a solid foundation. 'Pop kabbala' may be fun and interesting, but it is mostly nonsense.

Answer 3

Kabbala is a sect branch of the jewish religion which believes strongly on mystecism.

Answer 4

An ancient branch of Jewish mysticism dealing with numbers and their relation. It's been expanded by modern "occultists" beyond its original sectarian religious roots.

It's also the name for Madonna's latest fad, but that has nothing to do with anything.

Answer 5

Latest religion fad in fad concious Hollywood.

Ok, after reading a bit of that, it sounds like it's Yiddish word for Scientology...but w/o the hack sci fi writer.

Answer 6

A crazy cult

Answer 7

Some wierdo cult. Look what it did to Madonna, turned her into a kidnapper.