Traditional Jewish Cabbalists - Where can I find Hebrew/English Interlinear Texts ... and see below for more?

Question

I am studying comparative religions and Cabbalah, generally, but, I really desire to know the Hebrew/Jewish specifics in that context as I already have several materials as believed/presented by other traditions. I would like to know which books are best for understanding Jewish Theology and Cabbalah and how many Sephira (sp?) there are and what they are. Thank you.

To Matt A. You are ignorant...

...and stupid

Answer 1

You won't find any translations done by Rabbis that are viewed as knowledgeable by Jews. Kaballah is not openly taught and is studied by those who are knowledgeable and utilise the original hebrew and aramaic texts. You will find stuff put out by people like Philip Berg who runs the Kabalah centre, a cult based on the Kaballah, and who is not accepted as anything but a cult by the Jewish world (the Yeshivah he claims to have his Rabbinical ordination from dismisses his claim stating he never got smichah there)

Aryeh Kaplan has written books on the subject on Kaballah and is considered a knowledgeable Rabbi, but his books do not contain direct translations or interlinear trans;ations of the Kaballah.

You can try reading the Tanya - which is based on the understanding of the Baal Shem Tov on the Kaballah and heavily utilised by the Chabad Lubavitch movement (The understanding of the Baal Shem Tov varies quite significantly from that of Rabbi Isaac Luria who is considered authoritative by the majority of Orthodox Jews) and available in english both in hard copy or online from http://www.chabad.org

Answer 2

The classic work on Kabbalah is the Zohar. This book is currently being translated by Daniel Matt and he's already put out four volumes. He also has a number of other works that will help you understand this. However, as also pointed out, I would not bother reading anything by anyone who is not Jewish (Danny is). Another work--probably the foundational work, although it's very small--is the Sepher Yetzirah (Book of Creation) that deals with G-d's creating the universe. I don't know if there's a good translation out there--mine is from the late 1890's by a non-Jew.

Finally, be advised: the study of Kabbalah is not easy. It's not like reading an encyclopedia where things are spelled out in a linear, clean format. It's more like reading Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury" in ancient Etruscan. Good luck!

I've also put a good link about the sephirot below.

Answer 3

Just get rid of the stuff 'from other traditions' that pretend to be Kaballah. They are gross misrepresentations. And yes, I do mean to be that harsh.

Everything that allonyoav has written is very true. Study of Kaballah was traditionally resticted to those over the age of 35 who had a thorough understanding of all 3000 years of Jewish theology. It is layers and layers and layers of intricate, esoteric symbolism and plays even more heavily on the Hebrew than the rest of Judaism. If you want to understand, find a teacher. You just cannot do it on your own.

Daniel Matt is the best for a basic lay introduction.

Answer 4

Hey! Good job on the Tree of Life Pixie! I know what you mean about that first answer, too. Shame. All I can say at this point is that while the bulk of "The Knowledge" is traditionally passed on from "Mouth to Ear", much can be found within the "Bible", but, there is the Sepher Zohar, Sepher Yetzirah, I am not sure which ones are like the Talmud, Torah, etc. Penteteuch is the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures (OT for those of Christendom). Good Luck.

Answer 5

I remember my grandmother telling me Mazel Tov! or "A blessing on your head!". I remember her smiling with joy at any good news. I am 60 this was over 50 years ago. I can still see it clear as day. The significance and impact of any blessing is to make life a tiny bit easier with the gift of giving them a smile for a moment. Life without person-to-person blessings would be terribly boring. May there always be a blessing on your head. Bill

Answer 6

10 sephirot- Keter/Crown - Divine Plan/Creator/infinite light/Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh - I AM THAT I AM (Supreme/Total Consciousness)
Chokmah - Divine Reality/revelation/Yesh me-ayin - being from nothingness (Power of Wisdom)
Binah - Understanding/repentance/reason (Power of Love)
Chesed - Mercy/Grace/Love of (intention to emulate) God (Power of Vision)
Gevurah - Judgment/strength/determination (Power of Intention)
Tipheret - Symmetry/balance/compassion (Creative Power)
Netzach - Contemplation/Initiative/persistence (Power of the Eternal Now)
Hod - Surrender/sincerity/steadfastness (Intellectual/Observational Power)
Yesod - Foundation/wholly remembering/coherent knowledge (Power of Manifesting)
Malkuth/Lower Crown - Kingdom/physical presence/vision and illusion (Power of Healing/Accomplishment/Level of Realization of Divine Plan)
I read and recommend books by David A. Cooper such as God is a Verb and The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism by Daniel C. Matt and Practical Kabbalah: A Guide to Jewish Wisdom for Everyday Life by Laibl Wolf. I did not find the "Hollywood kabbalah" books by Yerhuda or Michael Berg to be of use to me and made the mistake of giving my phone number to the Kabbalah Center. I would advise against doing this unless you want to be called constantly and kept on the phone for hours. I found the books much more enlightening than anything I learned from the Kabbalah center or their cd's.
Hope this helps and sorry that the first answerer was so rude. Some people can't answer the simplest question without shoving their beliefs on everyone.

Answer 7

True Kabbalah is a highly advanced study in Judaism, only accessible to those with expertise first in Bible and Talmud.
That said, you can get a taste of what it's about. Try videos here:
http://www.thirtysix.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=5&topic=&allstories=1&POSTNUKESID=4b0fbbb22a157a0525c29a9afcb543ec

Answer 8

Have you studied Sufism? That's an interesting perspective.

Answer 9

Cabala isnt a book of God, it is magic which is condemned by God