Should One Contemplate the Kabbalistic Sefirot?

Interview with the head of Machon Shilo, Rabbi David Bar-Hayim

[@jefferystocker8214]

He said the truth, without disparaging those who think they know the truth. He is my hero, I wish I had the intelligence to speak as he does. No nonsense, just old fashion truth. Excellent lecture!

[@GG-sn4uk]

Baruch HaShem I’m so glad I came to this video thanks sooo much rabbi. I knew I wasn’t going crazy when I thought about every thing you just told us.

[@couragestrength5398]

Another great video. Thank you. May Hashem give you much inspiration and success.

[@ginevrajdeluca6589]

This is not to be actively sought. It is not additive. If sought, and done incorrectly, one might invite something evil without realizing it (Look at Madonna, for instance). As one unfolds, one may receive. Rabbi, I would like to speak with you one day soon. Thank you for sharing with such clarity and intelligence. ❤

[@g.w.1910]

When I said that the rabbi doesn't have the courage I didn't meant to undermine him I'm a big fan of his. He cannot say whatever is on his mind because he will be ostracized unfortunately that's the situation

[@raindrops4788]

How do you know what is on his mind? I am sure he is wise enough to know that if something is important to say, he would say it. This is coming from a gentile. I will take your insult as a compliment

[@samuelbenitez2137]

thank you rabbi, you are so right, i hade someone who was teaching me this verything and that was the essence of their charater, they wanted to be seen as some great teacher that should be followed but thank god that he showed their heart for what it was, it was not about god but themselves.

[@raindrops4788]

Thank you very nice

[@margarita8416]

one of the best presentations. it's very important to remember that studies of Kabbalah should be done only after deep learning of The Torah and with the Kosher teacher by a few brighter students only. great examples of the video prove this point. thank you for your work.

[@billvalle1187]

I beg to differ. Kabbalah is a cosmology that can be a study unto itself

[@sashagamino2268]

I don't have all the answers and as far as I know, in Judaism, there is often much debate on any given subject and always room for such discussion and debate. There are those who believe as you do, Margarita, and many who hold a different view and believe that in the world as it is now there's a great need for people to search for answers to their deepest questions through the study of Kabbalah.

[@sigmanocopyrightmusic8737]

​@@sashagamino2268 human mind can't comprehend certain things. So they make up things to satisfy their curiosity. Job couldn't comprehend things.

[@raindrops4788]

​@@sigmanocopyrightmusic8737that's why he wasn't a kabbalist

[@davidsavage6324]

I was just watching a R. Ariel Bar Tzadok Kosher Torah School lecture where he discusses, as he often does, the dichotomy of Judaic Sod streams, the Abulafian/Moreh Nevuchim/Biblical Prophetic school found in Merkavah and Hechalot (also practiced by the Essenes) with the "Zoharic Kabbalistic" system. He says the Abulafian definition of sefirot were energy fields through which The Divine can connect to us. Apparently this makes a world of difference, this distinction.

[@WowLemmeMeme]

"A single one-hour private pastoral counseling session with Rabbi Ariel is $160.00 per 55 minute hour." Oh wow, the mouth that wisdom came from is for rent! Must be "Kosher" and "Torah" if it's that expensive.

[@EverythingHumorous]

The zohar is illegitimate as proven in the KZbin channel Judaism demystified

[@yiftachpaltrowitz6559]

I am surprised that the Rav chose to ignore the Ramcha"l in his "mamar ha vicuach", who addresses the very accusation, that "the Christians have three and the Kabbalists 10".... I am also surprised that the Rav only focused on those opinions from the early period of Kabbala when the ideas had not yet been more thoroughly fleshed out and ignored the later kabbalists such as the Vilna Goan, R. Chaim of Velozin the Ramchal, the Bal ha Tanya, the Tzemach Tzedik, The Leshem, R. Ashlag..... all of whom explained the issues which the Rav took exception to, in a way that does not contradict the fundamental principles of our faith but rather strengthens them in such a way that it is possible to incorporate the kavanoth in a proper way. To ignore the contribution of the Kabbala to Judaism is to ignore the very essence of a Jews relationship to Gd. Its true that, as with all Torah, one can stumble in the true path and make mistakes, but that is not a reason for discouraging the learning of this critical body of Torah. On the contrary its a reason why it must be taught properly and more widely rather than designated to a dark closet. What the Holy Ar'i did was reveal in a coded language the entire archetypal underpinnings of the Jewish religion. The fact that so many people are unfamiliar with the proper understanding and bear so many misconceptions is in itself a sign that we are still in a Galut of sorts.

[@samuelbenitez2137]

hashem is my abba and to him only to i will pray, he is one and only he is the creator therefore my king.

[@CrawlingAxle]

Samuel Benitez chochma d’atzilus is your abba, and binah d’atzilus is your ima. and Hashem is eternally above such descriptions.

[@davidsoliev]

@@CrawlingAxle that's kfirah , there no such a thing as ima and other "parts" (sfirot) of Hashem , our Creator is only one and don't consist of parts.

[@benusrael3841]

I personally am a very kabbalaisticly minded individual. however I very much support the rabbis message. it's a shame more kabbalaisticly minded Jews do not follow this rabbi

[@danielt.4330]

Probably because, properly understood, kabbalah shows that god does not exist. There is energy, causality, a universe, etc. But there's no personal, conscious god. This secret is hidden in kabbalah. But very, very few Jews know about it. In fact, if they truly understood it, they would stop being Jews, because there's no god to worship.

[@jerrym8731]

​@Samuel Levy Nah, he stayed at a Holiday Inn reading Wikipedia.

[@yh509]

@@danielt.4330 It's the exact opposite. Kaballah makes the service of G-d possible. As the Ben Ish Chai puts it, if there is only the Ein Sof, all you are left with is philosophical God, without the possibility of service. But because G-d enclothes himself in Names, worlds and sefirot, we are given the possibility of service. This is the whole point of the Tzimtzum the and the Seder Hishtashelut. And the Zohar is far from an antinomian text, despite all the con artists who want to make believe it is.

[@jamesworley9888]

People need to wake up to the reality of ''what is God'' and the nature of mysticism, this is one thing that no modern Abrahamic religion gets right kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHeuqJ6DiZWIfbM

[@finder121212]

Are you underestimating the Divine Spark within?

[@LAGoff]

One day, I just saw the Sefirot as anti idolatry aids: so now, every time I 'worship' Will (Keter), Wisdom (Chokhma), Love (Chesed), Power/Strength (Gevura), etc... The foundation of my 'take' is the view that the Sefirot can be seen to describe the Elokim aspect of God-- His actions/ characteristics/manifestations of Creation (chapter 1 Genesis) and not His essence (Hashem). Obviously, one can 'worship' the image and likeness of Elokim (the powers of pru urvu and keevshu/uridu), but I found that to be a drag until I understood that Elokim rested/ceased; and so Jews can be seen as the people who are commanded to have a relationship/serve He who is beyond (Hashem) and bring others (the Nations) to see this; and so if the Sefirot can help this (regardless of their original intention), I will use them.

[@sarukeshel6429]

Like the Rambam held concerning contemplative phiosophy, these endeavors are not for the unlearned! There are large numbers of great Torah Sages on either side of the argument, so one is going to be hard pressed, to say anything other than, this is what I believe, while attesting to one of the two sides... I have seen and heard people from both sides of the argument, making seeming mistakes in what they say...

[@Mindhumble]

i admire the rabbis thought out opinions and i actually agree with alot of even his contraversial opinions. However he misses out the other half of the argument here about the positives of learning kaballah, which is a shame, because real kaballists understand that they are not using the kaballah to get, rather they are trying to serve Hashem on a very high level. The way he portrays people who learn kaballah as somehow conceited, may be true with some people, and may have been the case with the rabbis he quoted, but i had the impression that he was generalising (which i assume he wasn't but it seemed to be like that). The Ramchal says that one can only serve Hashem "lishma" if one studies kaballah. After much contemplation, i understood why this was the case. Without kaballah to serve Hashem totally altruistically, one has to be of immense humility and perfction of character, which isnt realisitc. Kaballah lets one understand what we can AND can't understand about Hashem, and lets us get a glimpse of the creator who we are trying to connect with. However, the rabbi did make very important points, one must go to the right sources, and have good teachers, and the correct foundations before learning kaballah, as it is indeed very abstract (as it is talking about the most abstract concept by definition... Hashem!) and one must always be wary of the limitations of his mind, especially not to believe a trinity but in 10 chas veshalom.

[@Tshipa]

Rambam was not a kabbalist, so by your assertion, he didn't serve God lishma

[@Mindhumble]

@@Tshipa Thanks for the excellent question. I will try to address this from a couple of angles. Firstly, who says he didn't first of all. There are a couple of sources which indicate he had some form of the kaballah. The reason why he never mentioned it explicitly would probably be that it wasnt meant to be publicised to the populace and only passed down to select students as outlines in the second chapter of masecheth Chagiga. However, even without this, according to my understanding of the Ramchal's words, this isn't a hard and fast rule, rather it is close to impossible for a person to get to that level without truly meditating on Hashem and His torah or creation ( the rambam says explicitly these 2 i think in relation to getting the love and fear of God). So it may be possible but it would be similar to Avraham Avinu knowing God through his own intellect which only unique people are capable of. The other is by fully immersing oneself in torah learning but it seems that even this isnt enough as one isnt naturally focusing on Hashem when learning torah (however strange that sounds) rather on the subject matter, so i guess if a person focuses a bit on Hashem and the one he is serving by learning first then one could get to the level of lishma. However, this is basically one of the main focuses of kabbalists. So i guess if there is a non kabbalaist who genuinely focuses on thinking about Hashem without falling into the pitfalls of one thinking about God without the structure of kabbalah, then he may be able to serve lishma, but there again, how many people actually do that. Shalom!

[@jamesworley9888]

I couldn't agree more But lack of Mysticism strips Torah from any practical meaning in someones life. People need to wake up to the reality of ''what is God'' and the nature of mysticism, this is one thing that no modern Abrahamic religion gets right kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHeuqJ6DiZWIfbM

[@Mindhumble]

@@jamesworley9888 Thanks for the video. I was very impressed how similar his ideas were to jewish philosphy as found especially in the rambam, the kaballists and other jewish philosophers. I would disagree with your quoting his affirmation that the abrahamic religions dont get it right, as he seems to group 3 very different philosophies into one basket and as i said, his ideas are very close to the jewish tradition of God. He is really referring to the western view of God which has its roots in chrstianity and ultimately in greek pagansim, which modern science is also based on (thus explaining the difficulty scientists have with the concept of God, as they try to define something beyond our definitions, very similar to the greek view that what cannot be understood by man cannot be real). Here are 2 very valuable videos on the traditional jewish understanding of what is God. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXfLdHuBaK93ipY&ab_channel=TorahThinking kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKCroZJ7nc6alac&ab_channel=TorahThinking

[@jamesworley9888]

@@Mindhumble Rabbi Bar Hayim seems to think kabbalists are stupid when that couldn't be more reversed from reality. Some kabbalists as evident in the video you've shown express ideas of Hashem that certainly seem to go far above and beyond his visualisation. And in condemning them he makes a mockery out of the splendor of the manifester of all things!!! And that's only what little we can understand about Him to begin with. I love Rabbi Bar Hayim, God bless him but he does not seem to realize what he's getting himself into.

[@peterberman9531]

It seems to me that an understanding of the sferot requires study of Neoplatonism , otherwise the issue is misconceived as “ number of gods “ rather than “ nature of God “

[@levi7187]

The ten sefirot remind me of Christian trinity. Maimonides’ Laws of the Torah Fundamentals (1:7) “And since God has no body, nothing can occur to Him belonging to the occurrences of bodies, so that He might be divided and separated from another.” Maimonides’ Laws of the Torah Fundamentals (1:11) “(God possesses) no joining, or division.”

[@motorola1543]

The sefirot are creations. The 13 attributes of mercy exist from within the created sefirot. G-d created sefirot as a way of giving the soul a better way of practicing imitatio dei. Such is what we do when we pray and don tefillin and tallit. Rambam agreed that the 13 attributes were existing but not eternal and therefore couldn't be ascribed permanently to HaShem as he is a nonexistence. However the sefirot most certainly fit into the view espoused in the Guide.

[@Mindhumble]

The kabbalists warn ALOT about making this mistake, and this is probably the only prerequisite to learning kaballah. The chida in the 18th centruy actually pointed this out in his journal of his travels when he met some people studying kaballah and described them in a similar way as "they have the trinity but these have a 10-part". Any legitimate student of kaballah knows this, and in my experience this is regularly repeated even with experienced kabbaists and the subject can get very abstract. The kabbalists and jewish philosophers sound very similar when it comes to this subject, and the fact that some people make this mistake is not a reflection on kabbalah itself, just as the rambam's "minim" and "apikorsim" are no reflection on the 13 fundamentals of judiasm as listed by the rambam.

[@davidsavage6324]

I like to think Moshe's first visit to Chorev when he was a shepherd (when alone the revelation would naturally be more shamanistic, individualistic) he received Kabbalah, cosmic wisdom, Law of One.

[@davidsavage6324]

@Super Geniuswell, the text Law of One isn't mentioned in Torah cause it didn't exist yet (Maybe check it out a bit before dismissing it as pagan garbage (all free online with keyword search, organized by historical figures as well)-- it actually promotes monoetheistic ethical service to others)-- as for the universal concept that the One Infinite Creator is the unified source of all consciousness, that the Intelligent Infinity created Intelligent Energy/The Sefirot to infuse reality with divinity-- well, terminology aside, I think equivalent concepts are in the Torah, call me crazy.

[@Tzimtzum26]

And yet there are many holy rabbis who do encourage Jews to learn and use the kavanot.....

[@jongkonfavrerodin8963]

If one likes to meditate: Ehyeh asher Ehyeh is most effective and quite enough.

[@chodeshadar18]

Taken simply, Ehyeh asher Ehyeh sounds like Stoicism or Buddhism. the Jewish take is that while it may seem like the "palace is on fire", it is not random, but a controlled burn.

[@Tzimtzum26]

Kabbalah IS Judaism, on the deepest level. It’s important to learn from a proper Mekubal. Limud Kabbalah is the key to the Geulah, as mentioned by many of the great Sages of Yisrael. Brachot

[@jimdeane3667]

A difficult question to tackle and the Rav’s response meanders through many different sources. His presentation of each source seems to be taken out of the historical context from what it was addressing at the time and then attempting to argue that there is a consistent message, in general negative and discouraging. It’s hard to say from this what the Rav himself does in practice! And that suggests that he likely has little true exposure to this subject. When one is unfamiliar with a subject and is yet questioned about that subject, the best first response is to simply say, I don’t know. You need to seek someone with greater knowledge and familiarity on this subject than myself. Or to express it by way of analogy, one doesn’t ask a blacksmith questions about how to bake bread. You ask a baker even though both of them use a type of oven. And you would hope if the blacksmith received a question about baking, he would direct the questioner to the baker! The Rav’s sincerity in trying to provide an answer is admirable, but in this case his comprehension of this subject appears to be thin. It would have been better to remain silent.

[@couragestrength5398]

Since the Rav quotes Shadal, it is clear that he read the whole chapter. Shadal is very thorough, so it is clear that the Rav has a good understanding of the subject.

[@icya6175]

Jim Deane says, "It would have been better to remain silent." Ic Ya says to "Jimmy" Deane (sausage guy) ....you really should follow your own advice.

[@jimdeane3667]

Ic Ya B”H, I don’t provide answers to dogs or other wildlife.

[@jimdeane3667]

CourageStrength Your assumption is not strong. Quoting individual statements out of context is a favorite ploy of people who are trying to mislead or manipulate, l’havdil.

[@AsherBKNY]

I also find this answer with many contradictions to what it written and thought by our sages. I found it very confusing

[@LDinNY613]

Respectfully, kvod harav, poskim have a tendency to often see things strictly as black or white.The question that harav is addressing should not conclude with a yes or no response.

[@jamesworley9888]

People need to wake up to the reality of ''what is God'' and the nature of mysticism, this is one thing that no modern Abrahamic religion gets right kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHeuqJ6DiZWIfbM

[@mlmichael261]

Conclusion. Don't waste your time on Kaballa. Read Tehilim.

[@levi7187]

Thank you!

[@peterberman9531]

It seems to me that an understanding of this subject requires an understanding of Neoplatonism …otherwise the sferot seem to be a discussion of the number of gods rather than a discussion of the nature of God

[@jamesworley9888]

People need to wake up to the reality of ''what is God'' and the nature of mysticism, this is one thing that no modern Abrahamic religion gets right kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHeuqJ6DiZWIfbM

[@francismarcelvos9444]

We see how Judaism is split on the practice of Kaballah. One rabbi says to study Kaballah, but not incorporate it in prayer. Also in Talmudic practice, the various Talmudic rabbis express their oppinion on what is halacha and what is not. I myself stopped studying Kabbala. I agree that singing the Psalms is much more enlightening. The Christian Shleshet and the ten kabbalistic sefirot are obviously mystical falsehood. What amazes me, is that many rabbis on the one hand discourage immature Jews to practice Kabbalah, while imagining that they themselves are mature enough to practice Kabbalah. Many of these rabbis started studying Kabbalah when they still were younger. I mentioned earlier, that much of Jewish thought and religious practice originates from times when Jews were oppressed and persecuted by antisemites. If we know how a teaching originates, one also can value its wisdom. Torah is totally different. Either you comply to Mitsvot Hatorah or you transgress against it. Should Kabbalah not simply be excluded from teaching? Torah teaching should be done when we rise and when we sleep, at any opportunity. Kabbalah is not devine and should simply considered witchcraft. Kabbalah is like the teachings on the Shleshet, the trinity: A falsehood from the medieval times. Perhaps good that much hidden Kabbalistic literature is not made available for study. I think that I will cast out the Kabbalistic literature in my possession. Then nobody can study it. En Ish navon wechacham dayoh, lilmod kabbalah. Kabbalah hi avodah zarah.

[@jamesworley9888]

People need to wake up to the reality of ''what is God'' and the nature of mysticism, this is one thing that no modern Abrahamic religion gets right kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHeuqJ6DiZWIfbM

[@jaybax2083]

The middle eye Sefirot, aka The Third Eye Chakra, is believed to be stimulated by the color blue, aka Tekhelet. The Kabbalah states that the middle eye Sefirot governs a person's Chokhmah - "Wisdom" and Binah - "Understanding" (and the color Blue enhances our ability to remember as well, as stated so in the Torah). Hence as it states "...and they will place with the tzitzit of each corner a thread of blue. And it will be to you for tzitzit, and you will look upon it and you will remember all the commandments of Hashem, and you will perform them, and you will not turn aside after your hearts and after your eyes which cause you to go astray. In order that you will remember and perform all my commandments;...." etc. Because of the effect of the Tekhelet/Blue on one's Sefirot. Tzitzit without Tekhelet is nothing more than just fringes. .

[@ziggydeath9397]

External information should never be brought into Torah study, and it should never be used in explaining any verse; Torah is beyond this world and you are limiting it to this world. Instead, the verse itself - that is, its words and letters - should be able to explain all the details associated with it. The "blue" of techelet is associated with the "fringe" of tzitzit in order to parallel the "all" of kol and the commandment of "mitzvah". If we tie a blue thread to the fringes, this connects its letters with the letters of "all commandments". Thus, the Torah means what it says. The end result: to remember to do "all the mitzvot". How should we remember to do this? By tying the letters of those words to our garments and wearing the statement upon ourselves through the physical objects of the blue threads and the fringes on four-cornered (or more) garments. To sum it up, "techelet" (blue) contains "kol" (all) while "tzitzit" (fringes) is related to "mitzvot" (commandments) through the shared letters tzaddi and tav. If you examine the other commandments, you will find that this pattern is found for each and every one, and for each and every character in the stories. Do not look externally, but internally (in the words themselves) for all answers pertaining to Torah.

[@jamesworley9888]

@@ziggydeath9397 First of all it is pronounced ''SsithSsith'' as Rabbi David Bar Hayim himself has even explained in his videos of how to pronounce Hebrew Properly and not ''tzittzit''!!! Secondly you are a fool because you may argue that he is trying to limit the Torah to this world, but by your very words and understanding you not only limit it to this world but to a small nation of People that you call Jews/Yehudim and there is no practical reason to believe the God of all creation has given a random set of rules to only one chosen people on a single speck of dust out of quindecillions in this vast universe. People need to wake up to the reality of ''what is God'' and the nature of mysticism, this is one thing that no modern Abrahamic religion gets right kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHeuqJ6DiZWIfbM

[@ziggydeath9397]

@@jamesworley9888 I made no mention about the correct pronunciation of any Hebrew word, as it is irrelevant. Certain Hebrew words can be spelled by different groups in different ways, but there is a primary or popular spelling of the word, like "tzitzit" when referring to the Hebrew word in English. Others are "tsitsit" or "tzitzith", but they are less popular. My point is that a person does not have to look outside in the world for an understanding of the Torah, or bring in different ideas like Chakras, as it is not even talking to a world or to a people, but about itself. Did the Torah ever identify which earth it is talking about? No. And like you mentioned, there are potentially many thousands of inhabitable worlds out there, and there may have been many thousands of worlds that did exist but were destroyed. Tradition dates the creation of the Torah to "two thousand years before the creation of the earth"; it was a blueprint for creation. We do not know which earth it is referring to in the stories, therefore it is best to not bring facts about this earth and facts about different peoples residing on this earth to the stories in Torah. Fools assume facts. One of the commandments in the Torah can be translated as "you shall not guess", which is a warning to not assume something is true and act upon that information.

[@jamesworley9888]

@@ziggydeath9397 people have come to the ''chackra idea'' naturally they just didn't use the Indian word for it. It's not until you achieve a deep enough state of contemplation that you realize how stupid and petty ''differences in culture'' really are. Also I know exactly which ''Earth'' it's talking about'' It's a world humans once inhabited that has now become the asteroid belt from a catastrophe that took place a fraction of an eon ago. This catastrophe took us back to the stone age as a karmic consequence. But never mind I even said that, because as for a man that has never taken the first step of concentration for contemplation and ultimately meditation such a cosmic truth might as well be a fairy tale in a comic book.

[@jeangophile]

“If the questioner persists: By what necessity do you arrive at the assertion that the sefirot exist? I rather say that they do not exist and that there is only Ein Sof [cf. Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed, 1:58]. Answer: Ein Sof is perfection without any imperfection. If you propose that He has unlimited power and does not have finite power, then you ascribe imperfection to His perfection. And if you claim that the first limited being that is brought into existence from Him is this world-lacking in perfection-then you ascribe imperfection to the force which stems from Him. Since we should never ascribe imperfection to His perfection, we are compelled to say that He has a finite power which is unlimited. The limitation first brought into existence from Him is the sefirot, for they are both a perfect power and an imperfect power. When they partake of the abundant efflux stemming from His perfection they are perfected power, and when the abundant efflux is held back they possess imperfect power. Thus, they are able to function in both perfection and imperfection, and perfection and imperfection differentiate one thing from another. Now if you were to claim that He alone willed the creation of the world without [recourse to] the sefirot, the response to this [assertion] is that the intention indicates an imperfection in the intender. Alternatively, if you claim He did not intend His creation-if such were the case, then creation was a random accident. All things which are the outcome of a random accident have no order. Yet we witness that creation is ordered, with the sun during the day and the moon and stars at night. They exist by an order and by order they are generated and pass away. This order by which they exist and pass away is called the sefirot, for they are the force behind every existent being in the realm of plurality. Since the existence of created beings is brought about by means of the sefirot, each one differs one from the other: some are elevated, some are lowly, while others are intermediate. This is the case despite the fact that they are all derived from one principle. Every being is from Ein Sof, and nothing exists outside of Him” (Rabbi Azriel of Gerona, Commentary on the Ten Sefirot, 3 [adapted from the translation of Ronald C. Kiener]). thenutgarden.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/the-great-chain-of-being-and-desire-to-receive/comment-page-1/#comment-2874

[@presidentglasylabolas8631]

No.

[@sigmanocopyrightmusic8737]

You don't understand the trinity. Trinity is not three gods. Alan f segal exposes how even ancient jews believed in a trinity like concept of GOD.

[@benjaminsheff3663]

if you cant PROVE it - it is idolatry. Don't be seduced by the lust for idolatry. "Guard yourselves; lest your heart become seduced". "Guard your soul exceedingly" There were ancient jews who worshipped idols; we know that. Unfortunately.

[@bell1095]

1. The discrediting argument on kabbalism is rather, that the torah is authentic in hebrew only, and in no other language or translation. 2. If the torah would have been given in aramaic of „targum onkelos“, it would have soon ended in a desaster. 3. The use of outdated aramaic by kabalist authors intends to blurr the clarity of the torah and of its readers. 4. The great majority of nowaday adorants of „kabalah“ are bloody illiterates of krypto-aramaic, unable to read-/understand the sources. They parot second hand writers and copists.

[@lourak613]

Did I miss something, or did the Rabbi actually reverse himself with respect to the question of the legitimacy of the kavanot? He starts out implying that this practice is somehow flawed and even bordering on sacrilege. As it turns out, the Rabbi validates the practice, but insists that this is reserved for only the most spiritually exemplary individuals who would be immune to the dangers that lesser mortals would be subject to. Well - that is advice that all of the mekubalim gave to their students - that they should not casually engage in such practices, but only initiate them when instructed to do so by their mentors or spiritual guides. So, I guess, after all, the Rabbi's intent was only to reinforce the teaching of the great Kabbalistic masters.

[@johnbear6145]

One should seek covenant relationship with the Living God....ahh it's called the New Covenant...its Messiahs Covenant......not a rabbinical creation....but an ACTUAL covenant with The One True God..

[@benjaminsheff3663]

oh, and the New Covenant is NOT Rabbinic? Peter, Paul and Jesus were somehow better than Rabbis? Follow the Torah, as best as possible (the main goal of the Rabbis was to preserve the Torah in exile as best as humanly possible - nothing more). The "New Covenant" is a relationship with a dead god. And it is a "NEW" religion - NOT the religion of Israel. Believe what you want - but is NOT the religion of Israel.

[@johnbear6145]

@benjaminsheff3663 nope the New Covenant is YOUR DOOR to the Messiah King...your Rabbis are only half right..you are outside the New Covenant...God makes covenants not men..God decides not you or your Rabbis..its not religion its relationship to God through the covenant...how can you enter the Covenant if you reject the King?

[@benjaminsheff3663]

@@johnbear6145 how can someone be part of the Covenant, if he rejects its Laws and worships a different god - and creates a "New Covenant". (this has nothing to do with Rabbis. Moses made this Covenant with Israel - that is the religion of Israel - nothing else)

[@johnbear6145]

@benjaminsheff3663 nope God is not religous...He is the Living God...He sets the rules not you or me...God decides who Messiah is ..God decides when Messiah comes..God decides what Messiah does(Dan9:24)..God decides how Messiah fullfills prophesy..NOT YOU OR ME IR ANY MAN...GOD decides covenants not Man ..GOD IS NOT A MAN.......Covenants are God's business...not Religion..The New Covenant is nothing like the Old Covenant..The New Covenant is almost exactly like the Abrahamic Covenant..its a FAITH Covenant between 1 man and God...I enter the New Civenant by faith in Messiah the King...call me an idolaters if you want but I rejoice and celebrate the King of the Messuanic Age. I don't reject Him..your religion has blinded you to the truth of the New Covenant..I'm not looking fir a red heifer..I'm celebrating a risen King

[@benjaminsheff3663]

​@@johnbear6145 your god is a dead god. Our God is the Creator - the only real Eternal Living thing - the God of Israel (He chose Israel and had the Public Revelation in front of ALL of Israel - only time in history there was a public revelation - only religion that could be true. - All others are made up). The Torah is the religion of Israel. Not some Greek spiritual lust / myth. If you don't like the religion of Israel - go ahead - be a greek. Read the Books of Maccabees. you will see what the religion of Israel is - what we live for - fight for - die for. Daniel 9 actually contradicts your Messiah's coming. Off by 40 years - woops! Sorry. If the Messiah died 2000 years ago, it was someone who died AT THE TIME of the destruction. God Commanded a Red Cow for purification. Go ahead and make up your own religion. I don't care. Seriously. There are many religions out there. Jews follow the Law of Moses.

[@billvalle1187]

Studying Kabbalah as part of your spiritual work is akin to taking physics, chemistry, or electrical engineering. It is a spiritual cosmology. As far as the discussion of whether the Sephirot are "divinities" - well you can subjectively personalize them in pantheistic way ala Shinto or Hinduism. I may want to call gravity "Ralph" and you may want to call it "Bob" - but gravity is a universal force that is - whether you think it's part of Hashem or an emanation from him really is just your perspectives. I totally disagree with the conclusion at the end that you would be better off not contemplation of the 10 sephirot and the paths that link them. I have many decades of study and still keep 32 books on every aspect of kabbalah but in reality there is a part of my subconscious that is always "working it" behind the scenes. That is true for any passionate study IMHO. I would not tell a spiritual seeker to avoid this study any more than I would tell a mechanical engineer to avoid physics. I think the concern about conceit may be valid, but more so in the orthodox Jewish community than others. This may sound heretical but there is another aspect of study that is not tied to specific religious dogma and this can be valuable understanding regardless of your religion.

[@benjaminlquinlan8702]

Abrahamic metaphysics come in handy alright

[@g.w.1910]

The rebbe doesn't have the courage to say openly that the whole Kabbalah concept stamps from the Gentiles and nobody claims that it goes back man to man to Moses so the whole thing is a false concept that's the real truth!

[@margarita8416]

not exactly correct. only shows how common miscosepts are when not studied properly.

[@steeltrap6023]

@@margarita8416 you cant prove that it goes back that far. Youre talking 4k years, you know how far removed that is to be making claims that its legit? People can study properly all they like but until theres more proof than the "official word of credited rabbis" they can keep their science of God because at the end of the day when did God weigh in on their behalf?no "divine inspiration"(which is one of the biggest lies) it was either given by God or not, NOT the souls of prophets that had already passed or Tzadikim. In other words old agey is new agey. Just because something is "old/so called ancient" doesnt mean its legit.

[@bell1095]

… the Rabbi is very courageous, in comparison to other rabbais.

[@couragestrength5398]

@@InescapableRealityOfficial God is not a man in the sky! Please that is ridiculous.

[@raindrops4788]

Unless you call the Egyptian Mystery Schools gentiles? Where was Moses raised? I believe You missed the point. Kababala can be spiritually dangerous for the ones that aren't prepared.. or the ones that don't naturally have the inclination to understand G-d's divine complexity. It can turn dark if the heart, mind, and soul aren't prepared.. or it can get someone too disconnected from G-d's path here on earth. Not many can be like King Solomon.. or didn't he willed demons? I am a gentile...l should know lol

[@analgesicbalm1081]

I can't imagine contemplating a hoax.

[@TheKnowledgeOfTheTruth]

I am a Christian and I pray only to the Unseen Father (Ain Sof) in the Name OF Yeshua (which is Amen, Rev 3:14). Amen (91) = Adonai (65) YHVH (26). Here’s how I see the Trinity (different from “normal” Christians). The Infinite, Transcendent, Unseen, Unknoweable God (Ain Sof) in Kabbalah is the Father. The Manifest God that Isaiah and Ezekiel saw sitting on the throne in heaven is the Son (Psalm 89:6). And the Immanent God present in the entire creation is the Spirit. They are One. The Trinity comes into view after Tzimtzum. And the Trinity is One. Zohar acknowledged it clearly. They mention 3 aspects in Deut 6:4. Shema Yisrael, YHVH (1) Eloheinu (2), YHVH (3) Echad. We know Ain Sof is Father because the Son (YHVH) revealed He is the Father. Else we cannot know the unknown. If YHVH is the Sons Name, then what is the Fathers Name? Its the same Name, YHVH. Or EHYEH in the first person. We can see this clearly in Genesis 19,24. YHVH on the earth rained fire and brimstone from YHVH in heaven. There is another definition of Trinity. God sitting on the throne in heaven (somewhat visibly to Seraphim) is the Father. The One Who comes down to carry out His will on earth (YHVH Who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18) is the Son (Who also appeared in flesh as Yeshua, now seated at the Fathers right hand), and the Seven Spirits (Eyes) of YHVH running to and fro in the earth (Zechariah 4:10) are the Spirit. But when we pray, we must pray only to the One God. There is no other. He MANIFESTS in the plural, which is why we have the word Elohim. But YHVH Hu Ha Elohim. YHVH Echad. As for the Name Yeshua, the only place in Tanakh where Mashiyach is found as Notarikon is in Psalm 72:5, last letters. עִם־שָׁמֶשׁ וְלִפְנֵי יָרֵחַ. Look for Yeshua’s Name in the first letters. Also the crowns of kingship and priesthood were symbolically placed on Yeshua Ben Yehotzadak in Zechariah 6:11, revealing the Name. The Sefirot idea is correct. It’s there in the Menorah. The base represents Ain Sof. The Menorah represents the tree of life. 10 sefirot correspond to 10 stages of revelation - 4 vertical members, 6 branches. The structure is One. YHVH Echad.

[@lauras2519]

What a bunch of nonsense.

[@jamesworley9888]

@@lauras2519 People need to wake up to the reality of ''what is God'' and the nature of mysticism, this is one thing that no modern Abrahamic religion gets right kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHeuqJ6DiZWIfbM

[@lauras2519]

@@jamesworley9888 Thanks, but I follow Torah and Halach, all else is opinion.

[@benjaminsheff3663]

The conclusions are drawn from the beginning and the allusions are being brought after the fact to support a made up religion. Classic brain-wash. People can worship the Golden Calf and claim the same allusions to support it. If wrong - it is idolatry - and the greatest sin. This is why Kabbalah and Zohar is so bad. Don't be seduced by the lust for idolatry. "Guard yourselves; lest your heart become seduced". "Guard your soul exceedingly"

[@benjaminsheff3663]

The conclusions are drawn from the outset and the allusions are brought afterwards to support a made up religion. Classic manipulation and seduction. People can worship the Golden calf and say the same allusions. Don't be seduced by the lust for idolatry. "Guard yourselves; lest your heart become seduced". "Guard your soul exceedingly"