Kabbalah: Difference between revisions

Kabbalah is the secret part of Torah, also called Toras HaSod (the Secret Torah), Toras HaNistar (the Hidden Torah), or Pnimiyus HaTorah (the Inner Torah). Kabbalah deals with the relationship between Hakadosh Baruch Hu and the world, the order of spiritual worlds' descent, the Sefiros and angels, and explains the inner meaning of Torah verses and mitzvos. Kabbalah has a tremendous influence on Jewish spiritual life. Among other things, Kabbalah's influence is evident in halachos, customs, and the prayer text of most Jewish circles, as well as on the Chassidic movement and teachings, [[mussar]] literature, and more.

==== The Kabbalists of Tzfas ====

Kabbalah received extensive attention among the sages of Tzfas during the fourth century of the sixth millennium (the 1500s). Among the most famous were Rabbi Moshe Alshich, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, and the Radbaz. During that period, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, the Ramak, lived and worked, teaching many students Kabbalah. In his great work Pardes Rimonim, he organized the approaches of earlier Kabbalists, summarized and decided between them, and explained his approach to Kabbalah.

The greatest influence on the transmission of Kabbalah was Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the Arizal, who moved from Egypt to Tzfas in 5330 (1570) and during the two years until his passing in 5332 (1572) established a group of students (called "the Arizal's cubs") to whom he transmitted his secrets. After his passing, his greatest student, Rabbi Chaim Vital, organized and arranged his teachings, and he is the primary writer of the Arizal's writings. The Arizal's system of Kabbalah spread throughout all Jewish communities and became the central approach to Kabbalah until today, among Sephardic Kabbalists, Lithuanian scholars, and Chassidim.

Despite the importance of the Ramak's Kabbalah and its great influence on Kabbalah until today, the Arizal's Kabbalah is the more primary approach. Rabbi Chaim Vital testified that after the passing of his teachers, the Ramak and the Arizal, the Ramak appeared to him and revealed that although both Kabbalistic approaches are true, nevertheless "my way is according to the simple understanding for beginners in Kabbalah wisdom, while your teacher's [the Arizal's] way is inner and primary, and even I now in heaven only study according to your teacher's way." In Chassidus it was explained that the difference between the approaches is that "the Ramak's Kabbalah deals with the Sefiros of Tohu (matters of Tohu within Tikkun itself), while the Arizal's Kabbalah deals with Tikkun"; the Ramak's Kabbalah is also true, but the Arizal's Kabbalah is absolute truth, and wherever Kabbalists disagree, the decision follows his approach.

When Rabbi Yechezkel Ashlag passed before the Rebbe during dollar distribution and asked him to sign a proclamation that all Jewish people should study Kabbalah to bring the redemption - the Rebbe responded that it's accepted in Chabad that Chabad Chassidus is built on Kabbalistic foundations, but in a method of Chochmah, Binah, Daas, and therefore one who studies Chabad teachings also learns Kabbalah. When the Rav repeated his request, the Rebbe replied that as a grandson of the Alter Rebbe, he cannot sign a note saying one needs to study Kabbalah, as it might imply that one doesn't fulfill their obligation through Chabad teachings. When the Rav brought proof from the Alter Rebbe's language that writes "the Baal Shem Tov's words according to the Arizal's Kabbalah," suggesting that learning Chassidus isn't actually Kabbalah, the Rebbe responded that since the Alter Rebbe writes explicitly in another Igeres HaKodesh, he couldn't have contradicted himself elsewhere.

Nevertheless, there were Chabad Chassidim in the past who also engaged directly in studying Kabbalah. Particularly known was the Gaon and Chassid Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe's father (who wrote many books based on Kabbalah, of which only a few reached us). Also known as an expert in Kabbalah was Rabbi Menachem Zev Greenglass, who was a mashpia in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Montreal, Canada, and may he be separated for life, Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, head of Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva.

== For Further Reading: ==

Menachem Bronfman, The Kabbalists and the Rebbe, Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1926 page 123