Kabbalah is a mystical approach to Judaism believed to have originated between the 11th and 13th centuries. It is associated with the mystical understanding of the Torah and has influenced the orthodox expression of the faith. Kabbalah claims to unlock deeper meanings within sacred writings and has persisted in various strains throughout history. Its truth is revealed only through Jewish prophets and patriarchs and is limited to serious Torah students. Interest in Kabbalah has increased in the 21st century, including among prominent celebrities.
A set of beliefs and practices found within the religion of Judaism, Kabbalah is an approach to the Jewish faith believed to have originated between the 11th and 13th centuries. While the exact origins of the discipline are disputed, there is little doubt that Kabbalah has exerted a great influence on the orthodox expression of the faith, with many considering Kabbalah to be of particular importance to married Talmudic scholars. Within the Orthodox tradition, Kabbalah is believed to be associated with mystical understanding of the Torah, a level generally referred to as Sod.
As a faith that has always exhibited elements of both the practical and the mystical, Judaism has provided the ideal framework for the emergence of the fundamental understandings that make Kabbalah appealing to so many people. Over the centuries, various strains of Kabbalah have emerged from both the Christian tradition and various Jewish traditions, although some have only thrived for a short time before disappearing. Lurianic Kabbalah is an example of one form of this esoteric belief system that has persisted into the 21st century.
While Kabbalah does not accept any sacred text other than those writings that form the basis for all branches of Judaism, Kabbalah claims to be able to unlock the deeper meanings found within those writings. Legend has it that the knowledge contained in those sacred writings has been available to mankind since the days of Eden, and in fact they were well established among the House of Israel up until the 10th century BC. It is understood that the influx of outside cultures and peoples led the Sanhedrin to take steps to protect this higher knowledge from those who would seek to misuse it. As a result, Kabbalah went underground and emerged only occasionally among the most devout and revered Jewish traditions.
The truth of Kabbalah is understood to be revealed only through Jewish prophets and patriarchs, and must be properly interpreted by serious Torah students. This process limits the number of recognized authorities on the actual practice and teachings of this discipline of Mystical Judaism. However, interest in the study of Kabbalah has greatly increased since the turn of the 21st century and includes several prominent celebrities and other public figures among the modern-day followers.
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