Home

It is with pleasure that I bring you this edition of "Ask the Rabbi," devoted to questions related to Jewish mysticism, or as we call it in Jewish tradition, kabbalah. As always, I invite you to visit my Web site and I look forward to your interesting questions. I will do my best to answer each and every one of them.

1. What exactly is kabbalah, and should we be studying it or not?

The term kabbalah derives from the Hebrew word "tradition" or "receiving." Kabbalah designates the mystic teachings of Judaism, originally handed down from generation to generation. The mystical philosophy of the kabbalah is hidden and unintelligible to those who have not been properly prepared and instructed in its secret wisdom.

The subjects treated by the kabbalah concern the essence of God, the origin of the universe, and the significance of the sacred Torah.

Kabbalah took hundreds of years to develop into a mature mystical teaching. Its origins can be traced to the inner life of the Essenes, a mystical brotherhood of about 4,000 people who flourished in the time of the Second Temple. They were ascetics who preferred silence, wore white clothes, and ate and prayed together.

First handed down orally to a chosen few and then committed to writing, the mystical interpretation of the Torah is principally embodied in the work known as the Zohar (brightness), which made its appearance for the first time in 13th-century Spain.

Because kabbalistic ideas are subtle and their interpretations often too daring for the average person, it is important to get a good grounding in the Bible and Jewish philosophy before engaging in the study of mysticism.

2. Why are some non-Jewish celebrities studying kabbalah?

Next to one of the star-studded parties after the annual Academy Awards, a good place to run into Hollywood celebrities may be at the Kabbalah Learning Center in Los Angeles. Kabbalah, the mystical Jewish tradition, has in recent years been attracting a growing number of stars in search of spiritual fulfillment and insights into the relationship between God and humans.

Perhaps the most popular seeker is Madonna, who is said to have studied during her pregnancy in order to seek advice as to the best day on which to deliver her child. Strangely enough, having been told that Rosh Chodesh (new Jewish month) was the most preferred of days on which to have a child, Madonna gave birth to her daughter Lourdes on the new Jewish month. Having grown up Catholic, it is reported that Madonna has said that nothing affected her as much as her kabbalah lessons.

Kabbalah centers continue to attract celebrities, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Reputed disciples include singers Courtney Love and Barbra Streisand, actors Elizabeth Taylor, Diane Ladd, Jeff Goldblum, and Roseanne Barr.

3. Where do I go if I want to study kabbalah?

Kabbalah study began in earnest in the Middle Ages, when it was passed on to Jewish men over 40 who were deemed to have the maturity and biblical knowledge to handle mysticism's great power. Today, kabbalah centers are emerging throughout the United States and around the world, teaching a hybrid version of kabbalah with no restriction on age, gender, or religion.

It has been reported that Jews and non-Jews alike, to the tune of 3.9 million, have gravitated to the kabbalah centers. The largest of the new kabbalah groups is the Kabbalah Learning Center, which claims 10,000 students in eight countries. Some rabbis are known to be critical of some of these centers, claiming that they are nothing but New Age imitations of kabbalah.

Rabbi Phillip Berg, preeminent leader of the Kabbalah Center, opened his first facility in the United States in 1969. Over the next three decades, Berg and his followers launched worldwide centers in France, Israel, Canada, South America, Mexico, and Japan. The Kabbalah Center of Los Angeles, the organization's U.S. headquarters, is currently located in Beverly Hills.

Another popular center for studying Jewish mysticism is the retreat center of Elat Chayyim, located in Connecticut. This organization, described as a Jewish spiritual retreat center, has assembled a team of teachers who offer a variety of topics, including Jewish mysticism, Jewish healing, Jewish meditation, and even Jewish yoga.

Finally, most universities and colleges throughout the United States and Canada have Jewish studies programs where one can study kabbalah. We even offer it in our Hebrew High School, where it has perennially been one of our most popular electives among teens!

Rabbi Ron Isaacs is the spiritual leader of Temple Sholom, a Conservative congregation in Bridgewater. He has recently published biographies of Abraham Joshua Heschel and Judah Touro (Torah Aura Productions). Contact him at www.rabbiron.com or "Ask the Rabbi," c/o Rabbi Ron Isaacs, Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 6007, Bridgewater, N.J. 08807.