What is Kabbalah?

Kabbalah: A Mystic by Any Other Name

“What is Kabbalah?” is a question that has been incredibly difficult for me to answer. Which is a tad ironic since I teach the subject, so you’d think I’d have a short and succinct answer. The common answer is “It’s Jewish Mysticism”, but that doesn’t really tell you much since most folks don’t have any idea what a mystic is. For valid reasons I might add, since if you ask three theologians you’ll get at least six different answers. So it’s our own fault.

I usually skip over the question (hoping no one really notices) by moving into the common types of Kabbalah, the shared vocabulary of the system, and then let people figure it out as they go. However, I’ve never been happy with a definition that doesn’t actually tell you anything, so I was delighted when I found a clue that unlocked an answer for me from--

Rabbi Lawrence Kushner:

“A mystic is anyone who has the gnawing suspicion that the apparent discord, brokenness, contradictions, and discontinuities that assault us every day might conceal a hidden unity.”

And that unlocked the puzzle for me! Now, we can finally answer the question, “What is Kabbalah?” But first, we start with mystics.

A mystic is one who searches deeper: beneath, behind, and through whatever event is or is not happening in their reality, in the belief that a cohesive meaning exists and will be revealed. The mystic then seeks to apply this knowledge in their lives in order to more deeply connect Heaven and Earth.

Kabbalah then, began at first, as the path of those within Judaism who sought this deeper gaze into reality. Those who walked this path shared not only what they learned, but also how they applied what they learned to their lives.

They taught others who wanted to learn to look deeper too, and these teachings were passed down to and received by these students. Those who “received” the teachings became known as Kabbalists because L’Kabel is the Hebrew verb “to receive.”

Kabbalah, therefore, is the Jewish path of those who seek and receive the knowledge of deeper reality and use it in their lives.

Being stepped in Jewish texts and traditions, of course the mysteries these Kabbalists perceived beneath the surface of reality were explained and interpreted via the traditions they lived in: Torah, Talmud, Halacha, Aggadah and more.

Out of this penetrative gaze and application of its knowledge, new ways of seeing reality were charted, explored, and recorded for the next generations of Receivers/Kabbalists. And out of this, Kabbalistic vocabulary and reality maps were born: Tree of Life, 10 Sephirot, 22 Paths, 4 Worlds, 3 Garments, to name but a few. The tradition has continued for arguably over 2,000 years. But, as with any good tradition, it has had divergences and multiple expressions.

Are you a mystic? Do you seek to penetrate beneath the surface of life to its inherent unity? Do you strive to bring out those teachings and apply them in your life? If so, then you are part of an ancient path, no matter what spiritual tradition you belong to. Here’s to gazing deeper!