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| Pâ•qidꞋ Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu |
Can you tell me more about kabbalism? I want to learn as much as possible about this. Thanks. JR, Texas, 2000.10.02
The authority for ÷ÇáÌÈìÈä is the ZōꞋhar. According to the foremost, widely-recognized, modern Jewish historian and scholar on ÷ÇáÌÈìÈä, Gershom Scholem, the ZōꞋhar is a work of the Dark Ages of the superstitious Medieval European world, written in the last quarter of the 13th century in Castile, Spain.
The ZōꞋhar and ÷ÇáÌÈìÈä were rejected by rationalist Tei•mân•imꞋ as well as Ram•ba"mꞋ and other rationalist Sages, as a work by and for the superstitious who prefer medieval mysticism to dealing with the real (rational) world. In other words, such superstition is for those who bury their intellectual faculties in a world of their own imagination, like an Ostrich, rather than those who live úÌåÉøÈä in the real world. It differs from children’s fairy tales only in complexity – and it is that very complexity which deludes and deceives the superstitious.
By its very nature as mysticism, ÷ÇáÌÈìÈä is dependent upon a messianic figure – he (and/or his “true followers”) being the “only” ones who “properly and correctly” understand and can, therefore, explain the mystical world. Historically, this has led to false messiahs, the most famous being Sha•bᵊt•aiꞋ Tzᵊvi (pop. “Zevi” or "Tzvi").
One need look no further than Sha•bᵊt•aiꞋ Tzᵊvi to recognize that claims that ÷ÇáÌÈìÈä and the ZōꞋhar can only be understood by the mystic/messiah and/or ‘his true followers’ is, historically, the road to straying and apostasy. The notion that a mystic (or any other intermediary) is required to explain úÌåÉøÈä contradicts úÌåÉøÈä (cf. Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 30.12). While it is more efficient and quick to learn úÌåÉøÈä from a úÌåÉøÈä-observant Jewish mentor, it’s not impossible to arrive at the identical understanding of úÌåÉøÈä via a shrewd and astute, more arduous and difficult, study of history. Certainly, historical (and scientific) documentation should be used to confirm accurate and true teachings.
Despite such eminent condemnations , both by úÌåÉøÈä explicitly and by legitimate úÌåÉøÈä Sages, however, the superstitious natures of the Dark Ages European Medieval masses resulted in large followings, which, though less compelling to today’s more educated audience, nevertheless continue to persist even in today’s technological age (particularly among Ultra-Orthodox rabbis who spurn science and education). Limited education has, so far, proven inadequate to stem the superstitious impulse to follow such pseudo-science, despite the revelations that the use of pseudo-sciences (the more complex, the better to bamboozle) is the main attraction of cults, astrologers and other transgressions of úÌåÉøÈä.
For anyone wishing to take a serious look at ÷ÇáÌÈìÈä, Scholem’s book cited above – rather than enchantment by a charismatic Svengali cult leader – is must reading.
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