Kabbalah for Dummies
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The Baal Shem-Toy Ballads of Shimshon Meltzer
THE BAAL SHEM-TOY BALLADS OF SHIMSHON MELTZER by SHLOMO YANIV The literary ballad, as a form of narrative metric composition in which lyric, epic, and dramatic elements are conjoined and whose dominant mood is one of mystery and dread, drew its inspiration from European popular ballads rooted in oral tradition. Most literary ballads are written in a concentrated and highly charged heroic and tragic vein. But there are also those which are patterned on the model of Eastern European popular ballads, and these poems have on the whole a lyrical epic character, in which the horrific motifs ordinarily associated with the genre are mitigated. The European literary ballad made its way into modern Hebrew poetry during its early phase of development, which took place on European soil; and the type of balladic poem most favored among Hebrew poets was the heroico-tragic ballad, whose form was most fully realized in Hebrew in the work of Shaul Tchernichowsky. With the appearance in 1885 of Abba Constantin Shapiro's David melek yifrii.:>e/ f:tay veqayyii.m ("David King of Israel Lives"), the literary ballad modeled on the style of popular ballads was introduced into Hebrew poetry. This type of poem was subsequently taken up by David Frischmann, Jacob Kahan, and David Shimoni, although the form had only marginal significance in the work of these poets (Yaniv, 1986). 1 Among modern Hebrew poets it is Shimshon Meltzer who stands out for having dedicated himself to composing poems in the style of popular balladic verse. These he devoted primarily to Hasidic themes in which the figure and personality of Israel Baal Shem-Tov, the founder of Hasidism, play a prominent part. -
Judaism, Reincarnation, and Theodicy
Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers Volume 30 Issue 4 Article 2 10-1-2013 Judaism, Reincarnation, and Theodicy Tyron Goldschmidt Beth Seacord Follow this and additional works at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/faithandphilosophy Recommended Citation Goldschmidt, Tyron and Seacord, Beth (2013) "Judaism, Reincarnation, and Theodicy," Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers: Vol. 30 : Iss. 4 , Article 2. DOI: 10.5840/faithphil201330436 Available at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/faithandphilosophy/vol30/iss4/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers by an authorized editor of ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. JUDAISM, REINCARNATION, AND THEODICY Tyron Goldschmidt and Beth Seacord The doctrine of reincarnation is usually associated with Buddhism, Hindu- ism and other Eastern religions. But it has also been developed in Druzism and Judaism. The doctrine has been used by these traditions to explain the existence of evil within a moral order. Traversing the boundaries between East and West, we explore how Jewish mysticism has employed the doctrine to help answer the problem of evil. We explore the doctrine particularly as we respond to objections against employing it in a theodicy. We show how it supplements traditional punishment, free will and soul-building theodicies, and helps these theodicies avoid various objections. Why is there a righteous person who has good, and [another] righteous person who has evil? This is because the [second] righteous person was wicked previously, and is now being punished. -
Jewish Contemporary Ethics Part 9: the Written and Oral Torah by Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman, New West End Synagogue
Vayetze Vol.31 No.11.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2018 10:58 Page 4 Jewish Contemporary Ethics Part 9: The Written and Oral Torah by Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman, New West End Synagogue The last article introduced animals which were “ritually clean” and just one the idea that God’s Divine pair of animals which were “not ritually clean” morality is not simply into the Ark (Bereishit 7:2). The Talmud explains imposed on humanity, that Noach studied the laws of the kashrut of but requires an eternal animals, and that he needed more kosher covenant and ongoing animals in order to offer them to God after leaving relationship between God the ark (Zevachim 116a). and mankind. The next section of this series will try to analyse the nature, The Talmud notes that Avraham himself deduced meaning and mechanics of that covenant. both the existence of God and the mitzvot, and kept the entire Torah (Yoma 28b). Avraham then When we refer to ‘the Torah’ we often mean the taught Torah to his family, who also kept its laws Five Books of Moshe. The word itself derives (see Beresihit 18:19 and 26:5). This generates a from the Hebrew root hry, which in this form number of fascinating conundrums where the means to guide or teach (see Vayikra 10:11). Yet actions of our forefathers appear to contradict the commentators write that the concept of ‘the Torah law. While a detailed resolution lies beyond Torah’ is much deeper and more complex. the scope of this series, it shows that Avraham not only recognised the Unity of God, but that he We may be used to thinking that the Torah was was the progenitor and advocate of pre-Sinaitic given to the Jewish people via Moshe at Mount Torah, which was Monotheistic. -
A Fresh Perspective on the History of Hasidic Judaism
eSharp Issue 20: New Horizons A Fresh Perspective on the History of Hasidic Judaism Eva van Loenen (University of Southampton) Introduction In this article, I shall examine the history of Hasidic Judaism, a mystical,1 ultra-orthodox2 branch of Judaism, which values joyfully worshipping God’s presence in nature as highly as the strict observance of the laws of Torah3 and Talmud.4 In spite of being understudied, the history of Hasidic Judaism has divided historians until today. Indeed, Hasidic Jewish history is not one monolithic, clear-cut, straightforward chronicle. Rather, each scholar has created his own narrative and each one is as different as its author. While a brief introduction such as this cannot enter into all the myriad divergences and similarities between these stories, what I will attempt to do here is to incorporate and compare an array of different views in order to summarise the history of Hasidism and provide a more objective analysis, which has not yet been undertaken. Furthermore, my historical introduction in Hasidic Judaism will exemplify how mystical branches of mainstream religions might develop and shed light on an under-researched division of Judaism. The main focus of 1 Mystical movements strive for a personal experience of God or of his presence and values intuitive, spiritual insight or revelationary knowledge. The knowledge gained is generally ‘esoteric’ (‘within’ or hidden), leading to the term ‘esotericism’ as opposed to exoteric, based on the external reality which can be attested by anyone. 2 Ultra-orthodox Jews adhere most strictly to Jewish law as the holy word of God, delivered perfectly and completely to Moses on Mount Sinai. -
The Participation of God and the Torah in Early Kabbalah
religions Article The Participation of God and the Torah in Early Kabbalah Adam Afterman 1,* and Ayal Hayut‑man 2 1 Department of Jewish Philosophy and Talmud, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel 2 School of Jewish Studies and Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: All Abrahamic religions have developed hypostatic and semi‑divine perceptions of scrip‑ ture. This article presents an integrated picture of a rich tradition developed in early kabbalah (twelfth–thirteenth century) that viewed the Torah as participating and identifying with the God‑ head. Such presentation could serve scholars of religion as a valuable tool for future comparisons between the various perceptions of scripture and divine revelation. The participation of God and Torah can be divided into several axes: the identification of Torah with the Sefirot, the divine grada‑ tions or emanations according to kabbalah; Torah as the name of God; Torah as the icon and body of God; and the commandments as the substance of the Godhead. The article concludes by examining the mystical implications of this participation, particularly the notion of interpretation as eros in its broad sense, both as the “penetration” of a female Torah and as taking part in the creation of the world and of God, and the notion of unification with Torah and, through it, with the Godhead. Keywords: Kabbalah; Godhead; Torah; scripture; Jewish mysticism; participation in the Godhead 1. Introduction Citation: Afterman, Adam, and Ayal The centrality of the Word of God, as consolidated in scripture, is a central theme in Hayut‑man. -
A Study in the Berlin Haskalah 1975
ISAAC SA TANOW, THE MAN AND HIS WORK; A STUDY IN THE BERLIN HASKALAH By Nehama Rezler Bersohn Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Philosophy Columbia University 1975 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am very grateful to Professor I. Barzilay for his friendly advice and encouragement throughout the course of my studies and research. Thanks are also due to the Jewish Memorial Foundation for a grant. i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT ISAAC SATANOW, THE MAN AND HIS WORK; A STUDY IN THE BERLIN HASKAIAH Nehama Rezler Bersohn Isaac Satanow, one of the most prolific writers of the Berlin Haskalah (Jewish enlightenment), typifies the maskil (an enlightened Jew) of his time. He was born and reared in Podolia, Poland at a time when Frankism and Cabbalah were reaching their peak influence. He subsequently moved to Berlin where the Jewish enlightenment movement was gaining momentum influenced by the general enlightenment and Prussia's changing economy. Satanow's way of life expressed the con fluence of these two worlds, Podolia and Berlin. Satanow adopted the goal of the moderate Haskalah to educate the Jewish masses, and by teaching them modern science, modern languages and contemporary ideas, to help them in improving their economic, social and political situation. To achieve this goal, he wrote numerous books and articles, sometimes imitating styles of and attributing the authorship to medieval and earlier writers so that his teaching would be respected and accepted. -
02 Nothing but Light / 23-30
once revealed itwiceconcealed twonothing but light THAT WAS QUITE enjoyable. It is pro- foundly pleasurable to reveal how two Torah ideas which, ostensibly, are unrelated, are in fact intimately connected to one another. Ya’akov Avinu first found his small jar of oil in 1435 BCE. He went back for it 34 years later. The Chashmonaim did not find THEIR jar of oil for another 1,263 years. The only question is, WHY are they connected? The truth is, the story did not begin with Ya’akov Avinu. It only went THROUGH him. Nothing But Light!!23 And, it is not about the oil. It is about what the oil represents. It is also not about the connec- tion between Ya’akov Avinu and the Chash- monaim. In the end, they are but two “pearls” on a strand that stretches all the way back to Creation and forward to Yemos HaMoshiach, and then some. It’s about light. It’s ALWAYS about light. Is there anything else? Long before there was “good” and “evil” there was the light, unimag- inably intense and unlimited light, predating EVERYTHING, except itself. We’re not talking about physical light. That’s a creation. Photons and waves may be imperceivable by the human eye, but they are nevertheless quite physical, in existence only since the beginning of Creation. The light we are talking about is COMPLETELY spiritual. It was NEVER created, only filtered and manip- ulated by God to execute His will. What was His will? As far as we know, to make Creation, and to make it in such a way as to allow a free will being to exist who could EARN a life of eternal pleasure. -
Is Jesus the Son of Allah? Three Models for Christian Mission
Is Jesus the Son of Allah? Graham Kings Kneeling alone on the soft carpet To the Ultimate Submitter, of a Mombasa mosque, Jesus the Messiah. Chandeliers above, galleries around, Stereo system stacked high in the corner, He does not change his God, The quiet question came to me-- for God is One,' Is Jesus the Son of Allah? But discovers in the Son That God is strangely, inconceivably great, The question is not about Jesus, but Allah: because He became so conceivably small; The Arabic for God is more than a name That God, in the end, is mercifully just but is He the same since He has absorbed the evil of all. as our God and Father? We may, perhaps, then whisper In Southern Sudan that Jesus is the Son of Allah: a Christian will answer, militantly, "No": But in this naked act of naming, In Pakistan the active Word transforms the Name. a Christian may answer, philosophically, "Yes": In Saudi Arabia Prostrate upon the carpet of a Mombasa mosque, a Muslim will answer, immediately, "No": Softly to Jesus, Son of Allah, I prayed; So does it depend where we stand-or kneel? Then rose again to slip outside and join my wife and daughters, El Shaddai of Abraham who were waiting in the shade. Is revealed as Yahweh to Moses, But not as Ba'al to Elijah: What of Almighty Allah? Graham Kings, Vice Principal of St. Andrew's Institute The crucial clue may lead us to for Mission and Evangelism, Kerugoya, Kenya, is a CMS A Muslim now submitting missionary. -
Shaar Hayichud the Gate of Unity by the Holy Rabbi Dov Ber of Lubavitch
Shaar HaYichud The Gate of Unity By The Holy Rabbi Dov Ber of Lubavitch Translated and Annotated by Shimon Markel Edited by Rabbi A. Markel Copyright © 2004 Chapter Thirty Three From all of the above1 we understand the matter of a single Hitbonenut-contemplation of the many particulars which come together as one general [overarching principle] that includes them all. This is similar to [the matter of] “Whatever HaShem desires He has done in the heavens and the earth etc”.2 The root of this “desire of HaShem” is rooted in the first source (which is called Yachid – Singular etc). This is the aspect of the essential Heyulie desire for kindness in the Essence of the Infinite Light (Atzmoot Ohr Ein Sof) which is [an] absolutely simple [singularity]. This [desire for kindness] is similar to the essentially good and kind nature embedded in the essence of the soul (as explained above in chapter ten). Once it arose in G-d’s will and desire to bestow goodness in a particular way from this general heyulie light,3 [this desire] descended with a great chaining down. [Nonetheless], all [this was] still within Himself [and was still] in the aspect of Infinity (Ein Sof), until this desire reached the aspects of Netzach and Hod of the externality of the vessel of the “Heart”. In other words, [it reached] the external emotions (Midot) of Malchut of the Infinite (Ain Sof), even though as it is there, [in Malchut of Ein Sof] it completely transcends the aspect of limitations of lights within vessels. Rather, it all is literally in an aspect of Infinity (Ein Sof), as “He estimated it within Himself”.4 Afterwards, there was a Tzimtzum [withdrawal] and it descended by means of the aspect of the Line (Kav) within the ten sefirot of Circles (Igullim) etc, until the aspect of Keter of Adam Kadmon.5 [Now, Keter of Adam Kadmon] is the source of the concealed desire (Ratzon HaNe’elam) which becomes revealed as the “desire for the desire” within Keter of Atik Yomin 1 This refers to all the preceding chapters (at least from ten through thirty two). -
20130609 El Shaddai
The Hebrew Names of God Lesson 2: El Shaddai I. El Shaddai, translated “God Almighty”, is derived from the word for mountain and stresses God’s enduring strength. II. El Shaddai and Abraham: God first revealed Himself as El Shaddai to Abraham—Genesis 17:1–8. A. God addresses Abram when he is 99 and childless, with no heirs—Genesis 17:1a. B. God charged Abram to live his life openly before the Lord and to maintain a life of integrity —Genesis 17:1b. C. God stressed His covenant with Abram and promised to multiply Abram’s descendants —Genesis 17:2. D. Again stressing His covenant with Abram He promised to make him a father of many nations—Genesis 17:3–4. E. El Shaddai changed Abram’s name (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) —Genesis 17:5. F. El Shaddai promises that His covenant with Abraham will be an eternal covenant that will provide him with descendants, blessing, and a land—Genesis 17:6–8. III. El Shaddai and Isaac: Isaac blessed his son Jacob by reassuring him of El Shaddai’s covenant with him to fulfill what He had promised to Abraham—Genesis 28:1–3. IV. El Shaddai and Jacob: El Shaddai reaffirmed Jacob’s new name and reaffirmed his covenant with him —Genesis 35:9–15. A. God had changed Jacob’s name (he who grasps at the heel of another; supplanter) to Israel (one who prevails; prince of God)—Genesis 35:9–10; see Genesis 32:26–28. B. El Shaddai promises to fulfill to Israel the covenant He had made with Abraham —Genesis 35:11–12. -
El Shaddai Pdf, Epub, Ebook
EL SHADDAI PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Kenneth E Hagin | 64 pages | 03 Feb 2000 | Anchor Distributors | 9780892764013 | English | United Kingdom El Shaddai PDF Book Palo Alto: Mayfield. Watch Now. El Shaddai. I am he who said to the world "enough! According to my research, all of the following words have been used at various times in the development of the name: The Hebrew word "dai" meaning "sheds forth", "pours out", or "to heap benefits" suggests provision , sustenance , and blessing. Watch Live. Worldwide release for "The Besorah according to Covid". No matter what Israel faced, as long as the people were walking faithfully with the LORD, He kept His hand on them, even in their times of sinning, which we all do. He healed people and cast out demons that tormented them. It was on this mountain Moses met with God and received the Ten Commandments. Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Articles containing Hebrew-language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from February Articles containing Arabic-language text Articles with unsourced statements from March Because the consequences are eternal, it is imperative that each one of us finds the exact truth being put forth even if it goes against any previous teachings or mindsets that we may have. Sign-up to receive our emails! What a mighty God we serve—and we need to praise Him. Every pore in my body feels forever changed. Proverbs We cannot even imagine all El Shaddai can do! The N. -
Tanya Sources.Pdf
The Way to the Tree of Life Jewish practice entails fulfilling many laws. Our diet is limited, our days to work are defined, and every aspect of life has governing directives. Is observance of all the laws easy? Is a perfectly righteous life close to our heart and near to our limbs? A righteous life seems to be an impossible goal! However, in the Torah, our great teacher Moshe, Moses, declared that perfect fulfillment of all religious law is very near and easy for each of us. Every word of the Torah rings true in every generation. Lesson one explores how the Tanya resolved these questions. It will shine a light on the infinite strength that is latent in each Jewish soul. When that unending holy desire emerges, observance becomes easy. Lesson One: The Infinite Strength of the Jewish Soul The title page of the Tanya states: A Collection of Teachings ספר PART ONE לקוטי אמרים חלק ראשון Titled הנקרא בשם The Book of the Beinonim ספר של בינונים Compiled from sacred books and Heavenly מלוקט מפי ספרים ומפי סופרים קדושי עליון נ״ע teachers, whose souls are in paradise; based מיוסד על פסוק כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשותו upon the verse, “For this matter is very near to לבאר היטב איך הוא קרוב מאד בדרך ארוכה וקצרה ”;you, it is in your mouth and heart to fulfill it בעזה״י and explaining clearly how, in both a long and short way, it is exceedingly near, with the aid of the Holy One, blessed be He. "1 of "393 The Way to the Tree of Life From the outset of his work therefore Rav Shneur Zalman made plain that the Tanya is a guide for those he called “beinonim.” Beinonim, derived from the Hebrew bein, which means “between,” are individuals who are in the middle, neither paragons of virtue, tzadikim, nor sinners, rishoim.