Kabbalah is a practical and an utterly precise ancient wisdom whose concern is the study of the purpose and reality of life. In Kabbalah we can find answers to deep questions that philosophers had struggled with throughout the ages such as:
What is the purpose of life?
Why did creation take place ?
What is the purpose of creation?
The wisdom of Kabbalah contains practical and very logical answers. Unfortunately, this knowledge had been concealed for a long period of time. We have nevertheless reached an era where the study of this wisdom is open to the public.
This knowledge was first handed down to Adam in the form of the book "Raziel the angel" and during the following twenty generations, this knowledge was almost totally forgotten. This went on until the arrival of "Abraham the patriarch".
Abraham grew up in a home surrounded by idols. His father was a figurine manufacturer. It is quite impressive that Abraham grew up to be a great man with historic fame and a spiritual forefather to most humanity.
How did this happen?
Abraham discovered the secrets behind the structure of the universe!!
He taught them to his son Yischak and inherited his spiritual legacy to the world in the form of a very special book called: Sefer-Yetzira (the book of formation).
For several generations thereafter, this knowledge was handed down from father to son, from teacher to student until the revelation of the knowledge on mount Sinai to the people of Israel.
This knowledge was gradually forgotten throughout the history of the nation till a stage was reached, following the destruction of the second temple, where there was a real danger that all that was received upon mount Sinai would be completely forgotten. It is then that permission was given to put this knowledge in writing. This was called the written Torah. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, a prominent sage of that era was charged with compiling the main textbook of Kabbalistic knowledge which came to be known as The Zohar (the book of splendor). The knowledge therein was reveled to Rabbi Shimon and to his son Rabbi Elazar. They shared this knowledge with eight more of the most prominent sages then and together they began unraveling and documenting this wisdom. It was concealed for 1200 years and only the virtuous few were found worthy of learning from it.
In the 16th century, in Safed, a new and crucial stage
in the revelation of the wisdom of Kabbalah was unfolded. Rabbi Yitshak Luria (known as the holy Ari) and his main student Rabbi Hayim Vital rose upon the stage of history. Together they unraveled and simplified the knowledge that was coded in the Zohar. This simplified and ordered documentation of this knowledge is what came to be known as the Writings of the Ari. This method of studying Kabbalah was endorsed by most kabbalists of that era and became the most accepted method of study since then. Early in the previous century, a Kabbalist of tremendous spiritual stature arrived and further simplified the understanding of the Zohar and of the writings of the Ari. His name is Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag. He translated the Zohar into lucid Hebrew and institutionalized the study of Kabbalah in what is known as The Sullam (the step-ladder). This majestic endeavor opened the gates to everyone and even to beginners who have no prior knowledge in the esoteric aspects of the Torah.
He stressed that the purpose of this studying is to strengthen a person's inner ability to withstand the ongoing struggle against the negative and external forces that accompany us from the day we are born. Kabbalah calls this negativity the selfish desire to receive or ego centered tendencies that have to be conquered.
Kabbalah is called the secret wisdom simply because it reveals the secrets of life and the purpose of creation.
What benefit can be received from studying Kabbalah?
We learn how to live correctly and in harmony with the laws of creation. We get a perspective on the purpose of our existence. It helps us reach tranquility, joy and lucid thinking. We improve the quality of life.
Kabbalah injects energy into our soul and elevates it.
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