Kabbalah has become a word of fashion. If you do or learn Kabbalah, you belong to the same circle of friends as Madonna, Britney Spears, Demi Moore, Elizabeth Taylor, etc.
Today, these and other show business personalities claim to study Jewish mysticism: the Kabbalah. But what is Kabbalah and what does it teach.
Kabbalah is the mystical and esoteric explanation of the Torah. It teaches the unfolding of the worlds, the various ways of guidance of these worlds, the role of man in the creation, the will of the Creator and so on. No other writings explain in detail the creation of this world and the ones above it, the lights or energies that influence its guidance and the final goal of everything.
These writings are based on ancient Jewish texts and mostly on the Zohar. They have been transmitted from teacher to student for generations, and only to the most deserving. They require conforming to a way of life where the commandments of the Torah are sincerely observed, and the guidance of renowned Kabbalist rabbis.
In a recent interview on CNN, Madonna declared: “I am a Kabbalist, there is definitely a Kabbalistic approach to life or a Kabbalistic point of view… .”
Is it possible to study Kabbalah so easily and claim to be a Kabbalist? Are we sure of the sincerity of the so-called Kabbalah teachers in these “Kabbalah centers”?
Can we be sure that this is genuine Kabbalah knowledge? Are the “rabbis” and teachings of these centers recognized and respected by renowned Jewish scholars?
The answers are no, no, no and no. Only rabbis that have studied the genuine Kabbalah can properly answer these questions.
I have read some of the material taught and seen the various objects sold by these Kabbalah centers. The knowledge being distributed (or sold) has very little to do with genuine Kabbalah.
It is more of an esoteric philosophy with some relation to very basic Kabbalah concepts. They sell various products from courses and books, to red woolen strings and “blessed” bottled mineral water.
The Kabbalah Center is an international operation with schools in many parts of the world. “More than 18,000 students are enrolled in its classes in the United States and an additional 90,000 are active members,” Rabbi Yehuda Berg said.
The organization’s Web site, kabbalah.com, is visited by 90,000 people each month, he said, and 30,000 call a toll-free number for advice or “student support.”
The phenomenon has been derided on some Jewish Web sites as “McMysticism.”
Wanting to get closer to G-d is very noble, and this, from whatever religion or background. I am sure that Madonna and the others sincerely want to do good as she also declared: “I also believe that all paths lead to G-d.”
The problem is the people that allegedly show these seekers “the way” and take (a lot of) their money on the way. When we see Madonna flashing Hebrew names of G-d (which normally are so saintly that they should not even be pronounced) on the back wall of her concerts, we wonder if she realizes the gravity of her actions.
If Madonna thinks that she is a Kabbalist, she is certainly not. If her teachers told her she was, they do not go by any recognized standards, and I personally think that she is being abused and taken advantage of.
It is well known in the Jewish rabbinical circles that what Berg and his colleagues from the Kabbalah Center are teaching has nothing to do with authentic Kabbalah. It is also well known that they have no credentials to teach Kabbalah and are not recognized or accepted as Kabbalists.
Are we witnessing the same phenomenon as the meditation craze during the Beatles era? Could be. Sadly, the very negative result will be the disappointment of honest and sincere truth seekers by seductive deceivers.
It is important for Jewish scholars and rabbis that are knowledgeable in the true Kabbalah to stand up and voice their opinion and their concern.
Rabbi Raphael Afilalo of Montreal is a scholar of Kabbalah whose most recent book is “The Kabbalah of the Ari Z’al, According to the Ramhal.” He is affiliated with the Petah Tikvah Synagogue in Montreal and the Ramchal Institute in Jerusalem.
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