All Questions
Tagged with history mysticism-kabbalah
28 questions
3
votes
2
answers
184
views
Is Moshe Idel’s scholarship considered kosher by the Orthodox Jewish community [closed]
I’m curious whether the scholarship of Moshe Idel, a contemporary scholar of Kabbalah, is considered kosher (i.e., that his scholarship doesn't contradict the Mesorah) and reliable (i.e., that a ...
- 4,532
0
votes
0
answers
42
views
What is כתיבת מלאכים, what is it for, and where does it derive from? [duplicate]
I have seen various writings called כתיבת מלאכים. In one case, I saw symbols in the end of Sefer Raziel haMalach written in a distinct script. In another case, a while back, I was in a shtieble and ...
- 81
1
vote
1
answer
121
views
Whats the source of saying Al Cheit at night?
BH
Whats the source saying al chait every night at kiryat shma al hamita?
- 1,527
1
vote
2
answers
290
views
Did Ramban ever cite kabbalah books?
Is there any evidence Ramban (Nachmanides) had access to books of kabbalah and did he ever cite them? I believe he is generally seen as Maimonides’ mystical counterpart. Is there any historical record ...
- 4,532
4
votes
2
answers
175
views
When did the Zohar become near universally accepted
In Jewish history, when did the Zohar become the near universally accepted Sefer it is today? Was it shortly after it was re circulated by Moshe de Leon? Or was it in a later century?
What is the ...
- 4,532
2
votes
1
answer
178
views
What are the first sources of Tzimtzum
BH
What’s the first sources that speak about Tzimtzum? Someone told me that it talks about this in Sefer Yetzirah. If so, where?
- 1,527
1
vote
0
answers
177
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There are at least 3 english translations of Sha'ar HaGilgulim with the same cover, but different page lengths and publishers. What's the difference?
Edit added at bottom of page.
I have the one from Eichlers with 918 pages, but I noticed these others, and I am wondering if the one I own is missing chapters or pages of the translation that another ...
- 361
2
votes
1
answer
294
views
Who made this claim about the author of Sefer Habahir?
Asking for someone else:
"I remember a quote of some medieval or later rabbi disputing the claim that Rabbi Nechunya [ben Hakanah] wrote the Sefer HaBahir, saying something like god forbid that a ...
- 21.2k
2
votes
0
answers
236
views
Was there an opposition to Arizal?
There was a big conflict about the Hashkafa of Rambam.
But it seems that there was nothing to contradict the Arizal, as if everybody agreed with the fact that he learned with Elyahu, and so him being ...
- 1,196
1
vote
0
answers
167
views
Were the Essenes considered apikorisim?
The ancient Essenes are known as being an highly Ascetic sect, with many Mystical and Monastical practices.
In fact, Rav Aryeh Kaplan seems to imply that much of our Kabala actually originated from ...
- 329
2
votes
2
answers
425
views
10 types of angels
In Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah 2:7 Rambam says:
שִׁנּוּי שְׁמוֹת הַמַּלְאָכִים עַל שֵׁם מַעֲלָתָם הוּא. וּלְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָאִים חַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהֵם לְמַעְלָה מִן הַכּל וְאוֹפַנִּים וְאֶרְאֶלִּים ...
- 2,107
2
votes
2
answers
214
views
History of Kabbalah
Has anyone attempted to write a historical sketch of the history of the shalsheles HaKabbalah (which, in this instance, I use to refer to Toras HaSod)? In other words, what was megale to Moshe Rabbenu,...
- 4,707
2
votes
1
answer
208
views
Is the author of the Shu"t HaRidvaz the same one as the one known to be the rebbe of the Ariza"l?
I've heard that the Ariza"l was a talmid of the Ridvaz. I am wondering if it is the same person who authored the Shu"t HaRidvaz as I find that interesting since he seems to be someone that devoted his ...
- 63
2
votes
0
answers
200
views
What is the history and origin of the Etz Chayim symbol and the 10 Sefiroth?
This question is related to the question 'what is the origin of the Hebrew language?' since Hebrew is a key part of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. However, the question of Hebrew language origins seems ...
- 125
2
votes
0
answers
87
views
Zohar about the 18-19th century [duplicate]
I saw a quote one time--I believe it was in an Artscroll sefer--from the Zohar about how there would be tremendous spiritual and cultural revelations that would occur around the 18th-19th centuries. (...
- 2,312
6
votes
1
answer
260
views
What is the earliest mention of the Zohar being explicitly cited in Jewish Literature?
What is the earliest mention of the Zohar being explicitly cited in Jewish texts?
I've asked some friends but we were unable to determine where it was.
- 4,297
3
votes
1
answer
624
views
Ancient Jewish Essene texts and history
Recently when I visited Israel my family had a wonderful experience seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls and learning about Jewish life in the desert. When I grew up I had so little knowledge of this. I have 2 ...
- 387
5
votes
2
answers
179
views
Source for the Usage of "Kabbalah"
What are the earliest sources that refer to Jewish mysticism in particular as "kabblah".
(Preferably the answer should include an indication that the word was associated with this in particular, ...
- 36k
5
votes
1
answer
285
views
What did the Arizal's contemporaries write about him?
Over here, ray posits that the validity of certain schools of Jewish philosophy rests on the Arizal's word.
The Arizal was most famous for his teachings in Safed (though he only lived there for two ...
- 40.8k
8
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Are there any female kabbalists?
Are there currently or have there been historically orthodox female kabbalists? If not is this a quirk of history or is there a specific reason?
- 3,893
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Was Shlomo Molcho a great kabbalist or a false messiah? [closed]
History records that a Portuguese Marano, Diego Peres (born 1500), after being spurned by Jewish adventurist David Reuveni, circumcised himself, changed his name to Shlomo Molcho, and went on a ...
- 16.3k
2
votes
0
answers
100
views
Are there mystical underpinnings to Maccabi?
One of the explanations I have heard for the title מכבי is that it is an acronym for the pasuk 'מִי-כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם ה (Shemos 15:11). Is there any reason, mystical or otherwise that that pasuk (or ...
user1668
8
votes
3
answers
463
views
Are there forms of Jewish mysticism outside of kabbalah?
Is kabbalah the one and only form (source?) of Jewish mysticism?
- 359
7
votes
2
answers
771
views
What's the history of Hekhalot/Heichalot/Heikhalot literature?
There is a field of study, which focuses on the Hekhalot literature. However, the internet gives conflicting information about them.
For example, some state that they were written by the early ...
- 19.1k
8
votes
2
answers
345
views
Unique signature of the Chida
The Chida has a very unique signature.
What is the significance of this signature (if any)?
Is it in any way related to the seven kabbalistic seals?
Are there other similarly unusual signatures by ...
- 4,008
4
votes
3
answers
302
views
What are the major ancient literature on Judaic mysticism and spiritual development?
What are the major ancient literature on Judaic mysticism and spiritual development? By ancient I mean B.C.E.
I also would appreciate if you can also provide links to online English translations if ...
- 1,077
11
votes
2
answers
478
views
What's the source for a Cheirem al pi Kabbalah?
The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe describes:
"'a real cheirem as prescribed by Kabbalah' requires the following: a
court of seventy-two rabbis fast for forty consecutive days (excluding
Shabbos ...
- 21.2k
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How Kabbalistically accurate is the golem-making procedure described in "Niflaos Maharal"?
There's been plenty of discussion about the historic authenticity of "Niflaos Maharal", a book that appeared in the early 1900s describing how the Maharal made a Golem to defend the Jews against blood ...
- 136k