14
votes
Sex in the world to come
The Talmud (Berachot 17a) states:
העולם הבא אין בו לא אכילה ולא שתיה ולא פריה ורביה ולא משא ומתן ולא קנאה ולא שנאה ולא תחרות אלא צדיקים יושבין ועטרותיהם בראשיהם ונהנים מזיו השכינה שנאמר ויחזו את ...
- 49.1k
13
votes
Did Rashi learn Kabbalah?
In his commentary on the Gemara, Rashi refers to Sefer Yetzirah several times. One example, on Menachos 29b:
אחת בה"י ואחת ביו"ד - חלק את שמו והטיף מכל אות ג' טיפין ומאותן טיפין נעשו מים ואש ואויר ...
- 7,781
10
votes
The Yiddish Language and its Sanctity
In a letter to the Tog–Morgn Zhurnal, February 24, 1961 (also printed in דרשות און כּתובֿים), Rav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik wrote that Yiddish can be considered as a tashmish kedusha. He says that ...
- 9,777
10
votes
Picture by R' Aryeh Kaplan on the front cover of the Aryeh Kaplan Reader
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan was among many things a painter. He mentioned this in his book Jewish Meditation (p. 29):
I also remember a period during which I was painting. I had just learned how to use ...
- 479
10
votes
According to Kabbalah is it okay to have a pet dove?
It's one of the stipulations of Rabbi Yehuda Hachassids ethical will:
לא יגדל אדם תורים ובני יונה בתוך ביתו (ע' סי' תתרל"ח). לפי שהבית אשר יגדלו בה או ימותו בניו או לא יהיה לו זרע.
One should ...
- 40.3k
9
votes
Dovid got lifespan from Adam and/or the Avos
Yes at first glance they are in conflict. Sefer Yosef Tehilos 42:9 (Chida) reconciles this with the explanation that David did not sleep and this the nights counted towards the 140 years.
יומם יצוה ה׳...
- 139k
9
votes
Munn in the World to Come
Talmud Bavli (Hagigah 12b), from Sefaria:
ר"ל אמר שבעה ואלו הן וילון רקיע שחקים זבול מעון מכון ערבות... שחקים שבו רחיים עומדות וטוחנות מן לצדיקים שנאמר (תהלים עח, כג) ויצו שחקים ממעל ודלתי שמים פתח ...
- 11.9k
9
votes
Introductory seforim for learning Kabbalah
Inner Space from Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (written by his students based on his teachings) is a great intro in English. He goes through the concept of ein sof, tzimtzum, the four worlds, the sefirot, ...
- 700
9
votes
Accepted
Warnings of R. Chaim Vital
The list you are looking for seems to be towards the end of his introductions, in the paragraph beginning וצריך להתרחק (page 23 in this edition). He lists 10 things not to do and 10 things to do ...
- 24k
8
votes
Is one a heretic if he does not believe in Kabbalah?
R. Meir Mazuz Shlita was asked the following question:
אני רוצה לשאול בפרט על ה"דורדעים" שאינם מאמינים בחכמת הקבלה כל עיקר,
אלא בדברי הגמרא, רב סעדיה גאון, הרמב"ם, וכדומה. איך יש להתיחס להם? האם
...
- 35.4k
8
votes
Accepted
Munn in the World to Come
One source for this is the Midrash Otiot D'Rabbi Akiva (Version A) (s.v. Uma Nishtana in Battei Midrashot Vol. II) which states:
ומנין שהמן בשחקים והיה טחון ברחיים בשביל צדיקים ובשביל ישראל לעולם ...
- 35.4k
8
votes
Was Eliezer a tzaddik or a rasha?
In this medrash Talpiot written by Hamekubal Rav Eliyahu Hacohen of Izmir about 300 years ago he writes in entry "Eliezer" (the entries are written in alphabetical order) Eliezer did a kabalistic ...
- 11.4k
8
votes
Need help in deciphering a Litvish term regarding Yichud Hashem
It looks like the first is שליטתו - His control, and the second is מציאותו - His “Existence”.
- 41.8k
8
votes
Is the author of the Shu"t HaRidvaz the same one as the one known to be the rebbe of the Ariza"l?
Indeed, this is the same person. The entry for "David ben Solomon ibn Zimra (Radbaz)" in The Responsa Literature states:
He conducted a large yeshiba and many famous scholars were his pupils. The ...
- 49.1k
8
votes
Black Raven bad luck?
In Sanhedrin 65b:
תנו רבנן מנחש זה האומר פתו נפלה מפיו מקלו נפלה מידו בנו קורא לו מאחריו עורב קורא לו צבי הפסיקו בדרך נחש מימינו ושועל משמאלו
The Sages taught: The enchanter mentioned in the verse (...
- 20.4k
8
votes
Is the malachim aleph beis from a non-Jew for the occult or something legitimate from a Jewish source?
I assume you were looking at the Celestial Alphabet. Note that Agrippa explicitly stated that he found these forms of writings among Jews:
"Amongst the Hebrews I find more fashions of Characters....
- 24.8k
7
votes
Accepted
How to reconcile a wife's cooking with the Zohar's definition of husband and wife?
Yevamos 63a:
אשכחיה רבי יוסי לאליהו א"ל כתיב אעשה לו עזר במה אשה עוזרתו לאדם א"ל אדם מביא חיטין חיטין כוסס פשתן פשתן לובש לא נמצאת מאירה עיניו ומעמידתו על רגליו
Rebbi Yosi found Eliyahu. He ...
- 58.3k
7
votes
Rashbi and Talking in Shul
The source you are looking for is in the Zohar, parashat Teruma, 131b, traditionally attributed to Rashbi:
ומאן דמשתעי בבי כנישתא במילין דחול, ווי ליה דאחזי פרודא, ווי ליה דגרע מהימנותא, ווי ליה ...
- 11.3k
7
votes
Naming your baby - does the name influence the child?
The earliest source that a name has an intrinsic influence on the child is the Midrash Tanchuma:
זכור ימות עולם בינו שנות דור ודור: לעולם יבדוק אדם בשמות לקרוא לבנו
הראוי להיות צדיק, כי לפעמים ...
- 7,891
7
votes
In what sense does the Arizal claim that Rabbi Akiva was the reincarnation of Cain?
I'm not claiming to give a full answer; I did learn about this topic, but I don't remember the specific example.
However, there is one answer which works in general.
In Judaism, the concept of ...
- 2,961
6
votes
Creating things with the Sefer Yetzira?
It is documented in the R' Aryeh Kaplan translation of the sefer yetzeira regarding forming a humanoid from earth/clay (Golem) and engraving the name of God on his forehead then there are specific ...
- 13.6k
6
votes
Was Eliezer a tzaddik or a rasha?
There were two Og's, kings of Bashan. One was Eliezer, the other was the famous rasha Og.
Source: Daas Zekeinim to Genesis 24:39
- 5,966
6
votes
Practical Kabbalah consequences
From the Encyclopedia.com entry on Joseph Della Reina:
JOSEPH DELLA REINA , hero of a kabbalistic legend who attempted to
bring an end to Satan's power and thus lead to the redemption. The
...
- 49.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Women and the 248 words in Shema
In his book Shorashe Minhag Ashkenaz (vol. 2 pg. 58), R. Hamburger brings that the Minhat Elazar was asked this question and he replied (ME vol. 2 §28) that since the idea is Zoharic it follows that ...
- 11.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Introductory seforim for learning Kabbalah
Shomer Emunim Hakadmon (Rabbi Yosef Irgas), generalities and introduction to abstract language
Amud Haavodah (Rabbi Boruch Kosover), optimization of the first. Very long but very clear.
Shaare Ora (...
- 22.7k
6
votes
Introductory seforim for learning Kabbalah
You do not specify if you are looking for an English or Hebrew book. In English, you could try The Thirteen Petalled Rose: A Discourse On The Essence Of Jewish Existence And Belief by R Adin ...
- 47.9k
6
votes
Are there still anti-Kabbalah Orthodox Jewish movements?
There are several contemporary (or recently deceased) rabbis, with followings, that express anti-kabbalistic attitudes and ideas. I'm not so sure that I would go quite so far as to call them formal &...
- 6,483
6
votes
Accepted
Who made this claim about the author of Sefer Habahir?
Edit:
Found it. It was written by Rabbi Meir ben Shimon of Narbonne in a letter he wrote against the Kabbalah (published by Adolf Neubauer in JQR 4:3, pg. 358):
"...וכבר הגיע אותו ספר לידינו ...
- 24.8k
6
votes
Accepted
English Translation of Milhamoth Hashem by Yiḥyeh Qafiḥ
Is there an English translation of it, or an overview?
To my knowledge R. Yihyeh Qafih's ספר מלחמות השם has not been translated to English in its entirety. However the work Tohar Hayihud translates ...
- 6,483
6
votes
Accepted
Who is the author of this book - Sefer Maayan Moshe
The author of the sefer is Rabbi Moshe Shatz. The sefer is called Maayan Moshe : Mavo L'Torat HaSod
There are several sites that you can use for buying it:
MySefer (currently out of stock)
The blurb ...
- 8,790
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible