kabbalah

Why Kabbalah Is Considered Dangerous

The potential for misuse and mental trauma led to restrictions on who could study Jewish mysticism.

Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation

This ancient mystical text introduced many concepts that would be more fully developed by the tradition of Kabbalah.

Ana b’Koach: A Portal to Creation

This enigmatic poem recited almost precisely as Shabbat begins contains a hidden mystical meaning.

Love Lessons from Lecha Dodi

The mystical poem sung during Kabbalat Shabbat services is a model for our relationship with God -- and with each other.

How to Acquire the Right Mental State for Prayer

The pursuit of proper kavanah, the Hebrew term for directed attention, has long concerned Jewish thinkers.

Aleinu: A Call to Divine Service

This prayer calls on us to discover where the brokenness of the world overlaps with our particular human gifts.

The Power of Jewish Blessings

More than mere expressions of gratitude, blessings are portals to other spiritual realms.

Do Jews Believe in Satan?

In Jewish texts, the devil is sometimes an adversary and sometimes an embodiment of evil.

The Shechinah: A Supernal Mother

A Kabbalistic interpretation of the suffering of the Jews in Egypt and their ultimate redemption.

Red String Bracelets: What’s the Jewish Significance?

Made famous by Madonna, these good-luck charms are part of a whole genre of folk traditions and superstitions.