| may have read in the popular media of Kabala. | | | | Galilee in the modern day state of Israel, became a |
| People in the limelight such as Madonna have become | | | | center of Jewish mysticism ; its foremost teachers of |
| involved with this mystical aspect of spirituality. You | | | | Kabbalah included Issac Luria ( 1534 1572). A practical |
| may well of wondered about Cabala — what it | | | | or miracle working mystic, Luria claimed that the |
| is all about and even if in any manner are Cabbalists | | | | prophets of creation had been revealed to him |
| related in any manner to Scientology in its various | | | | personally, by none other than the prophet Elijah. |
| aspects. Or even has this aspect of Jewish spirituality | | | | Luria believed that human beings could attain full |
| taken over in the limelight by any manner from | | | | identification with the Divine Spirit through intense |
| Scientology and its followers and precepts. | | | | concentration, referred to as kavvanah. |
| Literally in the Hebrew language (the historic language | | | | This theory was described by Luria’s disciple |
| of the bible), the word Kabala translates as | | | | Hayim Vital, in his book Et Hayim (which |
| tradition. Kabbalah as a spiritual practice can be | | | | translates fully as The Tree of Life Another |
| summarized and explained as a form, or even in many | | | | famous Kabbalist. Moshe Cordovero, formulated |
| authorities’ eyes, as Jewish mysticism. | | | | Kabbalistic teachings in a philosophic system. His |
| Kabbalah can be said to be an attempt to fathom the | | | | contemporary, Isiah Hurwitz (1555 1625) interpreted the |
| mysteries of the master of the universe and the | | | | teachings of Judaism in light of the Kabala. Isiah |
| mysteries of the creation of entirety. The Kabbalists | | | | Hurwitz sought with the other inspired mystics of his |
| developed a complete and full philosophic system | | | | generation to hasten the coming and arrival of the |
| during the Middle Ages. The Talmud itself contains | | | | Messiah. |
| mystical interpretations of the Biblical story of creation. | | | | It can be said that during extreme hardship as well |
| With the appearance of the Zohar in the thirteen | | | | difficult and strenuous times for Jews and Jewish |
| (13’ Th) centuries, the study of Kabbalah gained | | | | communities far flung across Europe, Asia and Africa, |
| great renown and popularity. | | | | that the teachings of Kabala greatly contributed to the |
| Jewish mysticism attracted itself to many and varied | | | | rise of messianic hopes and in time influenced Hasidism |
| remarkable personalities , some of whom even | | | | profoundly. Indeed fully Jewish folklore grew and |
| considered themselves even to be the messiah or | | | | thrived on the Kabbala’s poetic and magical |
| Messiach themselves Amazingly even one such | | | | elements. |
| event transfixed itself with Abraham Abulafia ( 1240 | | | | In summary it can be said that while Kabala, its |
| — 1291) who regarded himself as the fore | | | | teachings and philosophy are new on the mainstream |
| runner of said Messiah / Messiach, even attempting to | | | | limelight. On the other hand Kabbala and Cabbalist |
| convert none less than the Pope himself to Judaism. | | | | teachings are nothing new. The come with a solid and |
| Kabalistic teaching gained in intensity and scope in | | | | deep historical history and foundings’. |
| sixteenth century Safed/ This town in the upper | | | | |