Kabbalah (Hebrew קַבָּלָה "reception", Standard Hebrew Qabbala, Tiberian Hebrew Qabbālāh; also written variously as Cabala, Cabalah, Cabbala, Cabbalah, Kabala, Kabalah, Kabbala, Qabala, Qabalah, Kaballah) is an interpretation (exegesis, hermeneutic) key, "soul" of the Torah (Hebrew Bible), or the religious mystical system of Judaism claiming an insight into divine nature. Kabbalah is a doctrine of esoteric knowledge concerning God, God's creation of the universe and the laws of nature, and the path by whic ...

Including:

Kabbalah - Origin of Jewish mysticism Kabbalah - Mystic doctrines in Talmudic times Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the early Middle Ages Kabbalah - Lurianic Kabbalah in the Middle Ages Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the Sefardim and Mizrahim Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the Maharal Kabbalah - The failure of Sabbatian mysticism Kabbalah - Spread of Kabbalah during the 1700s Kabbalah - The modern world Kabbalah - Primary texts Kabbalah - Theodicy: explanation for the existence of evil Kabbalah - Kabbalistic understanding of God
Kabbalah - Sefirot Kabbalah - A Greek Orthodox theological view
Kabbalah - The human soul in Kabbalah Kabbalah - Foretelling the future Kabbalah - Practical applications Kabbalah - Textual antiquity of esoteric mysticism Kabbalah - Gnosticism and Kabbalah Kabbalah - Criticisms
Kabbalah - Dualism
Kabbalah - Debate about Kabbalah in Judaism
Kabbalah - Early critiques Kabbalah - Within Conservative and Reform Judaism Kabbalah - Kabbalah Centre
Kabbalah - Kabbalah in non-Jewish society
Kabbalah - Hermetic Kabbalah Kabbalah - Fictional representations Kabbalah - Kabbalah personalities
Kabbalah - Footnotes

Read more here: » Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Kabbalah

See also:

Kabbalah, Kabbalah - Origin of Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah - Mystic doctrines in Talmudic times, Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the early Middle Ages, Kabbalah - Lurianic Kabbalah in the Middle Ages, Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the Sefardim and Mizrahim, Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the Maharal, Kabbalah - The failure of Sabbatian mysticism, Kabbalah - Spread of Kabbalah during the 1700s, Kabbalah - The modern world, Kabbalah - Primary texts, Kabbalah - Theodicy: explanation for the existence of evil, Kabbalah - Kabbalistic understanding of God, Kabbalah - Sefirot, Kabbalah - A Greek Orthodox theological view, Kabbalah - The human soul in Kabbalah, Kabbalah - Foretelling the future, Kabbalah - Practical applications, Kabbalah - Textual antiquity of esoteric mysticism, Kabbalah - Gnosticism and Kabbalah, Kabbalah - Criticisms, Kabbalah - Dualism, Kabbalah - Debate about Kabbalah in Judaism, Kabbalah - Early critiques, Kabbalah - Within Conservative and Reform Judaism, Kabbalah - Kabbalah Centre, Kabbalah - Kabbalah in non-Jewish society, Kabbalah - Hermetic Kabbalah, Kabbalah - Fictional representations, Kabbalah - Kabbalah personalities, Kabbalah - Footnotes

Read more here: » Kabbalah: Encyclopedia II - Kabbalah - Gnosticism and Kabbalah

The Zohar posits that the human soul has three elements, the nefesh, ru'ach, and neshamah. The nefesh is found in all humans, and enters the physical body at birth. It is the source of one's physical and psychological nature. The next two parts of the soul are not implanted at birth, but can be developed over time; their development depends on the actions and beliefs of the individual. They are said to only fully exist in people awakened spiritually. A common way of explaining the three parts of the soul is as fol ...

See also:

Kabbalah, Kabbalah - Origin of Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah - Mystic doctrines in Talmudic times, Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the early Middle Ages, Kabbalah - Lurianic Kabbalah in the Middle Ages, Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the Sefardim and Mizrahim, Kabbalah - Kabbalah of the Maharal, Kabbalah - The failure of Sabbatian mysticism, Kabbalah - Spread of Kabbalah during the 1700s, Kabbalah - The modern world, Kabbalah - Primary texts, Kabbalah - Theodicy: explanation for the existence of evil, Kabbalah - Kabbalistic understanding of God, Kabbalah - Sefirot, Kabbalah - A Greek Orthodox theological view, Kabbalah - The human soul in Kabbalah, Kabbalah - Foretelling the future, Kabbalah - Practical applications, Kabbalah - Textual antiquity of esoteric mysticism, Kabbalah - Gnosticism and Kabbalah, Kabbalah - Criticisms, Kabbalah - Dualism, Kabbalah - Debate about Kabbalah in Judaism, Kabbalah - Early critiques, Kabbalah - Within Conservative and Reform Judaism, Kabbalah - Kabbalah Centre, Kabbalah - Kabbalah in non-Jewish society, Kabbalah - Hermetic Kabbalah, Kabbalah - Fictional representations, Kabbalah - Kabbalah personalities, Kabbalah - Footnotes

Read more here: » Kabbalah: Encyclopedia II - Kabbalah - The human soul in Kabbalah

Sephirot or Sefiroth (סְפִירוֹת), singular: Sephirah, also Sefirah (סְפִירָה "enumeration" in Hebrew). Sephiroth (or "enumerations"), in the Kabbalah of Judaism, are the ten attributes that God (who is referred to as the Ain Soph Aur, "limitless light") created through which he can project himself to the universe and man. These emanations manifest not only in the physical part of the universe, but also in the metaphysical one. Kabbalah distinguishes between four different "worlds" or "planes": ...

Including:

Sephirot Kabbalah - Paths and Sephiroth Sephirot Kabbalah - Names Sephirot Kabbalah - The Pillars Sephirot Kabbalah - Non-traditional interpretations Sephirot Kabbalah - In the occult Sephirot Kabbalah - Numerology
Sephirot Kabbalah - Rabbinic Significance
Sephirot Kabbalah - Pop culture

Read more here: » Sephirot Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Sephirot Kabbalah

Netzach (נצח) ("victory") is the seventh Sephira in the Kabbalah, located beneath Chesed, at the base of the "Pillar of Mercy". Netzach is "Perpetualty", "Victory". Netzach Kabbalah - Non-Jewish Kabbalah. Netzach is the first of the sephirah to be emanated from Tiphereth, beauty, and it is seen to represent formless energy, that energy that can overcome obstacles, that tendency of life to flourish despite difficult conditions, the motivating libido in humanity. It is opposed by the force of Hod, ...

Including:

Netzach Kabbalah - Non-Jewish Kabbalah

Read more here: » Netzach Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Netzach Kabbalah

Da'at or Da'as (דעת "knowledge" or "reason" in Hebrew) in the Kabbalah of Judaism is associated with the Sephiroth, meaning "enumerations" which are the "emantions" of God into the universe. It is part of a larger pattern on the Kabbalah's tree of life. Da'at Kabbalah - Meaning. Da'at is the third and last conscious power of intellect in Creation. According to scholars of this mystical knowledge, Da'at is associated in the soul with the powers of memory and concentration, powers whic ...

Including:

Da'at Kabbalah - Meaning Da'at Kabbalah - Levels Da'at Kabbalah - Lower level Da'at Kabbalah - Spiritual States Da'at Kabbalah - Non-Jewish Kabbalah Da'at Kabbalah - External link

Read more here: » Da'at Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Da'at Kabbalah

Yesod ("foundation") is one of the important Kabbalistic sephirot. Yesod Kabbalah - Non-Jewish Kabbalah. Yesod is the sephirot below Hod and Netzach, and above Malkuth ( the kingdom ). It is often associated with the moon, because it is the sphere which reflects the light of all the other sephirah into Malkuth, and it is associated with the sexual organs, because it is here that the higher spheres connect to the earth. It plays the role of collecting and balancing the different and opposing energies ...

Including:

Yesod Kabbalah - Non-Jewish Kabbalah

Read more here: » Yesod Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Yesod Kabbalah

Malkuth ( which translates as 'kingdom' ) is the tenth of the sephirot in the kabbalistic tree of life. It sits at the bottom of the tree, below Yesod, and it is the realm of the Earth, the kingdom of God, in which human beings live and act. Malkhuth Kabbalah - Non-Jewish Kabbalah. Malkuth is seen as the Earth, the receiving sphere of all the other sephirah above it. It is like the negative node of an electrical circuit. The divine energy comes down and finds it's expression in this plane, and our purpose ...

Including:

Malkhuth Kabbalah - Non-Jewish Kabbalah

Read more here: » Malkhuth Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Malkhuth Kabbalah

Chesed ("Mercy"; חסד) is the fourth Sephirah on the tree of life in the Kabbalah of Judaism. It is given the association of kindness and love, and is the first of the emotive attributes of the Sephirot. It sits below Chockmah, across from Gevurah and above Netzach. It is usually given four paths. To Chockmah, Gevurah, Tiphereth, and Netzach (some Kabbalists place a path from Chesed to Binah as well.) Chesed is also known as Gedulah (גדולה). Chesed Kabbalah - In the non-Jewish occult. Chesed i ...

Including:

Chesed Kabbalah - In the non-Jewish occult Chesed Kabbalah - External link

Read more here: » Chesed Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Chesed Kabbalah

Chokhmah ("Wisdom"; חכמה) (or chochmah or hokhmah) in the Kabbalah of Judaism, is the uppermost of the Sephirot of the right line (kav yamin which is also the "Pillar of Mercy"). It is derived from the Hebrew word chokhmah (חכמה) which means "wisdom". It is to the bottom right of Keter, and with Binah across it. Under it are the sephirot of Chesed and Netzach. It commonly has four paths going to Keter, Binah, Tifereth, and Chesed. (Som ...

Including:

Chokhmah Kabbalah - Introduction Chokhmah Kabbalah - The first of the intellectual powers of the soul Chokhmah Kabbalah - Numerology Chokhmah Kabbalah - In the texts of Judaism Chokhmah Kabbalah - Non-Jewish usages Chokhmah Kabbalah - External link

Read more here: » Chokhmah Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Chokhmah Kabbalah

Binah, (meaning "Understanding"; בינה), in the Kabbalah of Judaism, is the second intellectual Sephirah on the tree of life. It sits on the level below Keter (in the formulations that include that Sephirah), across from Chockmah and directly above Gevurah. It is usually given four paths: to Keter, Chockmah, Gevurah, and Tiphereth (some Kabbalists place a path from Binah to Chesed as well.) In an anthropomorphic visualization, it may be alternatively related to the "left eye", "left hemisphere" of "the brain" or the "heart." Binah is often defined as the ability to understand one thing from with ...

Including:

Binah Kabbalah - Non-Jewish associations Binah Kabbalah - External link

Read more here: » Binah Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Binah Kabbalah

Gevurah ("Severity"; גבורה) or Geburah, and Din ("Judgment") in the Kabbalah of Judaism is the fifth of the Sephirot of the tree of life, and it is the second of the emotive attributes of the Sephirot. It sits below Binah, across from Chesed, and below Hod. It commonly has four paths leading to Binah, Chesed, Tiphereth, and Hod. (Although some Kabbalists draw a path from Gevurah to Chockmah. Gevurah is known as "strength, "judgment", "power", and "concealment". It's usually "strength" or "power" and "judgment" when usin ...

Including:

Gevurah Kabbalah - In the non-Jewish occult Gevurah Kabbalah - External link

Read more here: » Gevurah Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Gevurah Kabbalah

Ein Sof (Hebrew: "without end" denoting "boundlessness"), also known as "Divine Being", is the name for God, within the Kabbalah of Judaism, as he is unknown, or the mysterious and ultimate source of all existence. All other existence flows, or emanates from the Ein Sof. According to the Zohar, the ten Sefirot (the Divine "emanations") as found in the Adam Kadmon (the original "primal man" created by God) emanate from Ein Sof. En Sof manifested himself to the Jewish mystics under ten different aspects or sefiroth (“numerations”) of the divine reality which had emanat ...

Including:

Ein Sof Kabbalah - Ten aspects

Read more here: » Ein Sof Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Ein Sof Kabbalah

Daath is a Hebrew word variously translated as "mind", "opinion", "reason", "knowledge" or "wisdom", and is the name of an invisible or hidden sephirah in the kabbalistic Tree of Life. Within the Tree of Life, it is located in the abyss beneath chokhmah and binah. It may be considered the equal balance between "wisdom" and "understanding", just as the balancing sphere of tiphereth is the equilibrium of "mercy" and "severity" and yesod is ...

Read more here: » Daath Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Daath Kabbalah

Chokhmah or chochmah or hokhmah, (חכמה) is the Hebrew word for "wisdom". A "wise man" is a chacham (feminine: chachama). For example, a rabbi or person who is very learned in Torah and Talmud is called a talmid chacham denoting a very "learned person" or a "student [of] wisdom". Certain Sefardic Jews refer to their rabbis as a Chacham ("wise man") and the Chief rabbi of the Ottoman Empire was called a Hakham Bashi. In the Kabbalah of Judaism, chochma ...

Read more here: » Chokhmah: Encyclopedia - Chokhmah

The Bahir (Hebrew for "Illumination") is a pseudepigraphic mystical work attributed to Nehunya ben ha-Kanah, a first century rabbinic sage, and a contemporary of Johanan ben Zakkai (first century), because it begins with the words, "R. Nehunya ben ha-Kanah said". It was first published in the 12th century, southern France. It is an early work of esoteric Jewish mysticism which eventually became known as Kabbalah. Bahir - Title. Nahmanides, in his commentary on the Torah, (Genesis 1) is one of the fir ...

Including:

Bahir - Title Bahir - Authorship Bahir - Editions and Commentaries

Read more here: » Bahir: Encyclopedia - Bahir

Bnei Baruch—Kabbalah Education and Research Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to teach and enhance widespread knowledge about Kabbalah. It was founded in 1991 by Rav Michael Laitman (PhD in philosophy and Kabbalah, and MS in science), who has authored over 30 books in the field of Kabbalah. Bnei Baruch provides free educational resources on the wisdom of Kabbalah on its website www.kabbalah.info, presented in 22 languages. It is open to people of all ages, backgrounds and lifestyles. Rav Laitman guides individu ...

Including:

Bnei Baruch - The Essence of Kabbalah Studies at Bnei Baruch
Bnei Baruch - Focus of Study Bnei Baruch - For Who is it Intended? Bnei Baruch - Study Method—Beginners Bnei Baruch - Study Method—Advanced Bnei Baruch - Study Materials Bnei Baruch - Website — www.kabbalah.info
Bnei Baruch - History and Dissemination Bnei Baruch - Links

Read more here: » Bnei Baruch: Encyclopedia - Bnei Baruch

Hayyim ben Joseph Vital (1543 in Safed-6 May 1620 in Damascus) was one of the most famous exponents of Kabbalah. As a young boy, Vital was educated by the scholar, Rabbi Moses Alshech. Other than that, most of his early life is full of legends. For instance, it is claimed that at the age of twelve, he was told by a chiromancer that when he reached the age of twenty-four, he would find himself standing before two roads, and would rise or fall according to his choice. Joseph Caro is said to have paid especial attention to Vital's ...

Read more here: » Hayyim ben Joseph Vital: Encyclopedia - Hayyim ben Joseph Vital

Theurgy describes the practice of rituals, sometimes seen as magical in nature, performed with the intention of invoking the action of God (or other personified supernatural power), especially with the goal of uniting with the divine, or perfecting or improving oneself. Theurgy - Neoplatonism. The source of Western theurgy can be found in the philosophy of late Neoplatonists, especially Iamblichus. In late Neoplatonism, the universe is regarded as a series of emanations from the Godhead. Matter itself is me ...

Including:

Theurgy - Neoplatonism Theurgy - Emperor Julian Theurgy - Kabbalah Theurgy - Christian theurgy Theurgy - External link

Read more here: » Theurgy: Encyclopedia - Theurgy

The Zohar (Hebrew זהר "Splendor, radiance") is widely considered the most important work of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. It is a mystical commentary on the Torah (the five books of Moses), written in medieval Aramaic and medieval Hebrew. It contains a mystical discussion of the nature of God, the origin and structure of the universe, the nature of souls, sin, redemption, good and evil, and related topics. The Zohar is not one book, but a group of books. These books include scriptural interpretations as well as material on the ...

Including:

Zohar - Origin
Zohar - Acceptance of authenticity Zohar - Rejection of authenticity
Zohar - Mysticism Zohar - Pardes and Biblical exegesis Zohar - Effects on Judaism Zohar - Influence on Christian mysticism Zohar - Appendices and additions

Read more here: » Zohar: Encyclopedia - Zohar