To: K-list
Recieved: 1999/06/30 07:45
Subject: [K-list] Kabbalah 1
From: Moshiach
On 1999/06/30 07:45, Moshiach posted thus to the K-list:
Now that the Messianic Age is beginning, many people are
becoming interested in Kabbalah. However there is much
confusion relating to this subject.
Much of this confusion comes from the fact that there are
various disciplines which call themselves Kabbalah or
Qabbalah. These are not all the same. There is traditional
Jewish Kabbalah which is what will be taught in this
series.
There are also various non - Jewish traditions chief of
which is the Hermetic tradition (usually Christian) and
various Magical (or Magickal) disciplines. If you are
interested in any of these, they are easy to find on the
web. These are different traditions and their teachings
should be viewed separately from the Jewish tradition.
We feel goodwill towards all seekers of Truth, we are
just pointing out that in this series when we say
Kabbalah, we are referring ONLY to the Jewish tradition.
This is to prevent confusion. We have often received
letters and email telling us that we were "wrong" or that
we differed from a "Qabalistic" teaching which the writer
had previously seen. Often this was because this other
teaching was not of the Jewish Tradition.
The Kabbalah is the deep Secret Knowledge of the Jewish
Religion. It is part of the Torah which was originally
given to Moses on Mt. Sinai but was known even earlier.
The Kabbalah is called Razei HaTorah - the Secrets of the
Torah. It also includes what is called Razei deRazin - the
Secrets of the Secrets which is often given the separate
name Chassidus.
We shall be covering both levels of Kabbalah in this
series.
In general Kabbalah describes how G-d emanated and created
the worlds out of His Own Infinite being through a process
called the Tzimtzum - the Lessening (of the Infinite
Light). Chassidus offers insights into the Infinite Light
before the Tzimtzum and into the Atsmus - the Selfness of
G-d.
Since it describes the emanation and creation of all the
worlds,the Kabbalah contains all sciences and knowledges.
Things that were discovered in past, things now being
discovered, things to be discovered, things which will
never be discovered are all explained in Kabbalah.
One last point, in the Jewish Tradition, the Unity of G-d
does not refer to the fact that there is one rather than
two gods. It means that there is only one Existence. There
is only G-d and nothing else at all.
In this series we shall try as much as possible to present
the Kabbalah in a non-secular manner. This is not always
possible since we are presenting the Kabbalah from a
Jewish perspective. So please keep in mind that we are in
no way trying to preach or proselytize. This series is
presented to be informative and open up a subject which
was a closely guarded secret for a long time.
Some of you will consider the beginning of this series
elementary as it will be presenting material which you
already know. Please bear with us. This series is designed
to be useful even for a novice.
We shall be using the Ashkenazik rather than the Sefardic
pronunciations - E.g. "s" instead of "th"
Here is a short pronunciation key and dictionary of key
words:
Kesser - Kether - Crown
Chochmah - Wisdom
Binah - Understanding
Daas - Daath - Knowledge
Chesed - Kindness
Gevurah - Might
Tiferes - Tifereth - Beauty
Netzach - Conquest
Hod - Splendour
Yesod - Foundation
Malchus - Malchuth - Kingdom
Sefiros - Sefiroth
Hisbonenus - Hitbonenuth - Contemplation
Atsilus - Atzilut - World of Emanation
Beriah - Creation
Yetzirah - Formation
Assiah - Actualization
Yisroel - Israel
Yaacov - Jacob
Rochel - Rachel
Musag - The concept as it is in Binah
Muskal - The concept as it is in Chochmah
ABY"A - An acronym for Atzilus, Briah, Yetzirah, Assiah
Ratzon - Will
Taanug - Delight
Lillis - Lillith
Kelipos - Kelipoth, Qelipot - Shells of externality
Hishtalshelus - Hishtalshelut - Chaining down of the
worlds.
Midos - Midot - Emotive qualities - The seven lower
Sefiros
Hispaalus - Hitpaalut - Arousal
Ein Sof - Without End
Or - Light , Oros - Orot - Lights
Kelim - Vessels
Tzimtzum - lessening, contraction
Reshimu - Impression
Sechel - Intellect
Moshiach - Messiah
Enjoy
Rabbi Joseph Markel.
The material in this series is authored and copyrighted by
Rabbi Yossi Markel.
DISCLAIMER!
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