Cover Story

KABBALAH

from page 15

"The time we're in now
is one of the greatest single
flourishing of Jewish mysticism
in our history."

— Rabbi Stacie Fine, Congregation Ahavat Shalom, Traverse City

Who Can Learn?

Rabbi Fine agree that reading the text in Hebrew is
important to get the word play and layers of mean-
The Kabbalah comes with a set of instructions that
ing not always conveyed in translation.
have been modified over the years. Originally, the
One controversy surrounding the Kabbalah
Kabbalah was only open to men, usually older than
Centre
deals with its promotion of its 22-
40, who were Torah-observant Jews.
volume
translation of the Zohar, which
Rabbi Silberberg, who represents the more tradi-
costs up to $491. Rachel Bernstein, for-
tional approach, says even today, before students are
able to study the Kabbalah, they have to have a basic mer coordinator of the cult clinic at
Jewish Family Service in Los Angeles and
understandina of Torah, which is
in New York City, says she received calls
composed of four
b
levels.
complaining
of aggressive door-to-door
After learning the ethical, moral
sales
tactics
by
the Centre students, who,
and halachic (Jewish law) ideas
she
says,
claimed
"better relationships" .
and laws of the first three levels,
and
"a
richer
Judaism"
from the Zohar
the student might move to the
they
were
selling.
fourth level — or Sod — the mys-
When asked about these complaints,
tical aspect to every concept of the
Rabbi
Grundman denies they are true,
Torah, Rabbi Silberberg says. "A
and
says
the allegations were made years
spiritual zenith can only be
ago.
"There
was never any type of hard-
reached with commitment to
core
proof,"
he adds.
Rabbi
Yehudah
doing mitzvahs [command-
But
Bernstein,
now a counselor in pri-
Grundman,
ments]."
vate
practice
in
Los
Angeles, says she got
director, Chicago
This grounding in mitzvot is
calls
a
year
from across the
20
around
Kabbalah Center
not essential to university courses
country
concerning
the
Kabbalah Centre
or Kabbalah Centre training.
when
she
started
10
years
ago. "This May,
Rabbi Grundman, for example, sees Kabbalah
the
New
York
Hotline
was
still getting calls once a
knowledge as more of a steppingstone to action.
month
about
the
Kabbalah
Centre," she adds.
"What students need to do next [after taking
Rabbi Grundman says, "For every negative story,
classes] is up to them," says Rabbi Grundman. "But
we can bring hundreds of stories on what we've
the Kabbalah helps them become better human
done to help and nurture."
beings."
However, no matter the translation, Rabbi Fine
Rabbi Fine, however, who combines a modern
and traditional lens to her Kabbalah studies, cau-
tions that studying the Kabbalah is not only to cre-
ate "wonderful experiences."
"It carries with it a responsibility to repair the
world," she says.

The Zohar, Book Of Splendor

"The pure teachings of the Kabbalah are written in
the Zohar, which means light or 'Book of
Splendor,"' says Rabbi Silberberg.
"It is often considered the most central Jewish text
other than the Torah," adds Rabbi Fine.
"The Zohar is a series of 24 books that has come
down to us," says U-M's Ginsburg. But there's no
stable Zohar text because it's been translated into
many languages — there's even been a Christian
Kabbalah in Latin, he adds.
Which is one of the reasons why Green, Eliot and

11/30

2001

16

doesn't suggest anyone rush out and buy a full set of
the Zohar. Though it is more accessible today
because of several translations, "it's not a book you
read and then say you've mastered the Kabbalah,"
she says. "It's like saying if you read the Torah, you
understand how modern Jewish people live. You
need an experienced teacher to study it with.
"It's not a beginner text, but a powerful and
encrypted book."
Finding an experienced teacher isn't always easy.
"Unfortunately, the chain of Kabbalah tradition
was broken, partly because of modernity and assimi-
lation and partly because of the Holocaust, when
centers of learning were destroyed in Europe," Green
says.
"Eighty to 90 percent of our spiritual teachers
were wiped out in World War II," adds Dr. Avram
Davis, the founder and co-director of an independ-
ent center for Jewish learning and meditation in
Berkeley, Calif. "We're now in the process of grow-
ing a new heart."

CHAIIVISA

The opened
hand represents the
protective hand of God.
It is used in Islam,
Christianity and
Judaism.

Two Histories, One Lore

When exploring the history of the Kabbalah, and
in particular the Zohar, two different stories arise.
"Traditionalists believe that the Zohar has
divine origins, like the Torah," says Rabbi

KABBALAH

on page 19

"We should make the Kabbalah
more available to people today,
but it should be done in a
responsible manner."

— Professor Arthur Green, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.

