In Defense of Kabbalah (Part 1)
In Defense of Kabbalah (Part 1)
By James Trimm
Those who are uneducated on the topic have found it easy to attack Kabbalah as a “doorway to the occult”. One attacker even tried to connect Kabbalah to Islam calling it “Kab-Allah”. Anyone who knows the origin of both words knows that this is totally dishonest and there is no connection whatsoever between the Arabic word Allah and the Hebrew word Kabbalah.
The reason that they find it so easy to attack Kabbalah is because there are many things that have been called “Kabbalah” over the years which are far from the ancient Jewish Kabbalah.
The most significant of these is so-called “Hermetic Kabbalah”. So-called Hermetic Kabbalah (often spelled Hermetic Cabala or Hermetic Qabbala) arose in the 1500’s. It grew out of a movement known as Christian Cabala that arose in the 1500’s during the renaissance when certain Christian scholars sought to combine Jewish Kabbalah with Christian mysticism. Some of these Christian mystics also sought to combine pagan Hermeticism. Hermeticism is a pagan occult teaching based on the alleged teachings of Hermes known to the Egyptians as “Thoth.”
Hermetic Cabala is not to be confused with Jewish Kabbalah. For example one Hermetic Cabbalist writes:
…in devout Jewish circles in which Cabala had its origins,
involved using the idea of the symbolic alphabet as a way to
interpret the holy books of Judaism…. This belief can still
be found today in Cabalistic circles within orthodox Judaism,
but the main current of the magical Cabalistic tradition [Hermetic
Cabala] passed long ago beyond dogmatic reliance on any
one traditional set of Scriptures.
(Paths of Wisdom; Principles of the Practice of Magical Cabala
in the Western Tradition; John Michael Greer p. 21-22)
Any attempt to discredit Jewish Kabbalah because of the occult connections of Hermetic Cabala is dishonest to the highest degree. Hermetic Cabala is not rooted in Jewish Kabbalah, it departs from Jewish Kabbalah almost entirely. It is rooted in Gentile Christian Cabala and Pagan Hermeticism. Seeking to discredit Jewish Kabbalah because of the occultism of Hermetic Cabala is like trying to discredit Yeshua because of the pagan origins of Christmas.
The next issue to discuss is to attack so-called “occultism” in Jewish Kabbalah, especially that area of Jewish Kabbalah known as “Practical Kabbalah”.
An act is regarded as “sorcery” (rather than as a “miracle”) if it is performed using “unholy names” or is inappropriately performed for selfish gain. "Black Magic" necromancy and the use of unholy Names, were prohibited. Learning about these matters was not prohibited (at times it is helpful information in combating the forces of evil), however practicing them was prohibited. Unfortunately, because information on these matters was at times included in books with information on acceptable, practical Kabbalah, some Gentiles mistakenly grouped them all together giving Kabbalah in general a negative reputation among the Gentiles.
It has been pointed out that one man’s “miracle” is another man’s “sorcery”. For example the Talmud and the Toldot Yeshu both characterize Yeshua’s miracles as “sorcery” and Christians since the middle ages have also often characterized Jewish Practical Kabbalah as “witchcraft”. The High Priest would consult the Urim and the Thumim yet this was not regarded as a forbidden act of divination. What is the difference?
It is important to distinguish “Practical Kabbalah” and the “manifestations of the Spirit” from “Witchcraft” or “Sorcery”. Terms like "Magician", "witch", and "sorcerer" are generally ascribed to those who make use of unholy names (names of demons, pagan gods) or engage in other harmful practices. In Exodus we read, "You shall not tolerate a sorceress to live." (22:17).
The use of Names of Elohim and divine invocation, on the other hand, is thought of as being a higher class of activity. Practices, which invoke Elohim or other supernatural aid (such as angels) and/or use true sacred Names are permitted as “miracles”.
TO BE CONTINUED
James Trimm
By James Trimm
Those who are uneducated on the topic have found it easy to attack Kabbalah as a “doorway to the occult”. One attacker even tried to connect Kabbalah to Islam calling it “Kab-Allah”. Anyone who knows the origin of both words knows that this is totally dishonest and there is no connection whatsoever between the Arabic word Allah and the Hebrew word Kabbalah.
The reason that they find it so easy to attack Kabbalah is because there are many things that have been called “Kabbalah” over the years which are far from the ancient Jewish Kabbalah.
The most significant of these is so-called “Hermetic Kabbalah”. So-called Hermetic Kabbalah (often spelled Hermetic Cabala or Hermetic Qabbala) arose in the 1500’s. It grew out of a movement known as Christian Cabala that arose in the 1500’s during the renaissance when certain Christian scholars sought to combine Jewish Kabbalah with Christian mysticism. Some of these Christian mystics also sought to combine pagan Hermeticism. Hermeticism is a pagan occult teaching based on the alleged teachings of Hermes known to the Egyptians as “Thoth.”
Hermetic Cabala is not to be confused with Jewish Kabbalah. For example one Hermetic Cabbalist writes:
…in devout Jewish circles in which Cabala had its origins,
involved using the idea of the symbolic alphabet as a way to
interpret the holy books of Judaism…. This belief can still
be found today in Cabalistic circles within orthodox Judaism,
but the main current of the magical Cabalistic tradition [Hermetic
Cabala] passed long ago beyond dogmatic reliance on any
one traditional set of Scriptures.
(Paths of Wisdom; Principles of the Practice of Magical Cabala
in the Western Tradition; John Michael Greer p. 21-22)
Any attempt to discredit Jewish Kabbalah because of the occult connections of Hermetic Cabala is dishonest to the highest degree. Hermetic Cabala is not rooted in Jewish Kabbalah, it departs from Jewish Kabbalah almost entirely. It is rooted in Gentile Christian Cabala and Pagan Hermeticism. Seeking to discredit Jewish Kabbalah because of the occultism of Hermetic Cabala is like trying to discredit Yeshua because of the pagan origins of Christmas.
The next issue to discuss is to attack so-called “occultism” in Jewish Kabbalah, especially that area of Jewish Kabbalah known as “Practical Kabbalah”.
An act is regarded as “sorcery” (rather than as a “miracle”) if it is performed using “unholy names” or is inappropriately performed for selfish gain. "Black Magic" necromancy and the use of unholy Names, were prohibited. Learning about these matters was not prohibited (at times it is helpful information in combating the forces of evil), however practicing them was prohibited. Unfortunately, because information on these matters was at times included in books with information on acceptable, practical Kabbalah, some Gentiles mistakenly grouped them all together giving Kabbalah in general a negative reputation among the Gentiles.
It has been pointed out that one man’s “miracle” is another man’s “sorcery”. For example the Talmud and the Toldot Yeshu both characterize Yeshua’s miracles as “sorcery” and Christians since the middle ages have also often characterized Jewish Practical Kabbalah as “witchcraft”. The High Priest would consult the Urim and the Thumim yet this was not regarded as a forbidden act of divination. What is the difference?
It is important to distinguish “Practical Kabbalah” and the “manifestations of the Spirit” from “Witchcraft” or “Sorcery”. Terms like "Magician", "witch", and "sorcerer" are generally ascribed to those who make use of unholy names (names of demons, pagan gods) or engage in other harmful practices. In Exodus we read, "You shall not tolerate a sorceress to live." (22:17).
The use of Names of Elohim and divine invocation, on the other hand, is thought of as being a higher class of activity. Practices, which invoke Elohim or other supernatural aid (such as angels) and/or use true sacred Names are permitted as “miracles”.
TO BE CONTINUED
James Trimm
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