So, you want to learn more about the Jewish Secrets of Mysticism?
Well, you are in the right place.
Allow us to explain Jewish Mysticism...
What is Jewish Mysticism?
Jewish Mysticism is known as Kabbalah.
Jewish Mysticism was opened up by the great teacher known as Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai wrote the book of The Zohar which led into the world of Kabbalah
The two concepts of Zohar and Kabbalah are not be seperated.
The real Kabbalah is the Zohar.
There are many different branches of Kabbalah:
- Kabbalah of The Ramak
- Kabbalah of The Arizal
And much more Kabbalah even before that.
But the general topic of Mysticism is called Kabbalah
Jewish Mysticism Today
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was the Rabbi who opened up The Kabbalah that we see today.
In today's generation, it is very popular that people want to learn Kabbalah as we are getting closer to the time of Moshiach.
A few hundred years ago, whoever would dare talk about Kabbalah would be an outcast.
Less than 300 years ago when The Baal Shem Tov came along, everyone went against him.
After that, his successor The Maggid of Mezeritch, everyone went against him too!
Then the next generation of the Baal Netanya and the Rabbi Nachman of Breslov as well.
When the Hasidic movement started, they ran into opposition.
Up until today, there are people who say:
"Who allowed you to learn Kabbalah?"
This is not something to do with Jews. People question that there are no origins and no sources.
Then, even when people DO beleve in Kabbalah, people say: "Why Bother?"
That is why most people don't care about learning Kabbalah because they don't see the point.
People prefer practical lessons.
What was so special about Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai?
When Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was alive, there was not a single rainbow shown in the sky.
Why is this significant?
HaShem promised Noah when he came out of the Ark that He will never destroy The World again.
And everytime He will be upset, He will put a beautiful rainbow in the sky.
This highlights how powerful the merit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was.
To commemorate Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, on Lag B'Omer, Jews will have bonfires and shoot bow and arrows to signify that there were no rainbows.
Why go up to Meron on Lag B'Omer?
In the year 1429, there was a letter that talked about going up to Meron on Lag B'Omer.
The Jewish mystical explanation to go to a Tzadik's (Righteous Jew) grave on their yahrzeit (death anniversary) is because the Nefesh (soul) of the Tzadik dwells around the grave all year round.
Whether you go to:
During auspicious times and Jewish Festivals the ruach and neshamah of the Soul is in the grave.
This means when you come close to the grave, you have a spirtual connection with a high level of the neshamah. But on the day of the passing, all five levels of the Soul are in the grave.
So, when you go to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's grave in Meron on Lag B'Omer, you have the ability to connect with all 5 levels of the Soul.
Why Should You Learn Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah)
There is a group of people that are pulled towards the mysticism. They like it.
But, should you learn Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah) ?
When Moshe Rabbenu went up to Heaven, the Angels had a prosecution against Jewish People on Earth.
"Why are they getting The Torah?"
Moshe Rabbenu put forward the case that everything in The Torah is for People, not Angels.
Then when the Angels came to look at what Moshe Rabbenu was referring to in The Torah, Moshe Rabbenu scrambled all the order of what was included and this is The Torah we have today.
However, the Zohar is the Real Torah before it was scrambled.
There is a Jewish Custom to lift up the Torah either before or after The Torah is read from.
The simple explanation is because everybody has to see the Torah.
Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah) teaches that when The Torah is lifted up for everybody in the Shul to see, you should look for the Hebrew Letters of your name in The Torah.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is a reincarnation of Moshe Rabbenu so Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai went up to heaven and gave The Jewish People the unscrambled version of The Torah which is the Zohar.
There is a passage in Tehillim, chapter 58:
'You went up to the Heavens, and you captured a treasure'
This is referring to the three illuminators that brought down Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah)
- Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Brought down the Zohar)
- Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (Brought down the teachings of Kabbalah)
- Rabbi Israel Ben Eliezer (Brought down the teachings of Hasidut)
These are the three individuals who went up to The Heavens and brought down the Jewish Mysticism of The Torah.
Can You Learn Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah)
You cannot really learn Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah)
Why?
Because you will not understand one word out of it.
When people try to learn Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah), they translate the words and try to understand something.
Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah) is so deep and so high that even what you learn in Kabbalah does not scratch the surface of its depth.
But, it is still important to learn it.
Because you need to know why you are doing what you are doing.
And even though it can be so difficult to learn Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah)
It gives you the knowledge on why you we do the things we do.
Here is a fascinating Story in the Gemara shared by Rabbi Alon Anava below:
You need to take the teachings of Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah) and literally make it your reality.
Don't change the reality where it is comfortable for you to see. You must change your reality to fit with Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah)
Jewish Mysticism (Kabbalah) allows you to see things how they are and avoid having abstract ideas based on short videos or mainstream stories that are told.
Till next time!
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