Zohar [Archive] - Christian Forums

HaNotsri

28th December 2005, 10:14 AM

Hi,

The question involving the Zohar and Qabbalah can go into the same thread as they move along the same lines. Essentially, Qabbalah are the mystical teachings of the Torah. It is the very "soul of the Torah," if you will and deals with the inner workings of everything relating to God, the Soul, the Torah, and the World. It's technically a part of the Oral Torah as it is believed to have been given at Mount Sinai along with the Written and Oral Toros. The mystical teachings were transmitted orally down the centuries.

Various books and commentaries have been written throughout the ages deriving from Qabbalistic influences, some of the earliest are the Bahir and Sefer Yetzirah (which is believed to have been written by Avraham himself though many believe the principles of the book were passed orally until the days of Rabbi Akiva, when he transcribed them during the couple of centuries after Christ). The main compilation of Qabbalistic thought however is the Sefer Zohar. It's a mystical commentary on the five books of Moses. It was codified in writing in the couple hundred years after Christ and written by a Rabbi named Shimon Bar Yochai. The story behind his writing it is this...essentially the Romans were going to kill Rabbi Bar Yochai for protesting against them. So he and his son fled to a cave for twelve years (and they re-entered for another year after), a total of thirteen. It is thought that during this time, he wrote the Qabbalah. The rabbi and his son survived thirteen years in the cave with the water of a stream and a carab tree that had miraculously grown in the cave.

Most scholars don't believe that Bar Yochai wrote the Zohar as it only appeared in Spain in the thirteenth century and was "found" by Moses De Leon (who ascribed it to Bar Yochai). There was also controversy surrounding it in the Jewish world in regards to its authority. Especially in mystical circles of Judaism. Unlike the Talmud or other halachic texts, there is a schism in the religious Jewish world about the authority of the Zohar. Many communities don't accept Zohar (like some Yemenite Jews and other Mizrachim or Sephardim). The I believe the vast majority do accept it. Though, given the schism, I would not use Qabbalah and Zohar as synonyms.

Mysticism is an important part of Jewish thought and there is lots of mystical elements derived from the Tan"kh (the Old Testament). So notable mystics in Jewish history are Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Ari Zal or Ari haKodesh), Shabbsai Ts'vi, and the Ba'al Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name).

The Ari Zal was a rabbi steeped in mystical tradition. There is a siddur (prayer book) that is based on his tradition in use to day. It's used by the Chabad-Lubavitch sect of Chasidim

Shabbsai Ts'vi was actually a heavily mystical messianic figure that in the late 1600s that nearly lead the Jewish people to ruin. He was heavily involved with mystical amulets and often pronounced the "shem hameforesh," (the unutterable name of God or Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey) which is seen as forbidden or heretical. At one point he had 60% of the Jewish world following him. Many were expecting to be lifted upon clouds to the Land of Israel and sold their possessions. He also had his own "Elijah" in a prophet named Nathan of Gaza. Eventually, he was imprisoned by the Turkish sultan and was given the choice of death or conversion to Islam. He chose the latter and those who still believed he was the Messiah followed him down that path. There is a sect of Sabbataens in Turkey today.

The Baal Shem Tov is the founder of what became Chasidic Judaism. He certainly was a mystical figure and stressed the important of looking for God in all situations and of prayer and having a living relationship with God. He was met with fierce resistance by many rabbis of his day as he was soon gathering a following and the rabbis feared another Shabb'sai Ts'vi incident was going to take place. His teachings were combined with traditional Torah learning and all the dynasties of Chasidim were created. Chasidic Judaism is very mystical in thought and practice. The Chasidic rebbes tend to be very knowledgable of the Qabbalah, its practice in every day life, and its value to Judaism.

Just on a side not involving the Baal Shem Tov. There is a story of how the Baal Shem Tov ascended to the heavenly chambers at one point (I think in a dream or by an angel) and came into the chambers of the Messiah. He asked, "Lord when are you coming?" The Messiah responded something to the effect of when your (the Baal Shem Tov's) teachings flow out into the world and change it. Chasidim see the advent of their schools of Jewish thought as a renewal that was much needed in the dry and unfeeling world of religious Judaism at the time of its creation. It gave new life and meaning and practicality to the Torah and made it something more than dead tradition. Chasidim are not only more mystical in thought, but are also messianic (not in our sense) in nature.

Hope this helps