Zohar and Kabbalah
- What is the general attitude of the rabbi towards Kabbalah and the Zohar? I have a strong feeling that on the one hand it is clear to many people that the hidden is a part of the Torah as completely as the Peshat, and I understood that the Gra, the Ramban and the Shula dealt with Kabbalah, but on the other hand – it is clear that it is not studied in Lithuanian yeshivots, and it is not tested on in rabbinical exams, and I do not feel that people treat a rabbi who does not study Kabbalah with less respect compared to a rabbi who does – (not that this is proof of anything, but just in case, I would expect it if I understand that it is a complete part of the Torah) and sometimes the situation is even the other way around.
- In contrast to the G-d and the Halacha, which are built on the Ps through logic and an attempt to understand the word of God, it is not at all clear to me where in the Torah it appears that there are even things like 10 Sefirot. Are there sources in the Torah for things written in the Sefer Datseni’ota (which I have no idea what they are…)? [Let’s assume that in most things I try to be rational and act according to my understanding of the Torah and do what I think God wants from me, but here I am (forcibly?) tied to a type of mysticism that I have no idea how it is related to God…], on the other hand, the G-d mentions the Merkava incident and Genesis, etc…. [which the Rambam understood differently, but many understood as Kabbalah. A question from the side – how could it really be that the Rambam, who serves as a foundation stone in thought and Halacha, ignored (according to what I understood…) and did not generalize Kabbalah in his spiritual world – even though I understood that he knew Kabbalists, did he dispute the truth of Kabbalah?]
- What is the rabbi’s attitude towards Kabbalistic arguments in halakhic discussions? The feeling is that it could be that, unlike ‘normal’ halakhic arguments that you can sometimes observe logically, here it is as if it is imposed on you from above and you do things because of arguments that you have no way of criticizing or understanding at all… (Simply, in this context, is there any importance in acting according to an opinion that you understand and agree with – the impact on your worship of God and your attitude towards halakhic law in my life?)
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0 Answers
- The status of Kabbalah in my opinion is spiritual intuitions that may be useful to some of us. Those who do not speak to it will not accept it. I do not think it came down from Sinai.
- Why do you think you are tied to your husband? If you don’t think so, don’t accept anything.
- It is clear that it is important to act on an opinion that you understand and agree with. See my articles These and those are whether Halacha is pluralistic .
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