Q&A: The Halakhic Status of Kabbalistic Teaching
The Halakhic Status of Kabbalistic Teaching
Question
Regarding esoteric teaching, I saw that the Rabbi writes that it is up to your own judgment whether to accept this teaching or not. In my opinion, in the end a person really can decide what he accepts and what he does not, but that does not make it okay if he does not accept it. The leading sages of recent generations accepted this teaching upon themselves, even if they did not issue halakhic rulings based on it. It was hard for me to see the Rabbi relate to this teaching as though it were some kind of Hasidism or outlook that does not have to be accepted by everyone.
Answer
There is no such thing as saying that my decision is simply not okay. What I decide is my opinion. Someone else can think it is not okay, and then let him decide differently. Kabbalah is exactly like Hasidism or an outlook: you can accept it, and you can choose not to. That does not mean there is no truth in it, but it is not included within the core of Torah that defines the halakhic boundary lines. And as for what the leading sages accepted as true—that is certainly their right. They are surely no less worthy than any of us.