Q&A: Kabbalah and Jewish Law
Kabbalah and Jewish Law
Question
Hello Rabbi Michael Abraham.
There are halakhot influenced by kabbalistic conceptions, and this causes quite a bit of harm; for example, the prohibition against wasting seed, which has taken on enormous dimensions (in my opinion, too much) in the Shulchan Arukh, etc. What is your view on the subject? Are you in favor of incorporating kabbalistic conceptions into Jewish law, or should they be kept separate? I should note that the question (in addition to other reasons) arose from an article of yours that I read about heresy and freedom of expression in the realm of faith and belief.
Thank you in advance.
Answer
First, I do not see the connection between my remarks about faith and belief (which are in no way connected to freedom of expression, and not really to freedom either) and your question.
As for your question, it is based on a mistake. This is not a question of policy (whether it is advisable or not advisable to combine them), but of a factual outlook. The question is whether you regard Kabbalah as a reliable halakhic source or not. I do not really see it as a source of authority, and therefore I do not think one should get too worked up over kabbalistic determinations. Whoever does see it as such a source should incorporate it. In general, questions of advisability do not strike me as important in discussions like these.
And finally, note that your very assertion that the combination causes harm assumes that there is nothing substantial in Kabbalah, so it is no wonder that you do not want to incorporate it. Someone who sees it as a reliable source is also not troubled by the problems you raise, since in his view it is not harmful. That is the halakhic truth.