Kabbalah Jewish Mysticism

Jewish Mysticism seeks an intimate encounter with God, with roots deeply embedded in history. However, organized Jewish Mysticism began in France and Spain.

Kabbalah strives to bridge the gap between the material world we inhabit and the God realm, aiming to create harmony between them. Central to Kabbalah are the ten Sefirot (??? ?????????), which form the foundation of this mystical tradition. These Sefirot represent the Ten Divine Emanations (?????) or the Ten Divine Transfigurations.

The first Kabbalistic book is Sefer HaBahir (??? ????? / Book of Illumination), which emerged in Provence at the end of the 12th century CE. The principal book of Kabbalah, however, is Sefer HaZohar (??? ????? / Book of Splendor), which appeared at the end of the 13th century CE. The significance of Ha Zohar grew especially after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain.

Following the expulsions at the beginning of the 16th century, the city of Safed became the spiritual center of the Jewish people, surpassing Jerusalem. Many great Kabbalists gathered there, among whom Rabbi Isaac ben Solomon Luria (???? ?? ???? ????? ), known by the acronym Ha'ari (???"?), was the most prominent. Another key figure was Rabbi Moses ben Jacob Cordovero (??? ?????????????? ), known as Ramak (????). These scholars focused primarily on the soul and astrology and played a crucial role in making Kabbalah accessible beyond the nobility, transforming it into a teaching for all. Since then, Safed has remained the enduring city of Kabbalah.