12-7-2011  Kabbala for non-Jews

   
 
 
    Kabbalah Online » Kabbalah & Society » Non-Jews » Kosher Kabbalah for Non-Jews?
 
 
Chief Rabbi of Safed declares Kabbalah study by non-Jews a positive development.
 
6 Comments

Kosher Kabbalah for Non-Jews?


   
 
 
    Kabbalah Online » Kabbalah & Society » Non-Jews » Kosher Kabbalah for Non-Jews?
 
 
Chief Rabbi of Safed declares Kabbalah study by non-Jews a positive development.
 
6 Comments

Kosher Kabbalah for Non-Jews?


Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief Rabbi of Safed, the city that was once the world center of Kabbalastudy, says that the study of Kabbala by non-Jews can be "positive", but only if done in the proper manner. Currently the chief rabbi of Safed for over a decade, Rabbi Shmuel is the son of the late Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, one of the most important living SephardicJewish legal authorities and kabbalists, and a former chief rabbi of Israel.

During an interview with the popular media resource, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu said, "I believe that the study of the Zohar by Gentiles, as in the common phenomenon we see today with non-Jewish musicians and entertainers studying Kabbala, is a positive phenomenon - as long as it is done in the right way." He explained that it should not just be a matter of curiosity, but of a genuine search for the "Torah of life".

To see people searching for spirituality is a positive and important development….

Rabbi Eliyahu addressed the matter in light of the jump in sales of books of Kabbala. According to Meir Bar-El, Deputy Director of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, exports of such books have tripled in recent years due to the world-wide awakening to the study of Kabbala. He reported that thirty-five million dollars worth of Kabbala texts were exported around the world from Israel in 2005, and that total exports of Jewish holy books in 2005 grew by 119% over the year before, and totaled 70% of all book exports from Israel. He even said that there are not enough professional printers now in Israel to meet the continuing demand for holy books from Israel and that more training courses are needed.

"This is exactly what Elijah the Prophet told Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Zohar author, circa 1st-century C.E.) and his group when they began writing the Zohar," Rabbi Eliyahu said, "that in the course of time, people will begin making a living from this work. Of course, Elijah was referring to the fact that it would have a spiritual effect on those who study it, but it can be understood this way as well."

"It is told about King David," the rabbi said, "that when he wanted to bring people closer to an authentic Torah life, he would teach them the secrets of Torah. In general, to see people searching for spirituality is a positive and important development."

[Adapted from an article by HillelFendel on israelnationalnews.com/ Wed, 01 Mar 2006]

 
6 Comments

     
 
By Yerachmiel Tilles   More articles...  |   
Yerachmiel Tilles is the Co-founder of Ascent-of-Safed and was its educational director for 18 years. He is the creator of www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org, and currently the director of both sites. He is also a well-known storyteller, a columnist for numerous chasidic publications and a staff rabbi on AskMoses.com.

 
 
     

Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: June 6, 2011
As a non-Jew, who can I study with?
I would very much like to receive instruction in the Kabbalah. I think it is important for the world to understand the esoteric and for each religion to understand each other religion through the esoteric. Anyone else out there with a similar idea? 
By the way, for the record, I am an artist, play the piano, write poetry...etc. and my daughter is an undergraduate at Cambridge university, my eldest son is a writer and my youngest a musician! 
Posted By Julie, Durham, UK

Posted: May 12, 2011
Sharing the goodies
More clarification is needed as to the 'right way' to study. That's where the problems between factions and cults begin. Otherwise a very positive step for the whole world. 
Posted By Etta, Bristol, Uk

Posted: Apr 11, 2011
..the right way
What is the "correct way" for a non jew to study kabbalah (books, centers etc)? Are there ways that should be avoided? 
Posted By Anonymous, Brooklyn

Posted: Nov 7, 2010
on certain type of people being drawn to the kabba
It is my opinion that it is not necessairly just entertainers and musicians that are drawn to the holy kabbalah, it is in fact a person of a higher intellect that is drawn to the kabbalah. And as we know, these creative types that compose music and give us great art do usually have much higher IQ's than the average person. 
Posted By Lisa Ann Sidels, Lancaster, California

Posted: Nov 7, 2009
To Gracia
Creative people are supposedly more open-minded, and more receptive to spiritual matters, right? 
Posted By Anonymous
via mychabad.org

Posted: Nov 1, 2009
Kosher Kabbalah for Non Jews?
I have an acquaintance with a non-Jew musician who told me he is interested in the Kabbalah. In your article you mentioned that many musicians and entertainers are interested in the Zohar. Could you please explain to me how come that particularly this group of people is interested in the Kabbalah? 
Posted By Gracia Levine, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
via kabbalaonline.org

 


     
 
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Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief Rabbi of Safed, the city that was once the world center of Kabbalastudy, says that the study of Kabbala by non-Jews can be "positive", but only if done in the proper manner. Currently the chief rabbi of Safed for over a decade, Rabbi Shmuel is the son of the late Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, one of the most important living SephardicJewish legal authorities and kabbalists, and a former chief rabbi of Israel.

During an interview with the popular media resource, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu said, "I believe that the study of the Zohar by Gentiles, as in the common phenomenon we see today with non-Jewish musicians and entertainers studying Kabbala, is a positive phenomenon - as long as it is done in the right way." He explained that it should not just be a matter of curiosity, but of a genuine search for the "Torah of life".

To see people searching for spirituality is a positive and important development….

Rabbi Eliyahu addressed the matter in light of the jump in sales of books of Kabbala. According to Meir Bar-El, Deputy Director of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, exports of such books have tripled in recent years due to the world-wide awakening to the study of Kabbala. He reported that thirty-five million dollars worth of Kabbala texts were exported around the world from Israel in 2005, and that total exports of Jewish holy books in 2005 grew by 119% over the year before, and totaled 70% of all book exports from Israel. He even said that there are not enough professional printers now in Israel to meet the continuing demand for holy books from Israel and that more training courses are needed.

"This is exactly what Elijah the Prophet told Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Zohar author, circa 1st-century C.E.) and his group when they began writing the Zohar," Rabbi Eliyahu said, "that in the course of time, people will begin making a living from this work. Of course, Elijah was referring to the fact that it would have a spiritual effect on those who study it, but it can be understood this way as well."

"It is told about King David," the rabbi said, "that when he wanted to bring people closer to an authentic Torah life, he would teach them the secrets of Torah. In general, to see people searching for spirituality is a positive and important development."

[Adapted from an article by HillelFendel on israelnationalnews.com/ Wed, 01 Mar 2006]

 
6 Comments

     
 
By Yerachmiel Tilles   More articles...  |   
Yerachmiel Tilles is the Co-founder of Ascent-of-Safed and was its educational director for 18 years. He is the creator of www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org, and currently the director of both sites. He is also a well-known storyteller, a columnist for numerous chasidic publications and a staff rabbi on AskMoses.com.

 
 
     

Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: June 6, 2011
As a non-Jew, who can I study with?
I would very much like to receive instruction in the Kabbalah. I think it is important for the world to understand the esoteric and for each religion to understand each other religion through the esoteric. Anyone else out there with a similar idea? 
By the way, for the record, I am an artist, play the piano, write poetry...etc. and my daughter is an undergraduate at Cambridge university, my eldest son is a writer and my youngest a musician! 
Posted By Julie, Durham, UK

Posted: May 12, 2011
Sharing the goodies
More clarification is needed as to the 'right way' to study. That's where the problems between factions and cults begin. Otherwise a very positive step for the whole world. 
Posted By Etta, Bristol, Uk

Posted: Apr 11, 2011
..the right way
What is the "correct way" for a non jew to study kabbalah (books, centers etc)? Are there ways that should be avoided? 
Posted By Anonymous, Brooklyn

Posted: Nov 7, 2010
on certain type of people being drawn to the kabba
It is my opinion that it is not necessairly just entertainers and musicians that are drawn to the holy kabbalah, it is in fact a person of a higher intellect that is drawn to the kabbalah. And as we know, these creative types that compose music and give us great art do usually have much higher IQ's than the average person. 
Posted By Lisa Ann Sidels, Lancaster, California

Posted: Nov 7, 2009
To Gracia
Creative people are supposedly more open-minded, and more receptive to spiritual matters, right? 
Posted By Anonymous
via mychabad.org

Posted: Nov 1, 2009
Kosher Kabbalah for Non Jews?
I have an acquaintance with a non-Jew musician who told me he is interested in the Kabbalah. In your article you mentioned that many musicians and entertainers are interested in the Zohar. Could you please explain to me how come that particularly this group of people is interested in the Kabbalah? 
Posted By Gracia Levine, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
via kabbalaonline.org

 


     
 
Post a Comment
 
Subject:
Comment:  
  1000 Characters Remaining
 
Name*:
   
Email*:
City*:    State/Country:
 
  * indicates a required field
 
Please add me to Kabbalah Online's email list.