I see there is critique on Kabalah. Some consider it Occult. Which is true for much of it, and certainly for all modern day people that indulge in it. It surprised me when I found this modern attitude in people that were interested in Kabalah. Where it comes from is easy to see. People are interested in the deeper meaning of the Torah, and then the subtle hints and promises of secret powers gets to them.
[I meant to get into this subject in more depth, but did not get a chance. In any case, I could have to agree with the critique that almost anything to do with Kabalah nowadays is basically coming from the Sitra Achra. ]
Critics typically do not differentiate between types of Kabalah when they are including it in the category of Occult. They are certainly right for the critique on Occult practices. However I must distinguish between what they are criticizing and the Ari (Isaac Luria).
In fact the very word used for Kabalah in the yeshiva world refers to only the Zohar, the Remak, and the Ari. These is not the same things that the critics are criticizing.
There is however a kind of grey area in which even legitimate kabalah gets into the wrong energies.
In essence the Ari, Remak, Zohar, Rav Avraham Abulafia are giving a mystic view of the Torah, not advocating occult or magic practices
Later groups supposedly going with the Kabalah however are defilement from the dark side.
In the realm of witchcraft and the occult, and there are profound scriptural warnings not to remember them or to be "a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer" (Deut. 18:11).
The Jewish orthodox world also believes in the blending of psychology and Torah as if the Torah was not enough. They think the Torah says, "I have placed the good and the truth, Jung and Freud before you this day." And "These are the modern theories of psychology by which a man will live by them."
The Sitra Achra [Dark Side] goal is ultimately to lead to worldwide demon possession.
[I meant to get into this subject in more depth, but did not get a chance. In any case, I could have to agree with the critique that almost anything to do with Kabalah nowadays is basically coming from the Sitra Achra. ]
Critics typically do not differentiate between types of Kabalah when they are including it in the category of Occult. They are certainly right for the critique on Occult practices. However I must distinguish between what they are criticizing and the Ari (Isaac Luria).
In fact the very word used for Kabalah in the yeshiva world refers to only the Zohar, the Remak, and the Ari. These is not the same things that the critics are criticizing.
There is however a kind of grey area in which even legitimate kabalah gets into the wrong energies.
In essence the Ari, Remak, Zohar, Rav Avraham Abulafia are giving a mystic view of the Torah, not advocating occult or magic practices
Later groups supposedly going with the Kabalah however are defilement from the dark side.
In the realm of witchcraft and the occult, and there are profound scriptural warnings not to remember them or to be "a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer" (Deut. 18:11).
The Jewish orthodox world also believes in the blending of psychology and Torah as if the Torah was not enough. They think the Torah says, "I have placed the good and the truth, Jung and Freud before you this day." And "These are the modern theories of psychology by which a man will live by them."
The Sitra Achra [Dark Side] goal is ultimately to lead to worldwide demon possession.
