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A person approaching Torah for the first time, will be struck by the almost total lack of doctrine or theology. The central feature of Scripture is the Laws of G-d (mitzvot). Narrative sections almost always lead up to how we received these laws,...
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In the Talmud, we have widely differing views on the purpose and meaning of the Mitzvot. Some of the rabbis saw them as the "pipeline" for Divine blessing. Some rejected any earthly meaning or benefit, and saw them as preparing our places in...
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Maimonides "Guide for the Perplexed" sent shock waves through the Jewish world. The main reason that it does not do that very much today, is that the real issues that it deals with are now non-issues. Aristotelian concepts of the eternity of the...
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The publication of Maimonides' Guide caused shock waves throughout the Jewish world. In Ashkenazi Franco-Germany, there was a sound rejection of the work. Their approach to Judaism was primarily based on the study of Bible and Talmud. Their...
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That group of Spanish Kabbalists which centered on theosophy, the pondering of the meaning of creation, the nature of G-d and His connection with Man, the meaning of Torah and Mitzvot, reached its heights in the late thirteenth century. As...
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The Kabbalistic interpretation of the mitzvot is far from the Mainmonist interpretation. Maimonides saw the mitzvot as primarily educational tools, to instill proper thought patterns and actions within us. For the Kabbalist, the mitzvot are...
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In Judaism, and especially in the Kabbalistic interpretation of Judaism, a great deal of emphasis is put on the Names of G-d. In Tanakh and Talmud, there is but one ultimate Name; the four letter ineffable Name. It is forbidden to be pronounced...
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As we have seen, the Kabbalah regards all of the Torah, indeed, all of creation, as combinations of energies, which can be expressed as letters, which ultimately are Names of G-d. Often these combinations are derived from a verse; often prayers...
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