1,262 texts · Page 8 of 27
It’s a question that sits at the heart of Jewish identity, and one that Josephus, the first-century Romano-Jewish historian, grapples with in his work, Against Apion. He's essentia...
Let's just say, he wasn't a fan. Josephus minces no words. He tells us that the "wisest men" justly rebuked these notions, openly mocking the idea that gods could be young and bear...
The writer Josephus, in his work Against Apion, makes a pretty bold claim. He argues that Jewish laws and customs have not only been admired but actively imitated by people across ...
The ancient writer Josephus, in his powerful work Against Apion, gives us a glimpse into the heart of Jewish values, and it's a vision that still resonates today. He’s essentially ...
The Sha’ar HaGilgulim (the reincarnation of souls), the "Gate of Reincarnations," part of the teachings of the Ari, Rabbi Isaac Luria, a 16th-century Kabbalist, offers a fascinatin...
Today, we’re diving into a specific scenario: what happens when someone dies without children, failing to fulfill the mitzvah, the commandment, of Pru u'rvu, "be fruitful and multi...
The concept of gilgul (the reincarnation of souls), or reincarnation, in Jewish mysticism offers some fascinating perspectives on just that. We find some intricate details in the S...
In Jewish mystical thought, particularly in the teachings about gilgul (the reincarnation of souls), or reincarnation, it's not just baggage, it's… well, it’s complicated. We’re di...
It holds within it a reflection of every single Jewish soul. The text tells us something pretty : that there are precisely 600,000 souls. Not one more, not one less. And the Torah?...
It's a thorny issue, isn't it? This physical form, this body of ours, it's... well, let's be honest, it's kind of a mess. Imperfect, prone to illness, and ultimately, destined for ...
It leads us to some pretty incredible places. The Baal HaSulam, Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag, in his introduction to the Zohar, peels back the layers of this concept, and it's n...
He tells us, point blank, not to worry so much about creatures other than humans. Why? Because, according to him, humanity is the center of creation. Everything else, all the other...
Baal HaSulam, in his profound "Introduction to Zohar," offers a breathtaking insight. He tells us that God’s satisfaction in bestowing goodness upon creation is directly tied to ou...
The great Kabbalist Baal HaSulam, in his introduction to the Zohar, a foundational text of Kabbalah, felt that way about his own generation. And honestly, reading his words, you mi...
The Zohar, if you haven't encountered it, is a foundational text of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism. It’s dense, poetic, and… well, let's just say it isn't exactly light reading. It’...
The great Kabbalist Baal HaSulam, in his preface to the Zohar, gives us a glimpse into the building blocks of these realms. It's like he's handing us the architect's blueprint. He ...
Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, offers a breathtakingly intricate account, and today we're diving deep into one specific, fascinating element: the formation of partzufim (a divine conf...
Today, we're going to delve into a fascinating aspect of that unfolding, exploring how the different partzufim (a divine configuration) (the divine configurations), or divine "face...
Pure, unadulterated, boundless benefit. This generosity, may He be blessed and exalted, is the very foundation of creation. And how do you bestow goodness? You need someone to rece...
It’s a question that Kabbalah, Jewish mystical tradition, wrestles with constantly. And it brings us to a fascinating concept: the "beating" of light. Now, before you picture cosmi...
It's a peek behind the curtain, so to speak, into the very heart of holiness. The text describes a powerful scene, a testament to the unbreakable bond between God and His people. I...
In the Heikhalot (the heavenly palaces) Rabbati, an angel is granted power and special access to the highest heaven. A horn blasts from beyond the sky, a signal, and even the highe...
These mystical texts describe journeys through the heavenly realms, encounters with angels, and glimpses into the divine throne room itself. And in this particular section, we find...
The Maggid Meisharim, a fascinating text attributed to the great Kabbalist, Rabbi Joseph Karo (the same Joseph Karo who compiled the Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law!), purpo...
I want to tell you a story I heard from Mitpachat Sefarim, a collection of stories and accounts. This particular one involves Rabbi Pinchas Yoshev Ohel, a Torah scholar from Krakow...
We’re talking about accusations so repugnant they feel like they crawled out of the darkest corner of human experience. This is the kind of situation faced by Rabbi Shimon bar Yoch...
After all his hard work, "a foolish, silly, and wicked person" – a "son of a worthless one," no less! – criticized his work. The critic, he says, is an "empty-headed fool, all sinn...
That’s the feeling that leaps off the page when reading the opening lines of Mitpachat Sefarim. The author declares, with a fervor that's almost palpable, that their aspiration sin...
It's more than just a simple pleasure; it's a connection to something profound. This blessing, this goodness, isn't just about the taste in our mouths. It's about the health that f...
It’s more than just a wake-up call. According to the ancient text, Sefer HaKanah, these sounds are a complex language, a mystical dialogue between us, the divine, and the very forc...
It’s a question that mystics have pondered for centuries, and one that Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal, delves into in his profound work, Asarah Perakim – "Ten Chapters." T...
Jewish mystical tradition, particularly the Kabbalah, offers a breathtakingly complex and beautiful answer. Today, we're diving into a fascinating concept from the teachings of the...
Guess what? It’s not a new struggle! Even the greatest minds in Jewish tradition grappled with this. We're talking about the kind of head-scratchers that kept even MOSES, our teach...
Our sages certainly did. And they saw that yearning, that restless feeling, as a clue – a whisper from the soul itself. Because, as Da'at (Knowledge) Tevunot, a profound work of Je...
Knowing God's singularity – His absolute oneness – isn't enough. It can't just be a mental exercise. It has to sink deep, becoming a bedrock of our being, unwavering and sure. The ...
Da'at (Knowledge) Tevunot, a text revered for its wisdom, invites us to explore this very idea – the profound singularity at the heart of everything. It whispers that all the grand...
It’s about a relationship with the One who is completely and utterly in charge. That’s what we’re diving into today, drawing from the text Da'at (Knowledge) Tevunot, a foundational...
Jewish tradition grapples with this very idea – the concept of God’s hidden face, and what it means for us. Da'at (Knowledge) Tevunot, a Kabbalistic text, explores this idea. It su...
Da'at (Knowledge) Tevunot, a profound work of Jewish thought, suggests it goes much further than just succumbing to temptation. It says that Adam, "the first man," was actually inc...
This is a question that has plagued thinkers and mystics for centuries, and Da’at Tevunot, or "Understanding of Discernment," grapples with this very idea. The text points out that...
It’s a question that's plagued theologians and philosophers for centuries. And in the teachings of Da'at (Knowledge) Tevunot, a profound text of Jewish thought, we find a powerful ...
Da'at (Knowledge) Tevunot, a profound work of Jewish thought, offers a compelling answer. It tells us that the ultimate heavenly intent is pure goodness, a desire to give us, human...
Da'at (Knowledge) Tevunot, a profound work of Jewish philosophy, offers a glimpse into this very mystery. It tells us of a remarkable benefit for the soul when the body completes i...
Da’at Tevunot, a profound work of Jewish thought, asks us to consider this very question. It points out the sheer, astonishing energy humans pour into the pursuit of fleeting pleas...
Our sages, may their memory be a blessing, had some pretty fascinating ideas about it. They taught us that the world as we know it exists for six thousand years, and then… well, th...
We often grapple with this question, especially when it seems to contradict the idea of a benevolent God. Jewish mysticism, particularly the Kabbalah, offers a fascinating, albeit ...
Our service – the acts of devotion, the performance of mitzvot (commandments) – isn’t just about following rules. It’s about actively participating in revealing God's oneness. Thin...
Within Jewish mystical thought, particularly in works like Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah (Wisdom), we find a fascinating perspective: that the very existence of evil ultimately serves to...
