A Popular Dictionary of Judaism
Mystical teachings. Kabbalah refers to the Jewish esoteric teachings which have evolved since the Second Temple period. Traditionally it was believed to have been revealed in its full perfection either to the first man *Adam or as a secret part of the *Oral Law to *Moses on Mount Sinai.
The aim of Kabbalah was to uncover the hidden life of *God and the secrets of his relationship with his *creation. Characteristic kabbalistic doctrines include the transmigration of *souls, the achievement of *tikkun (cosmic repair) the *sefirot (emanations) and the activities of supernatural powers. These ideas were absorbed into folk belief and popular customs and spread into the Christian community as Jewish magic. (See also *ADAM KADMON, *BAHIR, SEFER HA-, *DEVEKUT, *EMANATION, *EN SOF, *GEMATRIA, *HASIDISM, *LURIA, ISAAC, *MERKAVAH MYSTICISM, *METATRON, *PRACTICAL KABBALAH, *SEFER YEZIRAH, *SEFIROT, *SHABBATEANISM, *TIKKUN, *ZADDIK, *ZIMZUM, *ZOHAR).
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