Practice inside Jewish life
Traditional Kabbalistic practice is not separate from ordinary Jewish observance. It takes the same prayers, commandments and holidays and adds an inner dimension: what the act is believed to mean and do in the spiritual order. Many authorities have held that Kabbalistic meditation should rest on a foundation of regular observance and study. For the underlying ideas, see Kabbalah Explained.
Kavanah: intention in prayer
Kavanah means focused intention. In Kabbalistic prayer, a person is asked to bring attention to the meaning of the words and, in some systems, to the sefirot (see the ten sefirot) or to the four worlds (see the four worlds). The Lurianic school developed detailed intentions, known as kavanot, for prayers and commandments. Many of these are demanding and have traditionally been the province of advanced students.
Meditation
Meditative practice in the Kabbalistic tradition has taken several forms:
- Contemplating the sefirot. Visualizing or reflecting on the attributes of the Tree of Life, such as wisdom or kindness, and how they appear in oneself.
- Meditating on divine names and Hebrew letters. Concentrating on letter combinations is associated with medieval Kabbalists such as Abraham Abulafia, whose approach was ecstatic and was criticized by some contemporaries.
- Hitbodedut. Secluded personal prayer and speech, associated especially with Hasidic teachers.
Modern books and courses present simplified forms of these methods. Their quality varies, and it is wise to check whether the teacher is grounded in the sources.
Study
Study is itself a central practice. Students read the Zohar, works of the Lurianic school, and Hasidic writings alongside Torah and Talmud. Many communities study the Zohar in a group, sometimes at fixed times.
Shabbat and Kabbalat Shabbat
Shabbat has a rich Kabbalistic meaning, often linked to the sefirah Malkhut and described in imagery of a bride. Kabbalat Shabbat (“receiving the Sabbath”) is the Friday evening service that welcomes Shabbat. Its name comes from the same Hebrew root as Kabbalah, “to receive.” The service developed in large part among the 16th-century mystics of Safed, who went out into the fields to greet Shabbat. It includes the hymn Lecha Dodi.
Yom Kippur
Kabbalistic ideas appear in Yom Kippur in several ways. The day is traditionally one of fasting, repentance and prayer, and Kabbalistic literature describes it as a time of great spiritual closeness and cleansing. Meditation on the day often centers on repentance (teshuvah) and on mercy. Some communities also keep customs that arose in mystical circles, though practices differ widely, and some of them have been debated by rabbis.
If you are considering fasting, please speak with your doctor and rabbi, particularly if you have a medical condition. Jewish law has specific provisions for people whose health is at risk.
Cautions
- Practices described online are sometimes simplified or detached from Jewish observance.
- Practical or magical techniques found in some Kabbalistic texts were never meant as casual self-help.
- Meditation is not appropriate to use in place of medical or mental health care.
Why it is kept secret, and why it is debated
Teachers have traditionally limited public instruction in advanced material because they thought it could be misunderstood. We discuss this in Is Kabbalah a Closed Practice? The tradition has also been controversial, over issues ranging from whether it is compatible with monotheism to the authorship of the Zohar. See also Kabbalah Principles and Rules.
Whether Christianity accepts Kabbalah depends on the denomination and the person; see Is Kabbalah ok for Christians?