Is there a rulebook?
Kabbalah is not a separate religion with a single code of rules. It is a mystical stream within Judaism, so its “rules” are largely the same as those of Jewish life: observing the commandments, praying, studying Torah. Kabbalistic writings add interpretations of why these acts matter and what they are believed to do spiritually. Different schools (Spanish, Safed, Hasidic and others) emphasize different things, so it is more accurate to speak of principles and customs than of one fixed rule set.
Main principles
Teachers differ, but these themes recur:
- God is one and beyond description. The infinite is called Ein Sof.
- God is known through attributes. The ten sefirot describe how the divine relates to the world.
- Creation has levels. See the four worlds.
- Human actions matter. Prayer and observance are believed to affect the spiritual order, and in the Lurianic tradition people take part in tikkun (repair). See Lurianic Kabbalah.
- Free choice is real. The existence of opposing forces, discussed under Sitra Achra, is often explained as making choice meaningful.
- Hidden meaning in the Torah. Words and letters are read as containing layers of meaning.
Who may study it
Traditionally, Kabbalah was taught to a small group of mature students. A frequently cited guideline, found in later rabbinic literature, is that a person should first be well grounded in Torah and Talmud, and some authorities mention being married and past the age of 40. These are customs and rabbinic opinions rather than a universal law, and later teachers, especially in Hasidism, were more open. Today opinions range from strict to inclusive. For a fuller treatment see Is Kabbalah a Closed Practice? For the Christian question, see Is Kabbalah ok for Christians?
Is Kabbalah scriptural?
Kabbalah is not a book of the Hebrew Bible, and the word does not appear as the name of a tradition there. Kabbalists present their teachings as inner interpretations of the Torah, so they quote scripture constantly. Whether that makes it “scriptural” depends on the speaker: believers say it unlocks the text’s hidden meaning, while critics regard it as a later development. Historians generally place its main texts in the medieval period.
Karma and gilgul
Karma is a concept from Indian religions, referring to a moral cause-and-effect over lifetimes. Judaism does not have a doctrine called karma, and Jewish thinkers differ widely on the afterlife. Still, there are parallels. Many Jewish texts teach that actions have spiritual consequences, and a principle often described as “measure for measure” appears in rabbinic literature.
Kabbalah, from the medieval period, also teaches gilgul (literally “cycle” or “rolling”), usually translated as reincarnation or transmigration of souls. In some sources, a soul returns to complete commandments it did not fulfill or to repair past wrongs. This is a Kabbalistic idea, not a view held by all Jewish communities. Gilgul and karma are similar in spirit but are not identical systems, and writers who equate them directly should be read cautiously.
“Nine laws of karma” and 666
Searches sometimes link Kabbalah with lists such as “the nine laws of karma.” Such lists usually come from modern popular spirituality and are not part of classical Kabbalistic texts. The same applies to birth-date “karmic numbers,” covered in Which birth date are karmic numbers?
The number 666 comes from the New Testament’s Book of Revelation (13:18). It is not a core Kabbalistic teaching, though Hebrew letter-number methods (see Kabbalah Numerology and Gematria) have been used by various writers to interpret it.
Related reading
For the broader picture, return to Kabbalah Explained. For practice, see Kabbalah Spiritual Practices and Meditation.