What is Kabbalah?
Today is a most special day on the Jewish calendar – Lag Ba'omer. There are so many central Jewish themes woven within the history and celebration of Lag Ba'omer, that this small column cannot possibly do them all justice. Allow me, however, to focus on one small slice of this holiday.
Lag Ba'omer marks the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the passing) of Rabbi Simon bar Yochai, the 2nd century saintly Rabbi and sage who revealed the kabbalah, a study that had been hidden from most of the Jewish world for centuries.
What exactly is kabbalah?
Everything in this world has a body and a soul. A business, for example, has its various divisions and components that comprise the body of its operation. But then there is the soul of the business, the inner-drive and life-force that propels it forward.
Judaism is no exception. It too contains these two elements. The body of Judaism, we might say, is the physical performance of the Torah and its mitzvahs. When we act as Jews in accordance with Jewish law and custom, we are executing the mission statement of G‑d's 'business'. Each of the 613 mitzvahs can be thought of as a different division in G‑d's company, each one playing a vital role.
Then there is the soul of Judaism. The inner meaning that give the mitzvahs vitality, warmth, and life; the appreciation for the value and power of Torah study. And that is what the study of kabbalah focuses upon. Kabbalah addresses questions like "why does G‑d desire or need mitzvahs?", "what did G‑d wish to accomplish through creation?", "why did G‑d choose the Jewish People?" etc.
While the in-depth study of kabbalah can be quite complex and at times seem very abstract, modern times allow us to absorb the kabbalah through the numerous English publications that explain and elucidate kabbalah, known as 'chassidic thought'.
So as Jews who seek to be complete in body and soul, this day of Lag Ba'omer is for us. For on this day - the day on which kabbalah was first brought to light - we draw the strength to fuse the soul and passion of our Judaism within every mitzvah we perform.
May Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's life be a source of blessing for each and every one of us and may we utilize this day as an impetus and springboard for the learning of more Torah and the performance of many mitzvahs.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
