The Truth About Kabbalah: Why Authentic Jewish Mysticism Isn’t for Everyone

Not long ago, the word “Kabbalah” referred to the mystical, hidden dimension of Judaism — deep spiritual teachings studied only by a select few. Today, however, everyone seems to be teaching or studying Kabbalah. Dozens of centers have opened across the globe, celebrities from Arkadi Duchin to Madonna promote it, and, as with every trend in high demand, confusion and imitation have followed.

So, can anyone study or teach Kabbalah? What’s the difference between the Kabbalah taught by the Berg or Laitman centers and the traditional, classical study reserved for Torah scholars who have already mastered the foundations of Jewish learning? And should the mystical secrets of Judaism be open to everyone — even non-Jews, or reserved for experts only?

“Kabbalah Is the Heart of Judaism”

“Kabbalah is the very heart of Judaism,” explains Rabbi Yitzchak Fanger. “It’s the full intensity of divine light of subjects so powerful that silence often suits them best. Everyone understands that you can’t expose the core of a discipline to a beginner. A person who wants to become a heart surgeon doesn’t start by performing surgery. He first studies anatomy and general medicine. The same applies to Kabbalah: you can’t study it before you’ve understood what Judaism itself is.”

The Craving for Spirituality

Where does this growing hunger for Kabbalah come from?

“There’s a huge thirst today for spirituality — especially for Jewish spirituality,” says Rabbi Fanger. “People hear that Judaism contains deep, world-shifting wisdom. Even if they’re not interested in Judaism as a religion, they’re curious about its secrets.”

Why Studying Kabbalah Prematurely Can Be Harmful

“Teaching Kabbalah to someone who lacks the spiritual capacity to contain its depth isn’t only disrespectful, but it can be dangerous,” warns Rabbi Fanger. “If you don’t have the proper inner tools, you can get spiritually burned, literally. It’s like staring directly at the sun. Kabbalah has to be studied as part of the whole framework of Judaism, includding Torah, Talmud, law, and the practice of mitzvot. Without that foundation, it loses all meaning.”

The Rise of Modern Kabbalah Centers

Where, then, do the various Kabbalah centers — like those of Dr. Michael Laitman, fit into this picture?

“Anyone familiar with authentic Judaism understands that these are essentially cults,” says Rabbi Fanger bluntly.

What if such centers genuinely help people and give them meaning?  “Who says what makes you feel good is actually good for you?” he replies. “Even a thirsty person could drink bleach and feel relieved for a moment. Only later does he realize the damage.”

The Problem of Distortion

What about those who only casually watch the Kabbalah Channel on TV?

“If they weren’t distorting things, there wouldn’t be a problem,” Fanger says. “But there are real falsifications there. Our sages said that a counterfeiter is worse than a thief. A thief you can recognize and avoid; a counterfeiter twists the truth, and most people can’t tell the difference. These Kabbalah institutes are more counterfeit than authentic revelation.”

“Kabbalah for the Masses Is a Desecration”

Rabbi Yitzchak Batzri, son of Rabbi David Batzri, head of the famed Yeshivat HaShalom for Kabbalists, agrees.

“Studying Kabbalah requires strict spiritual boundaries,” he says.
“First of all, one must never use practical Kabbalah — mystical powers or rituals. The Ari (Rabbi Isaac Luria) wrote that before learning Kabbalah, a person must fill his mind with Talmud and Jewish law. He also taught that a student of Kabbalah should not eat meat or drink alcohol during the week.

Teaching Kabbalah to the general public,” Rabbi Batzri insists, “is a desecration of holiness. The Ari himself forbade it, including teaching it to non-Jews. These modern institutes are certainly not following the authentic path. If we judge them charitably, we might say they don’t really teach Kabbalah — its introductions or workshops are only ‘inspired’ by it.

In authentic yeshivot, students are carefully chosen — they fast for 84 days, live in purity, study Talmud and law in depth, and only then are they deemed worthy to learn the secrets of the Torah.”

Forbidden or Just Discouraged?

Is it strictly forbidden to study in modern Kabbalah centers, or just discouraged?

“Even though what they teach isn’t real Kabbalah — it’s still forbidden,” Rabbi Batzri states. “Kabbalah contains the spiritual codes of creation — how to split the sea, revive the dead, or even give life to new beings. Just knowing the divine names allows a person to act across worlds. The Maharal of Prague created a golem through Kabbalistic power.”

“Understanding Without Doing Is an Illusion”

Some Kabbalah centers claim that one doesn’t need to physically observe the commandments — only to understand their inner meaning.

“There’s no such thing,” says Rabbi Batzri. “Of course you must perform the mitzvot. You can’t just learn about putting on tefillin — you must actually put them on. Their logic is like saying you only need to understand the meaning of a red traffic light but not actually stop at it. What reasonable person would accept such nonsense?”

Authentic Kabbalah, say traditional scholars, is not a casual spiritual workshop or a celebrity trend. It is the sacred inner dimension of Torah — accessible only to those who have first mastered its outer layers, live with purity, and act with reverence. Without that grounding, even the brightest light can blind instead of enlighten.