Changes

Non-religious-Jews and others describe it as a form of Jewish "[[mysticism]]," representing itself as a school of ancient mystical teachings traditionally taught only to those who had reached the age of 40 and who had already learned [[Torah]] and [[Talmud]]. Jewish tradition teaches that the souls of all Jews were in existence at the time of the Giving of the Torah and were present at the time and agreed to the Covenant. There are many stories of spiritual levels of reality similar to Christian heaven and purgatory, of wandering souls and [[reincarnation]]. In the [[Middle Ages]], some of these mystical teachings were committed to writing. Many of these writings were asserted to be secret ancient writings or compilations of secret ancient writings. In Judaism, most cosmological issues are wide open to personal opinion, and are extensively discussed in these teachings. The Jewish mystical school of thought came to be known as Kabbalah, from the Hebrew root '''<big> קבל </big>''Quf-Beit-Lamed''''' (QBL) expanded to ''' <big>קַבָּלָה</big> '''(QBLH)  meaning "to receive, to accept." The word is usually translated as "tradition." According to ancient kabbalistic tradition, the genuine mystical doctrine of Kabbalah is transmitted only face-to-face by word of mouth from teacher to pupil, and is complete only when the pupil has been brought to the profound mystical experience of ''gnosis'' (direct personal knowledge) and ''[[praxis]]'' (proficient ability). The mystical teachings of kabbalah were partly written in the ''Book of Zohar'' ("Splendor"), and these incomplete teachings have been distorted by mystics and occultists and New Age practitioners, and novelty-seekers and celebrities in the pop-culture, all of them having in common a rejection of traditional Christianity.

Non-religious-Jews and others describe it as a form of Jewish "[[mysticism]]," representing itself as a school of ancient mystical teachings traditionally taught only to those who had reached the age of 40 and who had already learned [[Torah]] and [[Talmud]]. Jewish tradition teaches that the souls of all Jews were in existence at the time of the Giving of the Torah and were present at the time and agreed to the Covenant. There are many stories of spiritual levels of reality similar to Christian heaven and purgatory, of wandering souls and [[reincarnation]]. In the [[Middle Ages]], some of these mystical teachings were committed to writing. Many of these writings were asserted to be secret ancient writings or compilations of secret ancient writings. In Judaism, most cosmological issues are wide open to personal opinion, and are extensively discussed in these teachings. The Jewish mystical school of thought came to be known as Kabbalah, from the Hebrew root '''<big> קבל </big>''Quf-Beit-Lamed''''' (QBL) expanded to ''' <big>קַבָּלָה</big> '''(QBLH)  meaning "to receive, to accept." The word is usually translated as "tradition." According to ancient kabbalistic tradition, the genuine mystical doctrine of Kabbalah is transmitted only face-to-face by word of mouth from teacher to pupil, and is complete only when the pupil has been brought to the profound mystical experience of ''gnosis'' (direct personal knowledge) and ''[[praxis]]'' (proficient ability). The mystical teachings of kabbalah were partly written in the ''Book of Zohar'' ("Splendor"), and these incomplete teachings have been distorted by mystics and occultists and New Age practitioners, and novelty-seekers and celebrities in the pop-culture, all of them having in common a rejection of traditional Christianity.

Some Kabbalistic concepts have been reused by racial supremacists. The "serpent seed" false view of the [[Book of Genesis]], an esoterically cabalistic doctrine, has been widely promoted by the British-controlled<ref>Chaitkin, Anton (1997), "Who is wagging your neighbor's tongue? The militias and Pentecostalism," ''Executive Intelligence Review''. Retrieved August 2, 2024.</ref> white supremacist [[Christian Identity]] sect.<ref>Sanchez, Casey (May 20, 2008). [https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2008/branson-televangelist-arnold-murray-preaches-christian-identity-theology Branson Televangelist Arnold Murray Preaches Christian Identity Theology]. ''Southern Poverty Law Center''. Retrieved August 2, 2024.</ref>

Some Kabbalistic concepts have been reused by racial supremacists. The "serpent seed" false view of the [[Book of Genesis]], an esoterically cabalistic doctrine, has been widely promoted by the British-controlled<ref>[[Anton Chaitkin|Chaitkin, Anton]] (1997), "Who is wagging your neighbor's tongue? The militias and Pentecostalism," ''Executive Intelligence Review''. Retrieved August 2, 2024.</ref> white supremacist [[Christian Identity]] sect.<ref>Sanchez, Casey (May 20, 2008). [https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2008/branson-televangelist-arnold-murray-preaches-christian-identity-theology Branson Televangelist Arnold Murray Preaches Christian Identity Theology]. ''Southern Poverty Law Center''. Retrieved August 2, 2024.</ref>

==Background==

==Background==