cabala etymology

Etymology

• Hebrew: קַבָּלָה (Qabbalah)

Meaning

• "Received tradition" or "oral tradition"

Origin

The term "cabala" has its origins in Jewish mysticism and refers to a mystical tradition of interpreting Jewish texts and teachings. The term is first found in the Mishnah, a collection of Jewish Oral Law compiled in the 2nd century CE, where it refers to the "oral law" (קַבָּלָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה, Qabbalah shebe'al peh) that was transmitted from Moses to Joshua and subsequent generations.

According to Jewish tradition, the Kabbalah was a divine revelation given to Moses on Mount Sinai along with the Written Law (Torah). It was then passed down orally through a select group of initiates and was believed to contain hidden meanings and esoteric knowledge not found in the written texts.

However, the systematic development of the Kabbalah as a formalized system of mystical thought is generally attributed to Spanish Jewish mystics in the 13th century, particularly Moses de León. De León is believed to have written the Zohar, a central text of Kabbalah, which claimed to be a rediscovered ancient text but was later found to be a work of his own composition.

The Kabbalah gained popularity among Jewish mystics and philosophers in the following centuries and influenced various spiritual and esoteric movements, including Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, and Freemasonry. However, it also faced opposition from some Jewish scholars and orthodox rabbis who questioned its authenticity and its potential to lead to heresy.

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