Judaism
The
roots of Kabbalah are firmly grounded in traditional Judaism. In
Kabbalistic exegesis (for example, the Zohar),
the
texts most commonly referred to in order to justify or illuminate
an insight are those familiar to any Rabbi. In particular:
The Bible (Tanakh): Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim.
The Talmud:
Mishnah & Gemara. This is an early record of the oral tradition
of Judaism.
Midrash. These are commentaries,
usually ancient, on a wide range of subjects relating to Jewish law and
legend.
Baraita. These are oral traditions
not included in the Mishnah.
Certain portions of the Bible were considered especially esoteric.
These include most of the book of the prophet Ezekiel, the Song of Songs, and the book of the
prophet Daniel.
See also Judaism.
Return to Historical Background
|