What is Kabbalah? The Art of Becoming a Good Receiver

The Hebrew word kabbalah comes from the Hebrew verb “lekabbel,” whose root kbl means “to receive” or “to welcome.” Thus, Kabbalah means “receiving” or “reception.”

Most people define Kabbalah as a wisdom tradition or mystical tradition received from teacher to student, handed down from generation to generation. Thus, we receive it from someone. We become the receivers of this wisdom. In fact, we are told that Moses originally received this mystical knowledge from God at Mt. Sinai.

These days, many people receive their kabbalistic information from books, rather than from teachers. Although this may not seem like a handing down from teacher to student, I believe it still qualifies as such. And in this way, more people actually receive certain teachers’ kabbalistic wisdom.

If we look at the fact that Kabbalah represents a mystical commentary on the Bible, or Torah, we see that it also provides a learning tool for interpreting the texts, the world, and the mysteries of life, which means that it allows us to receive an education.

However, if we define Kabbalah in a manner that comes closer to its etymological origin and to its true mystical purpose, Kabbalah more specific revolves around receiving God’s light. We become receivers of this Divine light by using a variety of Divine techniques and methods.

We receive light, much like we receive sound waves. For this reason, this definition reminds me of a description of a Kabbalist that Mitch Chefitz included in his book The Seventh Telling, The Kabbalah of Moshe Katan. He equates Jewish mystics to radio receivers.

With a slight turn of the head we learn to tune in to the Divine vibration, the Infinite message being sent at all times. Maybe that’s what Kabbalah is all about-being a receiver-learning to tune in to the Divine sound waves and to hear them and understand them, and to use them. Being open so that we can receive the light, become a vessel to hold that light.

The question then become, which way is your head turned? (This reminds me Rebbe Nachman’s story of the Seven Beggars; one beggar seemed to have something wrong with his neck, but he just had his head turned in such a way that he could only hear God…) Is it turned in such a way that you have good enough reception that you can hear God. What do you have to do to improve your reception? What do you have to turn away from or towards to be able to hear the Divine voice more clearly?

Kabbalah really comes down to more than just receiving. It’s about becoming a good receiver. And that’s a fine art. It’s the art of turning your head, like the reciever on a television satelite dish, in just the right direction so you can get the signal. It’s the art of placing your vessel in just the right place, turning the mouth until it is positioned just under the flow of water so it can fill.

Now we clearly see the Hebrew word teshuvah, which means “to turn” but usually is used to mean “to repent.” We can turn away from un-Godly things and ways and patterns and pursuits. And when we do, we are able to receive God’s word. As we receive the word through study and by listening for that “Still Small Voice” that we now can hear, we also receive the Divine light.

That’s Kabbalah.