Jewish religious leaders are worried about the popularity of Kabbalah, fearing it might become just another "New Age spirituality," while others argue that harsh criticism of "innovative" approaches to traditional Jewish Mysticism might alienate Jewish adherents who like enjoy the newer environment. The focus of most of the ill will seems to be Philip Berg and his celebrity-soaked Kabbalah Centre, who don't require their members to have a Jewish background, and whose teachings are more pop than substance.

Of course, all this debating ignores a couple of important facts- one, that were it not for popularizers, the very conference they present these ideas at (Kabbalah for the Masses?)) would likely not have been possible, and two, that Kabbalah is not exclusively Jewish either in origin or practice- there have been non-Jewish kabbalists for as long as there has been a Kabbalah at all. What's wrong with the Kabbalah centre is not it's non-denominational outreach, it's shaky teachings, shady business practices, and good old-fashioned money-grubbing. Out of all the opinions represented here, I like what Hebrew College's Rabbi Arthur Green has to say the best: "I'm all for non-Jews opening to kabbalah as long as they take the best of kabbalah and not the worst."