Kabbalah is an esoteric* Jewish mystical tradition that places mystical significance on letters and numbers, and their relationships.

Kabbalah means "received," and its symbolism has influenced Christianity, Ritual Magick and Wicca, Freemasonry, and many other faiths and traditions. It has in turn been influenced by Greek, Egyptian, and Gnostic ideas and spoiritual concepts.

The exact origins of kabbalistic tradition are unclear, but date at least to the twelfth century, where Jewish Mysticism, Gnosticism, Hermetic philosophy, and mystic Christianity converged. The familiar system of sephirothic emanations was developed by Spanish mystics and codified in written form around 1286 with the publication of Rabbi Moses de Leon's "Mystical Midrash," which forms a large part of the Zohar, a 22 volume work of kabbalistic philosophy.

*In Conservative and Reform Judaism, Kabbalah is looked upon as something somewhat outside the norm; however, in Hasadim and Orthodox Judaism, there are few stigmas attached to the study of Kabbalah.

Pronunciation: Kah-bah-lah • (noun)

Alternate Spellings: Cabala, Cabbala, Kabbala, Qabbala

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