1. By Stefan Chilingirov ssc140@aubg.bg

2.  What does Kabbalah represent?  - non-individual, non- experimental divine truth - the name of a group of Jewish esoterics in the 13 th century - an additional characteristic of the above-mentioned group’s tradition

3. - not a new phenomenon - A secret oral tradition - a universal appeal - a magical tradition - a mysticism

4.  The Birth Of Kabbalah  The Book Of Creation - portrayal of the creation powered by letters and presentation of grammar ideas in Judaism - exploration of psychology, cosmology, and anthropology - an anonymous work - contains no biblical verses

5. The Book Bahir - the earliest Kabbalistic piece - discusses different biblical verses from many Talmudic sages - Rabbi Nehunia – author? - three fundamental elements (e.g. ilan, ma’amarot, etc) - presentation of the Evil realm

6.  Isaac Luria  - born in Jerusalem in 1534 - studied rabbinical literature and Jewish law - studied the Zohar at the age of 21 after moving to an island on the Nile - conversation with prophet Elijah - known by his disciples as “HaARI”

7. 16th century graves of Safed, Galilee. The messianic focus of its mystical renaissance culminated in Lurianic thought

8.  The Concept of the 10 Sefirot  - tzimtzum – withdrawal of God - sefirots – emanations of the divine attributes of God - destruction of vessels - division of the Universe - tikkun olam – repairing the world

9.  Kabbalah in the 21 st Century  - centers for the study of Kabbalah  - celebrity phenomenon  - Kabbalah in Bulgaria

10.  Thank you!