1. Jessica LiBrizzi Samantha Meluso Kabbalah

2. Main Beliefs and Practices Kabbalah follows the belief that decoding ancient texts may reveal the secrets to life Originally only exposed to the most devout and scholarly Jewish men The most important book is the Zohar, or Book of Splendor Most difficult Jewish text to translate Author is unknown By uncovering the Zohar, they will have a revelation about God

3. Main Beliefs and Practices Though they are trying to reach God, Kabbalists believe that God is unknowable Therefore, to understand Him, they use the ten Sephirot Ten ways in which God reveled Himself through creation

4. Main Beliefs and Practices Retraction belief During creation, God retracted His light to create a void which he filled with His creations Creation is seen as a step by step process Seen in the ten Sephirot Begins will God’s will to create and ends with the accomplishment of creation

5. Development and Change Kabbalah emerged in the late medieval period in response to persecution However, mysticism has been around since the ancient times Important figures in Kabbalah Shimon bar Yochai Isaac Luria Shabbetai Zvi Philip Berg

6. Rachel and Kabbalah Rachel was the mother of Joseph, and is considered a matriarch of the Jewish faith According to tradition, visitors who visit Rachel’s tomb wrap a red string around it seven times. After the string is removed it is cut into seven pieces and worn as bracelets The string is said to have picked up the strength, goodness, faithfulness and power of Rachel and has passed it on to the wearer.

7. The Kabbalah Bracelet The red string Kabbalah bracelet has become the most recognizable symbol of Kabbalah and is the thing most associated with it. The bracelet is traditionally worn on the left wrist and is believed to be a symbol of blood and life, and represents a bond between the wearer and the creator. It is also believed to ward off any evil spirirts

8. Kabbalah Today Kabbalah Centre opened in the United States in 1965 Does not require a background in Judaism or Hebrew Authenticity has been questioned due to several celebrities participation

9. Kabbalah Today Kabbalah has become wildly popular with celebrities such as Britney Spears, Madonna and Ashton Kutcher. Places like the Kabbalah Centre welcome people from all walks of life, including those with no Jewish background This angers some of the traditional members of the Kabbalah community, who insist that Kabbalah is only meant for the most experienced Jewish scholars.