Ancient esoteric Jewish mystical tradition of philosophy containing strong elements of pantheism, yet akin to neo-Platonism. Kabbalistic writing reached its peak between the 13th and 16th centuries. It is largely rejected by modern Judaic thought as medieval superstition, but has influenced the ultra-Orthodox
Hasidic and
Lubavitch sects.
Among its earliest documents is the
Sefir Jezirah/The Book of Creation, attributed to Rabbi Akiba (died 120). The
Zohar/Book of Light was written in Aramaic in about the 13th century.
© RM 2012. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.