The Universe Does Exist

there exists nothing except God, may He be exalted, and this existent world…it necessarily behooves one to consider this existent as it is… (Moreh Nevuchim 1:71). the foundation of the whole Law is the view that God has brought the world into being out of nothing… (Moreh Nevuchim 2:30). It is clear that the Ramb

The Universe Does Exist

” there exists nothing except God, may He be exalted, and this existent world…it necessarily behooves one to consider this existent as it is…” (Moreh Nevuchim 1:71)

“the foundation of the whole Law is the view that God has brought the world into being out of nothing…” (Moreh Nevuchim 2:30)

It is clear that the Rambam is teaching that the Universe exists and that we may not associate it with Hashem. In halacha, associating Hashem with any physical object is a Torah prohibition known as “shituf“.

Rav Meir Triebetz has posted on the hashkafacircle.com website a group of shiurim explaining in detail the viewpoints of the Vilna Gaon and the Leshem, both of whom built their philosophy on the Rambam’s Moreh Nevuchim. If I understand those shiurim correctly, we must believe the Universe actually exists and is not “Godliness” as some radical Kabbalistic or Chassidic doctrines claim.

This prompts my own question: Is radical Kabbalistic “pantheism” (or “panentheism” if you prefer) a philosophical dead end for Jews?

For example, in the apparently Chabad influenced video linked below, the speaker claims (around 1:10 min.):
“In reality we don’t exist”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bZBAHuOQHE

I believe this is a doctrine well accepted in Chabad circles, as I have heard it stated by a number of serious Chabad people. However, the claim that “In reality we don’t exist” blatantly contradicts the first verse in the Torah that states that Hashem did create the Universe.

If one truly believes “In reality we don’t exist”, then how can one believe in the first verse of the Torah or that a Torah even exists?

How can such a person believe that “non-existent” creatures are obligated to perform mitzvot?

How can such a person believe there is an “olam habah”?

Internet Preachers Are Not Prophets

Are the Kabbalistic Internet Preachers Prophets Who Know God’s Thoughts?. Do we have to believe the claims of extreme Internet preachers that Hashem brought Hamas on October 7, 2023 to murder Jews?. In short, I believe the answer is no.To claim to know God’s thoughts, or to claim that the Hamas massacre is God’s punish

Kabbalistic Internet Preachers: They Are Not Prophets

Are the Kabbalistic Internet Preachers Prophets Who Know God’s Thoughts?

Do we have to believe the claims of extreme Internet “preachers” that “Hashem brought Hamas on October 7, 2023 to murder Jews”?

In short, I believe the answer is no.

To claim to know God’s thoughts, or to claim that the Hamas massacre is “God’s punishment”, one would have to be a prophet. I’m not aware we have any prophets today.

What we do know is that Hashem gave the non-Jews 7 laws to obey, including a law prohibiting murder.

Various popular Hareidi Internet preachers such as Yaron Reuven may expect us to believe that Hashem brought Hamas to slaughter Jews, but we can easily find classical Torah sources that directly refute that claim.

It is apparent that a decree of “galut” (exile) by Hashem does not give the non-Jews license to throw Jewish babies into the Nile, or to behead them (as occurred recently in Israel).

In several of the major commentaries (including Rashi, Ramban, Radak and others) on this verse (Genesis 15:14) in the Torah, it is quite clear that both Egypt AND the other empires who murder and oppress the Jews were not given authority to do so by Hashem, and they will be destroyed by Hashem for the evil they did to the Jews.

“וְגַ֧ם אֶת־הַגּ֛וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲבֹ֖דוּ דָּ֣ן אָנֹ֑כִי וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן יֵצְא֖וּ בִּרְכֻ֥שׁ גָּדֽוֹל׃
but I will execute judgment on the nation they shall serve, and in the end they shall go free with great wealth.”
(Genesis 15:14)

“גם את הגוי אשר יעבודו אדין על החמס אשר יעשו להם
so will I bring judgment upon the nation that will enslave them (the Jews) for the HAMAS (violence) they (the Egyptians) will do to them…
It was their malice that brought upon the Egyptians the great punishment which utterly destroyed them…
it is clear that throwing Hebrew children into the river was not included in the decree (that the Egyptians enslave the Hebrews)…
another reason for punishment in the case of the king of Babylon, i.e., for his having added to the decree and having exceedingly perpetrated evil against Israel…a twofold punishment come upon him: his people were utterly destroyed, there remaining of Babylon no name and remnant, offshoot and offspring“
(Ramban’s commentary on Bereisheet 15:14)

Authenticity of Kabbalah

There appear to be serious Torah authenticity issues with much of what is called “Kabbalah” nowadays.My use of the term “Torah authenticity” refers to evidence, if it exists, that a particular concept or set of concepts can be traced to valid, ancient Torah sources such as the Jewish Bible and/or Talmud. Or whe

Authenticity of Kabbalah

There appear to be serious Torah authenticity issues with much of what is called “Kabbalah” nowadays.

My use of the term “Torah authenticity” refers to evidence, if it exists, that a particular concept or set of concepts can be traced to valid, ancient Torah sources such as the Jewish Bible and/or Talmud. Or whether a particular concept conflicts with ancient Torah sources.

The Mishna is certainly a valid, ancient Torah source.

“Kabbalah” claims to be the esoteric Torah teachings.
A well known Mishna refers to the esoteric Torah teachings:

„אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין בָּעֲרָיוֹת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה, וְלֹא בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית בִּשְׁנַיִם, וְלֹא בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּיָחִיד, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה חָכָם וּמֵבִין מִדַּעְתּוֹ.
MISHNA: One may not expound the topic of forbidden sexual relations before three; nor the work of the Creation before two nor by oneself the work of the Chariot, unless he is wise and understands on his own.”

The ancient Torah sages organized the esoteric Torah teachings in two categories, the Work of the Creation and the Work of the Chariot. The ancient Torah sages prohibited teaching the esoteric Torah subjects publicly.

This raises a number of severe questions about the authenticity of the “Kabbalah”. For example, how can the present “Kabbalah” constitute the esoteric Torah teachings, since those teachings were not allowed to be publicly taught by the Torah sages?

Rabbeinu Nissim (Ran) was one of the great medieval rabbis who wrote extensively. Ran composed a series of sermons (drashot) known as Derashot HaRan. In the first Drasha, Chapter 1, Ran provides a detailed explanation of what topics are discussed in the Work of the Creation and the Work of the Chariot.

Derashot HaRan

In Ran’s drasha, there seems to be no mention of the “Kabbalah” and its specialized terminology such as “sefirot”, “tzimtzum”, “Ein Sof” etc. This suggests that what is referred to as “Kabbalah” nowadays has no real relationship to what the ancient Torah sages referred to as the Work of the Creation and the Work of the Chariot.

Much of what we call “Kabbalah” today thus appears to be a set of highly speculative concepts invented since the Middle Ages that may have no Torah authenticity.

Mount Meron Disaster

Certain practices of Kabbalah have apparently become dangerous.On Lag B’Omer in 2021, a terrible tragedy occurred in Mount Meron in Israel. Some 45 people were killed after a stampede broke out as massive crowds gathered at the Mount Meron Kabbalistic bonfirelighting ceremony for the holiday of Lag B’Omer.I refer to th

Mount Meron Disaster

Certain practices of “Kabbalah” have apparently become dangerous.

On Lag B’Omer in 2021, a terrible tragedy occurred in Mount Meron in Israel. Some 45 people were killed after a stampede broke out as massive crowds gathered at the Mount Meron Kabbalistic bonfire-lighting ceremony for the “holiday” of Lag B’Omer.

I refer to the bonfire-lighting ceremony as Kabbalistic because I do not believe there is any reference to it in the Talmud or the standard halachic codes. The Talmud in Yevamot 62b only refers to the students of Rabbi Akiva dying during a period between Pesach and Shavuot. The Lag B’Omer celebrations in Meron allegedly are connected to the yahrtzeit of the Talmudic Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

Baruch Dayan Emet. This was a huge tragedy and of course we must mourn the dead and assist the survivors. However, perhaps it is also time to speak the truth about the negative consequences of unrestrained “Kabbalah”.

One can’t help but wonder-

How can halacha allow us to celebrate the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai?
Where did Chazal even say that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai passed away on Lag B’Omer?
Where did Chazal tell us to light fires and spread air pollution all over on Lag B’Omer?

In a Tosephta, the ancient rabbis ruled that dancing around a bonfire is “darchei Amorai” (the ways of the pagan Amorites).

אלו דברים מדרכי האמורי המספר קומי והעושה בלורית [והמגבה] לגרגרן והמגררת בנה [בין] המתים והקושר [מטולטלת על יריכו וחוט אדום על אצבעו והמונה ומשליך צרורות לים או לנהר הרי זה מדרכי] האמורי המספק והמטפח והמרקד לשלהבת ה”ז מדרכי האמורי.
(Tosephta, Shabbat 7:1)

The so-called Kabbalah being popularized to the masses all over the Internet nowadays cannot be the authentic “nistar” (Torah secrets) that the Talmudic rabbis knew, because the Talmudic rabbis prohibited teaching the “nistar” publicly. Authentic Judaism opposes teaching “mysticism” publicly because this inevitably leads to idolatry.

אֵין דּוֹרְשִׁין בָּעֲרָיוֹת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה וְלֹא בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית בִּשְׁנַיִם וְלֹא בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּיָחִיד אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה חָכָם וּמֵבִין מִדַּעְתּוֹ
כׇּל הַמִּסְתַּכֵּל בְּאַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים רָתוּי לוֹ כְּאִילּוּ לֹא בָּא לָעוֹלָם מָה לְמַעְלָה מָה לְמַטָּה מָה לְפָנִים וּמָה לְאָחוֹר וְכׇל שֶׁלֹּא חָס עַל כְּבוֹד קוֹנוֹ רָתוּי לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בָּא לָעוֹלָם:
(Talmud, Chagigah 11b)

Are we supposed to believe that the Kabbalists now have Torah secrets that the Rambam over 800 years ago claimed were lost?

If these Torah secrets really existed at the time of the Rambam, how is it possible that the Rambam would not have known they existed (regardless if he accepted them or not)?

“They have clearly stated that the Divine Chariot includes matters too deep and too profound for the ordinary intellect. It has been shown that a person favoured by Providence with reason to understand these mysteries is forbidden by the Law to teach them except viva voce, and on condition that the pupil possess certain qualifications, and even then only the heads of the sections may be communicated. This has been the cause why the knowledge of this mystery has entirely disappeared from our nation, and nothing has remained of it. “
(Rambam, Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3 Introduction)

The Mount Meron disaster only raises more questions about the legitimacy of certain “Kabbalistic” practices.

Critiques of Zohar & Kabbalah

Critiques of Zohar and Kabbalah based on classical Torah sources

Critiques of Zohar & Kabbalah

Most “Baalei Tshuvah” (returnees to Judaism) today may not be aware that there exists a quiet subculture of traditional Orthodox rabbis who question the origins of “Kabbalah”. Recently I had some interesting discussions with two different non-Chassidic senior rabbis and Torah scholars about the origins of “Kabbalah”. The rabbis indicated to me that there are almost no ancient traditional Torah sources (ie Chazal) for most or much of what is being taught as “Kabbalah” nowadays. As I see it, this is a serious issue that Orthodox Jews, especially “Baalei Tshuvah”, must be willing to face honestly.

Today there are many “popular” Kabbalah teachers who claim that the Zohar was written by Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai about 1800 years ago, so therefore the Zohar has the same status as the Talmud, and we must accept the Zohar’s theology and practices.

I am presenting here some good sources expressing critiques and valid alternate viewpoints on the origin of the Zohar and the validity of various Kabbalistic beliefs and practices. My purpose is not to tell Jews what they must believe, but I do believe it is important for all Jews to hear alternate opinions (which are normally ignored) besides those presented by Chabad, Kabbalists, and “kiruv” activists.

By citing these sources I am NOT claiming that none of the Kabbalah is true or that none of it has any value.

1) In this video, the famous rabbinic historian Rabbi Berel Wein cites various great Torah authorities disputing the claim that the Zohar was written by Talmudic sages.

2) In the book Mitpachat Seforim by Rav Yaakov Emden zt”l, Rav Emden rejects claims that the Zohar was authored by Chazal, and denounces certain statements in the Zohar Rav Emden considers heretical.

https://www.sefaria.org/Mitpachat_Sefarim.1?lang=bi

3) In the Jewish law code, Shulchan Aruch, on Lag Ba’Omer practices, there is NO mention of making bonfires, shooting arrows, or the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai, etc. How authentic are those customs?

https://www.sefaria.org/Shulchan_Arukh%2C_Orach_Chayim.493.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=bi

4) Rav David Bar-Hayim cites a manuscript from a close talmid of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook zt”l that the Zohar was written during the Middle Ages, and it was NOT written by Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai (about 1800 years ago), as is often claimed.

5) Tohar HaYihud – A rather strong but scholarly critique of certain concepts presented by the Kabbalists which appear to be contradicting the monotheism of the medieval rabbis. I am not claiming this treatise is the final word on this very complex subject, but this treatise does identify some essential theological issues.

Click to access ToharHayihud.pdf

6) “Maaseh Merkava” is the term used by the Talmud to describe the secret Torah theologies known by the ancient Torah Sages. However the Mishnah6 in Chagigah 11b prohibits teaching these secrets publicly, so what exactly is the “Kabbalah” being taught for the last few hundred years? How could any prohibited teachings become mandatory public halachic practices?

https://www.sefaria.org/Chagigah.11b.6-24?lang=bi

CHABAD REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY:BEIT HAMIKDASH

As we have mentioned on this site, certain Chabad radicals are attempting to replace classical Torah theology with their own falsified, nonTorah theologies.In this video, the Chabad theologian claims that the Beit HaMikdash will first come to 770 (Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn), and then it will be transported to Isr

As we have mentioned on this site, certain Chabad radicals are attempting to replace classical Torah theology with their own falsified, non-Torah theologies.

In this video, the Chabad theologian claims that the Beit HaMikdash will first come to 770 (Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn), and then it will be transported to Israel!

I do not believe there is the slightest source in authentic Judaism for such an outrageous claim that the Beit HaMikdash will first come to Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn.

In the video, the Chabad theologian is ironically discussing Christian “replacement theology”.

It’s hard to imagine a more dangerous “replacement theology” than what we’re seeing in the current Chabad movement.

Traditional Judaism is in serious trouble today.

Because a “rabbi” has a long beard, a black hat, and practices “Kabbalistic” minhagim, one should not automatically assume he is teaching authentic Judaism.

Heralding The Imminent Arrival Of Moshiach

CHABAD REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY:JEWISH KING

If we see a Jewish leader…influences the Jews to follow the ways of the Torah. Who is Moshiach. The article on the Chabad site distorts and modifies Maimonides’ (Rambam) words about Moshiach to subtly convince us or suggest to us that a deceased rabbi in Brooklyn could have been or is the Moshiach now.Rambam descri

“If we see a Jewish leader…influences the Jews to follow the ways of the Torah”

Who is Moshiach

The article on the Chabad site distorts and modifies Maimonides’ (Rambam) words about Moshiach to subtly convince us or suggest to us that a deceased rabbi in Brooklyn could have been or is the Moshiach now.

Rambam describes the true Moshiach in his Mishneh Torah compendium of all Jewish laws.

“In the future, the Messianic king will arise and renew the Davidic dynasty, restoring it to its initial sovereignty.”
(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Melachim 11:1)
According to Rambam, Moshiach is a KING, not just a “leader” as the Chabad article claims.
A Jewish King must be a LIVING Jewish man in the Land of Israel. Nowhere does the Rambam state that Moshiach could be a person presently deceased.
The Rambam clearly indicates that any person who has died, as did the kings of Israel who died, cannot be Moshiach.
“A king may not be appointed except by the High Court of 71 judges.”
(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Sanhedrin 5:1).
When did the Sanhedrin ever appoint the Chabad rebbe as Moshiach???
“Moshiach will compel all of Israel to walk in (the way of the Torah) and rectify the breaches in its observance”
(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Melachim 11:5)
When did the deceased Chabad rebbe ever compel ALL the Jews to follow the Torah?

Chabad “Meshichists” promote the false notion that the Chabad rebbe is NOW Moshiach, or else he will reappear as Moshiach in the future.

The Chabad rebbe never accomplished the tasks specified by the Rambam that Moshiach must accomplish, so the Chabad “Meshichistin” are forced to claim a “second coming” of the rebbe.

The Chabad Meshichist arguments are no different than the deceptive arguments of Xtian missionaries.

There is NO place in authentic Torah beliefs for a Moshiach who appears, begins his mission, then he dies and returns later to finish his mission.

Those interested in such a “Moshiach” should consult the NT.

The present situation tragically resembles the origins of another “messianic” religion that sprung up 2000 years ago.

CHABAD REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY:REBBE ALIVE

Chabad missionaries utilize similar techniques as Xtian missionaries by misinterpreting classical Jewish religious sources and replacing them with Chabad theology.A Chabad missionary in the video below tries to claim that the Chabad rebbe is physically alive based on the certain Torah sources that the righteous in thei

Chabad missionaries utilize similar techniques as Xtian missionaries by misinterpreting classical Jewish religious sources and replacing them with Chabad theology.

A Chabad missionary in the video below tries to claim that the Chabad rebbe is physically alive based on the certain Torah sources that “”the righteous in their deaths are CALLED alive””.

“Does going to the ohel (Tomb of the Chabad Rebbe) contradict believing that the Rebbe is physically alive?”

Going to the Ohel

However authentic Torah sources such as Berakhot 18a do NOT state that the righteous, after death, are PHYSICALLY alive, rather they are CALLED alive.
After their death, they are CALLED alive due to the “”righteous mighty deeds”” they performed while they were alive so that they merit a share in the World to Come.

“”…these are the righteous, who even in their death are called living.””

Berakhot 18a

See Radak here:
II Samuel 23:20

Radak on Samuel

When viewing Chabad videos and lectures, one must carefully determine:

Are the exact words in Torah sources being clearly cited, along with the location of the Torah source?

If the Torah sources are not being clearly cited, then one has to suspect that the sources may be misquoted.

What is Meenut

The Rambam wrote that a Torah observant Jew must affirm the famous 13 ikkarim (fundamental Torah principles) specified by the Rambam, otherwise that Jew is a transgressor and has excluded himself from the Jewish nation. . The Rambam’s third ikkar states that Hashem is not a body or a force in a body. . In Mishneh Torah

What is Meenut

The Rambam’s third ikkar states that Hashem is not a body or a force in a body.

In Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Teshuvah, Chapter Three, the Rambam lists various categories of sinners “that have no share in the World to Come but suffer excision and loss of identity, and are damned for ever and ever for their exceeding wickedness and sinfulness”.

One such category of sinner who has no share in the world to come is a min. A מִין (min) is a halachic term that refers to a person who maintains an atheist or idolatrous intellectual concept of God, even if that person doesn’t actually worship idols.

In Hilchot Teshuvah 3:7, the Rambam lists five types of minim:
“There are five categories of minim (1) he who says that there is no God and no Omnipotence; (2) he who says that there is an Omnipotence but that there are two or more such; (3) he who says that there is One Lord; but that He is corporeal and has a form; (4) Likewise one who says that He alone is not the First Cause and Creator of all; (5) likewise he who worships a star, or planet, or any other as a mediator between him and the Lord of the universe; every one of these five is a min.”

Idolatrous videos associating the deceased Chabad Rebbe with the atzmus (essence) of Hashem (l’havdil) are being posted on prominent, well developed Chabad sites.

“The Lubavitcher Rebbe Atzmus of HaShem – Chabad Chassidus 101 – Rabbi Simon Jacobson”
[Atzmus of Hashem[(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbV-YOpUfcY)

In this video, a certain “rabbi” I refer to as an “Apostle of Chabad” claims that: “…the Rebbe is beyond our comprehension, the Rebbe is Ein Sof…the Rebbe is Elokus…”
Should a Lubavitcher chassid read biographies written about the Rebbe

Ein Sof is a term used by Kabbalists to refer to Hashem. Elokus is a term that refers to the properties of Hashem. When certain radical Chabad rabbis claim that “the Rebbe is beyond our comprehension, the Rebbe is Ein Sof…the Rebbe is Elokus…”, this represents a complete break with Torah tradition and the establishment of a new, anti-Torah religion.

In my opinion these claims by “Apostles of Chabad” constitute “meenut”, i.e. a form of intellectual idolatry. A new religion resembling early Christianity is being promoted here that is utterly in conflict with authentic Judaism. Much as ancient renegade idolatrous Jews promoted early Christianity.

I am not claiming that all Chabadniks subscribe to the radical Christianized viewpoints in those videos. However, I am looking in vain for any prominent Chabad rabbis making videos that publicly object to the idolatrous videos.

Radical Chabad beliefs that likely constitute various forms of “meenut” have been observed both in some high ranking Chabad rabbis and also in the rank and file of Chabad.

Rabbi Cunin (a high ranking Chabad rabbi) seems to be equating the deceased Chabad Rebbe with Hashem (l’havdil):

“The Rebbe runs the world and will save us from exile”.
Rebbe Runs the World

We have a very serious problem now where ancient forms of idolatry are being reestablished in certain segments of “Orthodox” Judaism.

For some scholarly discussions on the subject of “meenut”, please see the site
Identifying Chabad

Twelfth Ikkar of the Rambam

The Twelfth Ikkar (fundamental Torah principle) of the Rambam’s Thirteen Ikkarim:. Principle XII. The era of the Messiah. And this is to believe that in truth that he will come and that you should be waiting for him even though he delays in coming. And you should not calculate times for him to come, or to look in the v

Twelfth Ikkar of the Rambam

The Twelfth Ikkar (fundamental Torah principle) of the Rambam’s Thirteen Ikkarim:

“Principle XII. The era of the Messiah
And this is to believe that in truth that he will come and that you should be waiting for him even though he delays in coming. And you should not calculate times for him to come, or to look in the verses of Tanach to see when he should come. The sages say: The wisdom of those who calculate times [of his coming] is small and that you should believe that he will be greater and more honored than all of the kings of Israel since the beginning of time as it is prophesied by all the prophets from Moses our teacher, peace be upon him, until Malachi, peace be upon him. And he who doubts or diminishes the greatness of the Messiah is a denier in all the Torah for it testifies to the Messiah explicitly in the portion of Bilam and the portion of “You are gathered (towards the end of Deut)”. And part of this principle that there is no king of Israel except from the house of David and from the seed of Solomon alone. And anyone who disputes this regarding this family is a denier of the name of God and in all the words of the prophets. “

The true Moshiach will be identified by everyone due to his status as a great living Jewish king. If a Jewish person is not such a living king, he cannot be Moshiach.

Recently I was involved in a debate with a Chabad Meshichist on Facebook who was trying to convince me that “Moshiach could be from the dead”.

It is essential that we not be deceived by deceptive arguments, such as “Moshiach could be from the dead”, that ignore what Moshiach’s status will be when he arrives.
Such arguments are being used by persons with agendas to convert Jews to false ideologies.

I believe it is important for non-Chabad Jews to understand the fundamental principles of Moshiach, so as not to be mislead by aggressive missionaries (Jewish or non-Jewish) who are promoting what are essentially different religions than Judaism.

False messiahs have caused enormous damage throughout Jewish history. The present era seems to be repeating events that occurred in the Jewish world about 2000 years ago.

The link below contains a summary of the scholarly Torah sefer “False Messiahs and their Opponents” that was published by senior rabbinic scholars in Israel.

“When the true Mashiach is revealed, there will be no possible doubt about his identity. The entire world will be forced to recognise him.”

Moreshes Ashkenaz