kabbalists

Kabbalists are Jewish mystics and scholars who study Kabbalah, a tradition within Judaism that seeks to explain the nature of God, creation, and the soul. Kabbalah emphasizes hidden aspects of divine reality and the framework of the sefirot, or divine emanations, through which the divine is thought to interact with the world.

The core texts associated with Kabbalah include the Zohar, a mystical commentary on the Torah published in the 13th century by Moses de León and traditionally attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai. Earlier and related works such as Sefer Yetzirah and the Bahir helped shape medieval Kabbalah. In the 16th century, Safed became a major center of Kabbalistic study under the Ari, Isaac Luria, whose teachings on tzimtzum (contraction), shevirat ha-keilim (shattering of vessels), and tikun olam (repair of the world) redefined the tradition and were transmitted by his disciple Chaim Vital. Earlier figures such as Moshe Cordovero and Abraham Abulafia also contributed, through systematic syntheses and meditative practices, respectively.

Practices among Kabbalists often involve meditation on divine names, Hebrew letters, and the sefirot, as well as symbolic interpretation of sacred texts and numerology. Some strands, historically described as practical Kabbalah, purportedly teach techniques intended to affect the spiritual realm; these practices have sometimes been controversial or restricted within traditional communities.

In modern times, Kabbalah has continued to influence many Jewish movements and has attracted wider popular interest, with various institutes and study centers offering instruction. It remains a subject of scholarly study in Jewish thought, theology, and history, reflecting a long tradition of seeking to understand the hidden dimensions of faith.