Mirach

- the home of the practical kabbalist

The Basics - Part 7

Morals and Ethics

07.01 Kabbalah is the mystical system of the Jewish faith. It has developed within the framework of that religion and is, to some extent, only understandable when viewed from a Jewish standpoint.

07.02 The close relationship between the mystical system and its attendant religious environment imposes a moral and ethical dimension on the Kabbalist. Until recent times it was inconceivable for a Kabbalist to be anything other than a Jew.

07.03 Now that knowledge of the Kabbalah is available to all the earlier assumption that a Kabbalist is also a Jew no longer holds. Similarly it can no longer be assumed that a Kabbalist operates within any religious, moral or ethical framework.

07.04 The very survival of the Kabbalah over the centuries shows that it is a system based on fact – it works.

07.05 A true understanding of the Kabbalah confers a degree of power on the Kabbalist, but how should that power be used – or, more importantly, how should it not be used?

07.06 As stated above, the original Kabbalists were consciously or subconsciously bound by the moral and ethical teachings of Judaism (though there have been exceptions). All their actions were moderated by the 613 precepts (or commandments) contained in the Torah.

07.07 This is not now the case. A Kabbalist can just as easily be a Jew, Christian, Moslem or atheist. Indeed it is often those with no religious affiliation that are drawn to the Kabbalah.

07.08 A Kabbalist operating outside of a religious and/or moral and ethical framework is like a person who knows how to drive a car but does not know on which side of the road to drive, does not know the meaning of road signs, and has no understanding of the need for speed limits. They are a danger to themselves and others.

07.09 Fortunately Judaism – the very source of the Kabbalah – provides the non-Jew with the necessary framework within which to operate.

07.10 Rabbinical sources tell of Universal Laws that were given to Adam to guide the actions of all humanity. With the advent of Judaism proper at the time of Moses these laws were not superseded. Instead they became applicable only to non-Jews (the Jews themselves taking on the full responsibility for the Torah precepts).

07.11 There are seven Universal – or Noachide – Laws as against the 613 precepts that apply to Jews. But this does not mean that the non-Jew has an easier time complying with them. Where the Jewish precepts are very specific the Noachide Laws are general and far reaching in their scope. The Jew is told to do or not do specific things in specific circumstances. The Noachide is warned only of general modes of behaviour.

07.12 The seven Noachide Laws are:

1. The Noachide shall not commit idolatry

The Jewish faith is the foundation of and predates all the monotheistic faiths that exist today. The Kabbalah is based on the tenet that there is only one God. The God names associated with the various sephiroth only describe particular aspects of that one God. If a person regards the deity names of the sephiroth as being gods in their own right then that person is guilty of idolatry. Similarly, a person who ascribes deific powers to stars and planets is also comitting idolatry.

2. The Noachide shall not commit blasphemy

To take the name of God in vain is considered tantamount to attempting to murder God. As God does not have a body it impossible for a person to harm God in any way other than through words and thoughts.

3. The Noachide shall not murder another human being

It is deemed wrong to unlawfully kill another human being. This has profound implications for such acts as abortion and euthanasia.

4. The Noachide shall not indulge in improper sexual relations

The Noahide Laws prohibit sexual relations with close relatives, with people of the same sex and with animals. Adultery is also prohibited.

5. The Noachide shall not steal

This is a far reaching prohibition. Apart from obvious acts of depriving another of that which is rightfully theirs it also covers any act which lessens a person's worth. This could include slandering or otherwise reducing a person's status in the eyes of others.

6. The Noachide shall not eat the limb of a living animal

This Law is taken to mean that the Noachide should not maltreat any animal. It should be noted that it does NOT, on its own, advocate vegetarianism.

7. The Noachide shall establish courts of law

This is now taken to mean that the Noachide should strive to ensure that social justice is pursued, both by the individual and by the state.

07.13 From the Jewish, and hence the Kabbalistic, stand point mankind holds a unique position in the scheme of creation. The Biblical account of creation shows that mankind was created last, after all other forms of life. This has been taken to indicate that it is for mankind to choose its own position in relation to the rest of creation.

07.14 If mankind follows the laws laid down it can achieve its natural state of supremacy over the natural world. If not, then mankind will regarded as being lower than other forms of creation.

07.15 As the Noachide Laws were given by the Creator they necessarily are in harmony with creation itself. A person who elects to follow these laws is aligning his or her self with the very forces of creation and is thus helping in the process of restoring the Universe to that state which existed before the degeneration of mankind began (with the fall of Adam and Eve, according to the Bible).

07.16 The person who wilfully ignores or, even worse, actively contravenes the Noachide code increases the level of disorder in the Universe.

07.17 Consideration of these Laws will reveal deeper and deeper meanings. They are many layered and multi-faceted.

It is for YOU to decide which path to take.