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BS”D: That last comment about the name and not getting to the chuppah brings up an interesting issue – often times, when we say something, we bring it about because there are entities who whisper an amen to proclamations we say, even in passing which is why we should never say things in jest. That comment that the kabbalist said, might not have been generally true for the name he was referring to, but MADE it so, by saying it. It’s like tzaras – the declaration of tahor or tameh made it so.
Secondly, in response to AviK – we’re in Tzfat and Rav Shmuel Eliyahu is a halachic expert and what people fail to realize is so so so so SO often their questions are halachic, and they don’t NEED a mekubal. We had someone recently come to us basically expecting magic hands to be waived and proof of Ruach haKodesh. Their question – our neighbors’ kids are beating up our kids, another neighbor beat up the husband in their Sukkah, police reports have been taken, and we’re “getting an ayin hara” should we move? One “mekubal” claimed, “No, it’s not the time” with a fancy mystical gesture as he were SEEING something beyond reason. We told the couple, “Listen, if you were living in the states, and not here in Tzfat and you had all these troubles, if the financials could be worked out, would you move?” “Well, yeah, but…” So move! The were NOT impressed with the basic pshat answer. It’s nonsense and irresponsible for any rav, mekubal or otherwise, to feed their notions that doing the opposite of commonsense somehow brings you blessing and is surely mekubal-y.
As for “mekubalim” who make big claims and take big sums – don’t forget the obvious – gigantic sums of tzedaka can sweeten harsh judgements, but that doesn’t have anything to do with Kabbalah or a mekubal’s ability to draw from kedusha. Lots of people come to us mamash demanding rav Yehudah do for them what some other “mekubal” had once done – meet, see their “orot” or klipot and “read their neshamah,” wave hands, pronounce things, oooh-laaaa-laaaah! Rav Yehudah won’t meet seeing they’re really looking for a magic show and avodah zarah. I wish more people would read about this. Kol tuv.
BS”D: Shein, you asked how does one become a Mekubal – I’ll try to answer in brief, but I’m not a “Mekubalet” just married to the Mekubal. Sam, above, says correctly if I understand the Rav, my husband – practical Kabbalah is dangerous and shouldn’t be performed. A mekubal is one who “received” from one who “received” which means one must be in the right place and have the abilities to master the learning. What is received is “kosher” and includes lots of memorization, believe it or not. It’s strict, rigid learning, not interpretation and requires one to be able to be l’vatel to their rav. This type of learning is difficult, especially in this age of everyone wanting to interpret My husband, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat haMekubalim Kol Yehudah v’Eliyahu, is one such rav, not because he says so, but because his ravs put him in the position of Rosh Kollel, and they’re qualified because they’re in the traditional line of mekubalim. So to learn one must be in the right Yeshivah, have a Torah foundation, etc. and the ABILITY to sit and learn, memorize the tradition from the Arizal, Eitz Chayim, etc. and possess absolute perseverence (and a wife who’ll put up with it all). That’s rare. And since it’s rare, Hashem receives their brachot. It isn’t really magic at all.
I realize this is an old topic, but I’d like to add some insights from the wife of a real mekubal, haRav Yehudah Alfasi, shlita. First, “Sammygol” is correct – one absolutely MUST check their credentials. The trouble is-who would recognize good ones? And in truth – nearly ALL “mekubalim” are fakes. My husband learned for over 10 yrs at Rav Kaduri’s kollel, was rosh kollel there and under Rav Dangour (of rav Mordechai sharabi, zl), has Rabbinical endorsements from Rav Ovadia, Rav Eliyahu and others and he does NOT work magic, wear ethnic garb, ask for money, or pretend to see one’s future. If one claims ruach haKodesh (as he says, ruach hacottage, as in cheese) they’re posturing for clout. The kameot that Rav Kaduri wrote worked for one reason only – the bracha that went with it. Why? Because “Real” mekubalim take years to learn the Kavanot of Rashash. It’s difficult, discouraging, and rare for one to finish the learning. One person mentioned a sick person who died, the trouble really is peoples naive perception that mekubalim are Hashem. See more, please, educate yourselves by seeing our website We do NOT teach anyone not qualified to learn, in person, with strong Torah background already. Mekubalim who are self-taught don’t realize, but they run the risk of drawing from the sitra atra, and so do you if you go to them. Yes, beware. Ruth Alfasi.