Mainstream Mysticism
In Kabbalah, women find a way to make spirituality integral to their daily lives. By Jacqueline Egosi Tradition discourages the study of the Kabbalah, Judaism's mystical writings unless one is male, married, at least 35 and well-versed in Torah. But as anyone who reads People magazine—or pays attention to bulletin board fliers at the health food store—no doubt has noticed, that proscription is going unheeded. Kabbalah is suddenly everywhere. Madonna proselytizes for it. Britney Spears appears on a cover of Entertainment Weekly wearing one of the red string bracelets distributed by the Kabbalah Centre to keep away the evil eye. It's being taught at workshops at yoga centers and is the focus of New Age summer retreats. Traditional religious authorities look askance at many of these secular activities, contending that they're closer to pop psychology than authentic Kabbalah, which requires a thorough knowledge of Hebrew and Torah to understand its nuances. But that hasn't ...