... rabbinical origin, liberally based off obscure interpretations of the Jewish scriptures. These teachings embody meditative, devotional, mystical and magical practices usually only taught to an elite. The meaning of the word itself is unclear, though the two most common translations are "tradition" and "Receiving", both of which refer to the understanding of the Kabbalah being passed down through oral tradition for ... nearly a thousand years before it was formally documented and a strict codification set down to define its belief structure and rituals. The origins of the Kabbalah are ho...

• Word Count: 708
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... over I need a help." Pulse racing, he is reminded of all the horrible things he has overheard on the streets about Jews like the Rabbi standing across the road. "Please." The word is colored with the tone of genuine distress, and he tentatively steps forward to help the man. After completing the minor task of switching the light on, a task forbidden to ... Hirsch in English and become a shabbos goy in exchange for tutelage in Yiddish and Hebrew. Over time the two form a bond, and confide in one another; the Rabbi shares his origins and stories of Hebrew struggles in Old World Prague, an...

• Word Count: 742
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School