Kabbalah Centre
Non-profit organization | |
Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, United States |
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Website | www |
The Kabbalah Centre International is a non-profit organization
History
The Kabbalah Centre was founded in the United States in July 1965 initially as a publishing house called "The National Institute for the Research in Kabbalah" by
The Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles was opened in 1984. After the death of Berg, Karen and Michael Berg acted as directors and spiritual teachers of the organization. They, like Philip Berg, have been excommunicated for heresy. The organization is a registered non-profit[1] with over fifty branches worldwide, including major ones in Los Angeles, New York City, London and Toronto.
Teachings
Approach
The Kabbalah Centre's approach to teaching is to start students with teachings of Kabbalah that do not require knowledge of
Relation to religion
According to its views, all widely held spiritual or religious belief systems are merely specific branches of universal wisdom. The effect of this is a resemblance of religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism, as well as new-age teachings, to Kabbalah. In accordance with this belief, the Kabbalah Centre does not present itself as an alternative to any religion in particular, but rather, as a supplement to it.
The Bible
Some biblical passages, such as the
The Light
One should primarily be concerned with their relationship with the essence of God, rather than God itself, as it is beyond comprehension. The essence of God is referred to in its teachings as Light.[9]
99%
The five senses supposedly provide access to a mere 1% of reality, which is the byproduct of a 99% reality that cannot be accessed by the senses.[10]
Klippot
Kabbalah Centre teaches the Kabbalistic concept of
Astrology
The Kabbalah Centre has a strong belief in astrology[12] and asserts that astrology has always been part of Judaism. Astrology was studied by Jewish scholars throughout the Middle Ages, though it was opposed by more philosophically inclined thinkers such as Maimonides.[citation needed]
There is a strong belief in the Kabbalah tradition that cosmic forces affect everything, and knowing how to understand them can prove to be valuable to the aspiring Kabbalist. Berg, the founder of the Kabbalah Centre, wrote numerous books on astrology during his career.[13]
Sex
In a book written by
Celebrity followers
Celebrity followers include Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Demi Moore, James Van Der Beek, Marla Maples, Madonna, Ariana Grande, Frankie Grande, and more, according to social media, etc.[17]
Celebrities that have been associated with the Centre include Britney Spears, Diane Keaton, Roseanne Barr, Sandra Bernhard, Anthony Kiedis, Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, Lucy Liu, Alex Rodriguez, Rosie O'Donnell, Naomi Campbell, Donna Karan, Elizabeth Taylor, Paris Hilton,[18] Nicole Richie, Kyle Richards,[19] Heather McComb and Lindsay Lohan.[20]
Controversy and criticism
Beginning in 2011 the centre was put under investigation by the IRS and FBI for financial malfeasance, following the abandonment of the Raising Malawi school project with millions of donors' dollars unaccounted for.[21] In 2012, a Kabbalah Centre charity, Spirituality for Kids, accepted a $600,000 donation from an 87-year-old woman who some claim had dementia.[22] In November 2013, two lawsuits were filed by former donors alleging that their gifts were misused.[23]
Other media criticisms have alleged that The Kabbalah Centre is an "opportunistic offshoot of the faith, with charismatic leaders who try to attract the rich and the vulnerable with the promise of health, wealth, and happiness."[24]
According to a
In November 2015, the centre was ordered to pay $42,500 damages to one of its former students after it was found to have been negligent in the supervision of one of its co-directors, Yehuda Berg, who had caused emotional distress to the student.[25]
Philanthropy
The Kabbalah Centre donates to non-profit organizations and engages in volunteer work through its Charitable Causes initiative. Charitable Causes has worked with or donated to
Locations
The Americas
United States |
Asia and the Middle EastEurope
|
References
- ^ a b worldwide "Internal Revenue Service details". United States Department of Treasury. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ What's Behind Hollywood's Fascination with Kabbalah?. ABC News. June 17, 2005. Retrieved 2006-10-31.
- ^ "FAQ". The Kabbalah Centre. Archived from the original on 2006-11-01. Retrieved 2006-10-31.
- ISBN 978-0-275-98940-8.
- ^ Eshman, Rob (December 6, 2007). "Maybe It's Not So Weird, After All". Jewish Journal. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
- ^ "What is the Zohar? | zohar.com". www.zohar.com. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- ^ Berg, Philip (October 22, 2014). "Prayer". The Kabbalah Centre. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
- ISBN 978-1571896063
- ^ The Kabbalah Centre and Contemporary Spirituality Wiley InterScience Journal
- ^ Michaelson, Jay (September 03, 2004) "What the Kabbalah Centre Actually Teaches" The Jewish Daily Forward
- ^ ISBN 1-57189-544-2.
- ^ Merkin, Daphne (April 13, 2008). "In Search of the Skeptical, Hopeful, Mystical Jew That Could Be Me". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Fox, Margalit (September 20, 2013). "Rabbi Philip Berg, Who Updated Jewish Mysticism, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ a b "Madonna Gives Her Money Away". Fox News. 2006-07-12.
- ^ Barnes, Anthony (July 9, 2006). "Kabbalah: is Madonna losing her religion?". The Independent. London. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ Luscombe, Belinda (2006-08-06). "Madonna Finds A Cause". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on August 19, 2006. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
- ^ Social Media
- ^ Camilli, Doug. (November 29, 2003) "Paris Hilton dabbles in mysticism", Montreal Gazette
- The Jewish Daily Forward, November 19, 2012
- ^ Turner, Devarrick (November 17, 2015). "15 Celebrities You Forgot Practiced Kabbalah". Rant Hollywood. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Barrett, Wayne, "Madonna's Malawi Disaster"m Newsweek, The Daily Beast, April 3, 2011.
- ^ Rick Cohen,"Kabbalah Center Accepted $600,000 Donation From Woman With Dementia", Nonprofit Quarterly, April 11, 2012.
- ^ Kim Christensen, "Kabbalah Centre accused of misusing more than $1 million in donations", Los Angeles Times, December 3, 2013.
- ^ a b c Sweeney, John (January 9, 2005). "Kabbalah leader's Holocaust slur". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-10-31.
- ^ Aron, Hillel (25 November 2015). "KABBALAH CENTRE AND ITS FORMER RABBI TO THE STARS TO PAY $177,500 IN SEXUAL BATTERY SUIT". LA Weekly. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "The Kabbalah Centre Pledges Volunteer Hours and Funds to Help Build Homes in Downey With Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles". Habitat for Humanity. December 12, 2016.
- ^ "PIH Revised Annual Report". December 20, 2015. p. 31.
- ^ "Kabbalah Centre Announces Superstorm Sandy Response Plan". PrNewswire. November 19, 2012.
- ^ "Kabbalah Week". Sunrise Day Camp. November 18, 2015: 7.
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Further reading
- Salkin, Jeffrey K. (2003) [2000]. "New Age Judaism". In ISBN 1-57718-058-5.