by Michael Deqel

Created on: April 17, 2008   Last Updated: May 05, 2008

There are several problems with the assertion that Abraham studied Kabbalah. First, the materials grouped together under the heading Kabbalah are part of the Oral Torah, by tradition. This is learning that was handed down at Mount Sinai orally, in combination with the Written Torah which came with the Covenant of Ark. Moses received these instructions on Mount Sinai, and he comes along several generations after Abraham. Moses, by tradition, passed on the Written Torah to Am Yisrael (the People of Israel) as they entered into Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel).

At that time, Moses did two incredible things. He lined people up on two sets of hills. The Tribes of Israel entered on a path through the middle of the hills. The people on one side of the path hollered blessings, the people on the other side of the path hollered curses. Moses told Am Yisrael that it would be for them to choose, the blessing or the curse. This is an important instruction, acted out physically in space.

The other incredible thing was just before they went through the path of choosing blessings or curses. Moses said this to Am Yisrael, that he was giving them a good doctrine:

It is not in the heavens, that you should say, "Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?" Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?" No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.
Deuteronomy 30:12-14

This Doctrine, by tradition, represents both the Written and Oral Torah.

Notice that in both cases, Moses emphasizes the inherent knowledge of humanity and the freedom of humanity to choose. It is not up to leaders, professors, academics, priests, rabbis, or others to determine either what is true or what path to take. The People Israel know the Doctrine, in their mouth and in their hearts. The People Israel choose between blessing and curse. It is useful to know here that Israel means "wrestles with G-d." So, the People who Wrestle with G-d know and choose.

Did Abraham study Kabbalah? How could he have if Kabbalah is part of what G-d revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai? One argument holds that Torah (Oral and Written) was revealed in two directionsthat it already existed always, so was revealed to the past and the future from the present. Even so, did Abraham study it?

I would argue that Abraham knew Torah, that

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