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Welcome to the Judaism community on Codidact!

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Meta What should our policy be on Kabbalistic discussions?

We do not expound...upon Creation in a group of two, nor upon the 'Matter of the Divine Chariot' even to an individual, unless he is wise and can intuit on his own. Whoever delves into four topics...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by DonielF‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Monica Cellio‭

Question discussion policy
#1: Initial revision by user avatar DonielF‭ · 2020-07-29T18:54:55Z (over 4 years ago)
What should our policy be on Kabbalistic discussions?
>We do not expound...upon Creation in a group of two, nor upon the 'Matter of the Divine Chariot' even to an individual, unless he is wise and can intuit on his own. Whoever delves into four topics, it is fitting for him if he was never born: that which is Above [i.e. the upper levels of the Heavens], that which is Below [i.e. the lower levels of the Heavens], that which is before [i.e. before Creation], and that which is after [i.e. after the world expires]" (Chagigah 11b.6-7 with Rashi and Tosfos ad. loc.).

With this in mind: Where do we draw the line for how esoteric of a question we should allow? For instance, should questions regarding the Tanya or Zohar be allowed, but questions about Sefer Yetzirah be considered too esoteric? 

(Cf. [this Chabad article](https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3198724/jewish/Is-Kabbalah-for-Everyone.htm), which cites various opinions regarding what is considered *too* esoteric, if there even is such a limit.)