Adaptation of Kabbalistic Texts
Question: Often when we prepare material for dissemination, we try to include either your text or that of Baal HaSulam or Rabash in it. Does this actually work?
Answer: I do not think this is always justified because anyone who studies Kabbalah may be beyond all the original texts. After all, they are complex, intricate, and intended for a certain level. I would not do it.
Perhaps by including quotes, people are trying to shield themselves by saying, “Well, that is how it is written,” or they assume that what moves them will also move the consumer who is not familiar with Kabbalah. I doubt it.
I would not say I find it necessary. On the contrary, in all my early books, I rewrote everything into modern, somewhat scientific language to steer the reader away from thinking about Kabbalah and instead to allow them to feel or understand the information directly on the platform they are used to perceiving it.
I do not think it is necessary to introduce them to archaisms or other Kabbalistic “isms.” Why? The text should be presented in a way that makes it easier for a person to understand. As it is said: “Teach a child according to his way.”
Comment: But you did slightly modify Shamati, for example. That is, you wrote a book based on it.
My Response: In Hebrew, I did not modify Shamati at all. I only added punctuation marks, as they were quite chaotic. But in Russian, I made it a bit more fluid because otherwise the reader would not be able to absorb it; it would be a hindrance for them.
Comment: But in Russian, you wrote Attaining the Worlds Beyond, in which you included some elements from Shamati and presented them in a very pleasant, not dry form.
My Response: That is how it turned out because I processed it through myself. First, it is a translation, and second, a retelling. So I allowed myself that freedom. Moreover, Attaining the Worlds Beyond is not just from Shamati, it is from everything. It wrote this book in just ten days. It just poured out of me.
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From KabTV’s “I Got A Call. Kabbalistic Texts” 6/18/10
Related Material:
An Accessible Explanation Is a Profession
Adapting The Writings For The People
Passing On The Materials Of Our Teachers To The Masses




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