Introduction

Kabbalah proper, or mediaeval Jewish mysticism, is a set of systems of theosophy and cosmology. Two terse mystical books appeared in Western Europe, the first, Sefer Yezirah, perhaps between the third and sixth centuries, and the second, Sefer ha-Bahir, during the twelfth century. In Kabbalah, the Godhead is conceived as far more abstract as it is in normative Judaism, unapproachable and, in fact, inconceivable. The Kabbalah established the possibility of intimate knowledge of, if not actual intimacy with, the Divine. It is this pursuit of intimacy that distinguishes Kabbalah from the antecedent non-mystical mythology of Talmud and Midrash. Kabbalah is concerned with sexuality for two reasons. In the first place, sexuality is the path that leads directly to procreation—that is, the possibility of birth and rebirth. Secondly, sexuality, like mysticism, is powerfully directed towards union and reunion. Kabbalah does not simply attempt to prevent competition between sexuality and commitment to worthy behaviour.