Worlds Opening and Unfolding: An Introduction to Lurianic Kabbalah

Class 1: Why study Kabbalah - In this class, we start to discuss the reasons for studying Kabbalah, how different schools of Jewish mysticism approach the abstract texts of Isaac Luria, and how the question "Why study Kabbalah," is ultimately bound up with the reason G-d created the world.
Click here to listen to the class (or right-click to download). The quality of the recording improves about midway through.
Click here for the primary source handouts used in class. There are notes and links in the margins to enrich one's understanding of the texts.