Rav P. S. Berg, dean and cofounder of the Kabbalah Centre, states that Kabbalah is a body of spiritual wisdom and teachings that transcends identification to any specific religion, nation, or ethnicity. He believes it belongs to anyone who has a sincere desire to learn, grow, and become a co-creator with God. Berg goes on to describe the Zohar, the central text of Kabbalah as a commentary on the Bible, a map of the spiritual landscape of the universe, and a set of practical instructions and tools for "attaining the transformation that is the true purpose of our lives."
Commenting on Adam's fall, the feminine aspect of the Creator, Noah, the story of Jacob and Rachel, David's struggles, and much more; Berg delineates substantive Kabbalistic interpretations of sin, God in the world, desire, soulmates, and testing. The book is brimming over with fresh insights into Kabbalistic wisdom. Check out Berg's interpretation of the fear of God as a source of strength, the importance of the "as above, so below" dynamic in life, the encounter with every stranger as a possible catalytic moment for transformation, the ideal of judging all persons favorably, repentance as one of the most rewarding activities of the human heart, and midnight as the best time for study and prayer.
At the core of the Zohar is the spiritual ideal of transformation. Berg writes: "Each of us came into this world to achieve specific spiritual goals that will culminate in our achieving oneness with God. In this endeavor, there is no such thing as failure. Our transformation is ordained and assured by the Creator. How long it takes depends entirely on us." This cogent and inspired overview of the essential Zohar is one of the best interpretations of Kabbalah available.
