6. Kabbalah, Messianism, and Spinoza The very word Kabbalah denotes a revelation — something "received." Mysticism certainly hadn't held a high place in Jewish culture during earlier periods. The Torah after all has a sternly rationalistic spirit -- being the possession of all Jews! Kabbalah was revealed only to a small number of 'saints' (kedoshim), who transmitted it to their disciples. But Kabbalah had an important role in the formation of spiritual culture -- beyond history & reason. Let's explore this amazing world of the Jewish mystics, and various responses to it, including the great Jewish philosopher, Baruch Spinoza...