Kabbalah & Mysticism Quiz

Jewish mystical teachings about the nature of God and reality have had a profound impact on the development of Judaism. How much do you know about this area of Jewish contemplation and spirituality?

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Question 1. Who was the first rebbe of Lubavitch and the author of the Tanya?
 Menachem Mendel Schneerson
 Israel Baal Shem Tov
 Shneur Zalman of Liadi
 Moses Mendelssohn

 

Question 2. Which of these is NOT a work of Jewish mysticism?
 Heikhalot literature
 Zohar
 Midrash Tehillim
 Sefer Yetzirah

 

Question 3. According to Luria and his followers, what does tikkun olam represent?
 The idea that following mitzvot, no matter how seemingly trivial, takes on a cosmic definition
 Repairing the world by doing good deeds for non-Jews
 Visualizing every part of the body as a separate vessel of God
 Combining the ideas of involuntary commandment and voluntary service

 

Question 4. Abraham Abulafia, a 13th-century mystic, was a devoted follower of
 Maimonides
 The Emperor Constantine
 The prophet Samuel
 David Ben Gurion

 

Question 5. The poem Yedid Nefesh was written by
 The Arizal
 Eleazar Azikri
 Rashi
 Isaac Luria

 

Question 6. From the 13th to the 15th century, where was the world center of kabbalistic teachings?
 Jerusalem
 Safed
 Spain
 Small villages throughout Eastern Europe

 

Question 7. What is significant about Safed, the northern Israeli city?
 In medieval times, many spectral lights were seen in the sky over Safed
 The water surrounding Safed was seen as mystically enriching
 The city contained dirt carried from Mount Sinai, where the Torah was received
 After the Jews were exiled from Spain, many Jewish mystics settled there

 

Question 8. According to kabbalistic thought, the Holy Sparks are
 the spiritual illuminations inherent in all things
 the 36 righteous people in the world
 the letters of the Torah as seen after fasting for a week
 the inspiration for holiness one finds in misery

 

Question 9. Which of the following famous rabbinic commentators joined a group of mystics in Safed?
 Moses Maimonides
 Isaac Abravanel
 Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno
 Joseph Caro

 

Question 10. Which of the following kabbalistic thinkers attempted to attain prophecy?
 Isaac Luria
 Abraham Joshua Heschel
 Abraham Abulafia
 All of these
 None of these

 

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