Also Kabbalah, Cabalah, Cabbalah, Qabala, Qabalah.

From the Hebrew, meaning received doctrine. The Kabalah is a mystical (traditionally 'secret') system.

As with the Talmud (a compilation of Jewish Laws and commentary), Kabalistic teachings were transmitted orally as it was thought that only an oral instruction could adequately present such complicated ideas. As with the Talmud, in time it became apparent that this vast knowledge might be lost if it were not written down. Therefore, the Kabalah is now available as rabbinic writings developed between the 7th and 18th centuries. A large portions of the Kabalah are esoteric interpretations of the Torah and Tanach, the Jewish Scriptures.

The Kabalah is said to be the secret knowledge of the unwritten Torah that leads the way to the throne of God Almighty. This throne was described by the prophet Ezekiel in Scripture.

Today, Kabalah is studied by non-Jews who accept the divinity of the Torah, and is known as Hermetic Kabalah.