To n0mesorah
Yankel Berel is absolutely right, but he wasn’t able to pass through your fine sifter. I’ll present his views in a way that even you won’t be able to challenge them. I heard Rav Reuvein Feinstein speak about 30 years ago and he said the following, “Judaism is very simple. You need to believe in Hashem and learn the basic laws. There’s nothing to it.” So you buy Kosher Tefilin and Mezuzos. Wear Tzitis. Find reliable places to buy Kosher food. Attend shiurim and go to a good Shul(s). That’s what Hashem wants from us. In no way are we enjoined to delve into the esoteric. In fact, in Parshas Nitzavim we’re clearly told that our realm is Nigleh. And after Shabbetai Tzvi, safeguards were instituted to keep the masses from studying such materials, but Chabad ignored all this and decided to go against the norm. It is now reaping what it sowed in violating the edict of our Rabbonim. As for your statement that there was great knowledge of Sisrei Torah thousands of years ago. You’re absolutely right, but we learn from the incident of the Merkavah that even the greatest Tannaim couldn’t handle such mysterious subjects. It was only Rabbi Akiva who was sufficiently grounded in Nigleh who could thrive in both worlds. And the same is true for Rashbi. Yes, we call him the father of Kabbalah, but he’s also found throughout Shas dealing in the most mundane subjects. Rabbi Butman declared on numerous occasions that when Moshiach comes Nigleh will be replaced b y Nister. That’s blatant Kefirah. They will, however, coexist because people will be on a Madreigah which allows them to delve into both realms.