I realize this is an old topic, but I’d like to add some insights from the wife of a real mekubal, haRav Yehudah Alfasi, shlita. First, “Sammygol” is correct – one absolutely MUST check their credentials. The trouble is-who would recognize good ones? And in truth – nearly ALL “mekubalim” are fakes. My husband learned for over 10 yrs at Rav Kaduri’s kollel, was rosh kollel there and under Rav Dangour (of rav Mordechai sharabi, zl), has Rabbinical endorsements from Rav Ovadia, Rav Eliyahu and others and he does NOT work magic, wear ethnic garb, ask for money, or pretend to see one’s future. If one claims ruach haKodesh (as he says, ruach hacottage, as in cheese) they’re posturing for clout. The kameot that Rav Kaduri wrote worked for one reason only – the bracha that went with it. Why? Because “Real” mekubalim take years to learn the Kavanot of Rashash. It’s difficult, discouraging, and rare for one to finish the learning. One person mentioned a sick person who died, the trouble really is peoples naive perception that mekubalim are Hashem. See more, please, educate yourselves by seeing our website We do NOT teach anyone not qualified to learn, in person, with strong Torah background already. Mekubalim who are self-taught don’t realize, but they run the risk of drawing from the sitra atra, and so do you if you go to them. Yes, beware. Ruth Alfasi.
