No, Jason, Kabalah is not a cult. Only people who have never examined it would think so. Nor is it "loosly[sic] based on Jewish myths." Only people who have never examined it would think so. However, when something is not well explained or understood, there is, unfortunately, room for individuals and groups to present a superficial version of the teaching and abuse those who follow them. The same is true for all spiritual systems, scientific teachings, and political leanings.

what is the stautus of the Rabbi?

That was one of the most elitist racist staements I've ever heard. I suppose unless you're born in the US and speak it all your life you can't learn english?

Wow. So much anger coming out of this. Bigots, antisemites, etc. I always feel that understanding can clear up anything. The Kabbalah Center is loosely taking a very serious aspect of Judaism and turning it into a new age feel-good cult phenomenon. It was started here in the States and they have opened up centers elsewhere. It is NOT an Israeli entity. It's like saying a Starbucks in Tel Aviv is Israeli, when it is an offshoot of an American company. If people willingly and foolishly go into these centers, and become better because of some faux spirituality, more power to them. But it really is nothing more than another type of Scientology. Now REAL Kabbalah is a part of Judaism that is only supposed to be studied by very religious people who are well versed in Torah and Talmud, and can understand Hebrew. A lot of Jewish commentary and mysticism is based in decoding the actual Hebrew language, and it simply does not translate into any other language, including English or Arabic, due to the unique way in which Hebrew is formed. Because the religous Jews consider ancient Hebrew to be a holy language, Kabbalah is not supposed to be studied in any other way. Hope this clears up any misconceptions.

no one put a gun to their head and forced them to pay the $$. is this a scam? yes, is it illegal, nope..

Kabbalah is never for sale and those who claim to teach it to non-Torah scholars are misleading themselves and others and can be assumed to only: really want the "checkie'...Torah is available to all who want to study it; Kabbalah is like graduate school, not kindergarten

Based on her lifestyle to date, Madonna is a veritable human petrie dish of communicable diseases. People using her as a compass for the decisions they makes in life are sorely misguided. Her hypocrisy now after decades of encouraging immoral behavior, boders on criminal. And as for any "leader" of any "faith" asking for money, beware the priority of their motives!

Zahra? Are you REALLY an idiot? Cons happen in all countries and all languages. Refer to NY's female senator for specific details. Geesh....grow up, lady!

She said ARAMAIC, not Arabic. I may not agree with her, but you look pretty silly in your response.

Anybody who "buys" Kaballah is being foolish. One can not buy or sell kaballah any more than one could buy or sell the dimensions of the universe, as nobody except G-d knows what the endless possibilities are! Anybody can be a student of the Kabbalah, there are no Masters of Kabbalah worthy to teach it except ONE!

I am ahamed of the kaballah center's naked money lust. At first, before madonna, it was a great resource, but now it seems corrupt and empty, like the churches and synagogues that we fled before we started to re-connect with judaica. Jewish greed and hatred and envy are diseases that kill jews. So is self righteous dogmatic thinking. Kaballah is not the kaballah centers.

Another religious leader scamming someone for money ? No way ! I heard nothing but good things about Kabbalah - look at our celebrities here who follow these idiots and run around with their little red bracelets on. Anything Madonna, Ashton Kuchtner and the rest of Hollywood's so called elite embrace and try to shove down our throats- I steer clear. They have so much money they ought to make the center write the poor woman's family a check for a few million for her family"s pain and suffering. That leader is going straight to hell on a rocket when his time on earth is done.

Quit your whining, this woman lost her life and savings to these swine, while she might have extended her life through more mainstream means had she been able to keep HER money. And enough with the standard "anti-semitic" rhetoric. For Godssake, jews are not semitic people, learn, read and educate your pitiful selves.

Ultimately, we must learn that we all fall short of perfection except the almighty creator. Religion is a tool to bring us closer to the creator and to each other in love. Question any facet of religion that does not seek to accomplish this goal.

I'm shocked! A religous group profitting off the members of it's community...NEVER! (haha...) People need something to believe in, this has been true since the start of time. Unfortunately for some, belief is not all mental and from the heart. Handing someone money and making physical/material possesions represent your belief and devotion gives the weak at heart a visible piece of hope. Its hard to say if you can blame a con artist like Yudkevitch for pulling a scam such as this; it's in his nature. Kabbalah???? people, please use your heads with this one. Is this religion "cool" because its new? Is that how we as 21st century man form our religous beliefs now? Just look for what's "hot"? I guess I'm just a nerdy, dorky, not-so-cool kinda guy clutching onto his bible like an abbot and costello classic....

Why is the Kabbalah Center the focus of this hatred and unjustified "witchhunt", I can show you dozens of "Rabbis" and Tzeddakim that will give you a "blessing" for a donation, why the double standard here?

Since when do those in Judiasm use holy water? 'Scuse me if I'm just ignorant, but sounds like they were throwing in some Catholism in there!

I'm sure that no one has ever been able to read and write Hebrew and Aramaic thoroughly since birth. It is impossible even if one is Jewish.

First a "Madonna", now Holy water....I guess a Pope will come along next.

It's not holy water!, it's blessed drinking water, and for your information Cheryl, there is mentions of it in the Torah, the Zohar, and other kabbalistic writings. Please, study a little bit and inform yourself before throwing garbage at others.

Giving money to get healthy is not a kabbalah centre idea, it's written in the zohar on portion Behar, chapter 9. Tzedaka tatzil mimavet (charity saves from death).

You are bigger suckers than we tought you were! God Bless AMERICA, you mudfoot! HA!

Dave, Cheryl was quoting the article. Maybe you should read more carefully next time.

Listen you pathetic Jews, Muslims, Christians… as long as there are idiots like you out there... there's profit to be made and centers like this will flourish because you are supporting them!! Believe in God/ Higher Being and leave the rituals behind… can't you see it is our belief in these religious rituals that’s tearing us and this world apart at the seam? Let’s not lose sight of what this article is really about!

Thank you for slapping down the idiots. I am not jewish, but I love them as a people. And even I can tell that this kaballah thing is just another "accessory" for the high minded. Maddona is a perfect example of that.

Ah, Kabbalah. Another way for celebs to tell you how to spend your money. And now the new age celebs can have somewhere else to turn besides Scientology................ Religion is set, stop with the bogus interpretations

Thanks to Rense.com such news gets read.It is always MONEY pulling the noses of greedy dead soul ANIMAL luciferin cult types.Honesty is a poor road.The here after,you bring your honesty,not your hord of greed.Unless it is fashioned into CHAINS!!!