Understanding the Divine Structure of Creation through the Teachings of the Ari and Baal HaSulam
At the heart of Kabbalah lies a sacred map: the Tree of Life, composed of ten divine emanations known as the Sefirot. These Sefirot form the spiritual architecture of all reality—from the highest worlds to the human soul. Each is a vessel for divine light, shaping the way God’s will flows into creation, time, and consciousness.
In this advanced foundational course, students will explore the nature, function, and interplay of the Sefirot using Baal HaSulam’s monumental work Talmud Eser Sefirot as the primary text. This systematic commentary on the teachings of Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Ari) offers unparalleled clarity and depth, making the most esoteric aspects of Kabbalah structured and teachable. Through close study, students will gain access to the essential language, cosmology, and inner mechanics of divine revelation.
Supplementary texts from Etz Chaim, the Zohar, and Ramchal will enrich the course with classical and mystical insights.
In this course, students will explore:
The definition, structure, and purpose of the Ten Sefirot
The relationship between Ohr (divine light) and Kelim (spiritual vessels)
The arrangement of the Sefirot along the three pillars: Chesed, Din, and Rachamim
The interaction of the Sefirot across the Four Worlds (Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah)
The concept of Partzufim (divine configurations) and how the Sefirot evolve into dynamic personas
The Tree of Life as a model of human soul faculties and character refinement
How prayer, mitzvot, and Torah study draw light through the Sefirotic structure
Visualizing and mentally mapping the Sefirot as a tool for inner work and spiritual awareness
This course is ideal for students who seek not only to understand Kabbalistic diagrams but to live within them—seeing life, self, and God through the lens of the divine blueprint. It is a vital cornerstone for all future learning in Jewish mysticism and theology.
Course Workload and Expectations
This is a 3-credit, 12-week seminary-level course requiring approximately 6–9 hours of study per week. The course is designed to provide both technical mastery of the Sefirotic system and experiential understanding of how divine energy flows through creation and the soul.
Students will engage in the following weekly workload:
Assigned readings from Talmud Eser Sefirot by Baal HaSulam, supplemented with selections from Etz Chaim, the Zohar, and the Ramchal
Video lectures that walk through the diagrams, definitions, and dynamics of the Sefirot and Tree of Life structure
Weekly written assignments that clarify terminology, explain divine processes, and test comprehension of cosmological sequences
Short essays that explore spiritual concepts such as the interplay of light and vessel, or the role of specific Sefirot in soul development
Diagramming and journaling exercises that help students internalize the structure and see how it applies to personal and cosmic growth
Weekly check-ins or reflection prompts submitted to the course administrator for academic and spiritual feedback
Final integrative project such as a teaching outline, creative map of the Sefirot, or thematic essay demonstrating structural comprehension and personal insight
This course meets the expectations of advanced seminary-level study. It equips students with the intellectual clarity and visual-spiritual framework needed to engage in further Kabbalistic learning, and lays the groundwork for reading higher texts with fluency.
This course is also available for 100% online, self-paced personal study, and may be purchased individually for those seeking personal spiritual growth and character development outside of a formal degree program. Mentorship is available for this course at an additional cost.
NOTE: This class is temporarily unavailable to new students until AFTER you've completed the prerequisite class: Spiritual Attainment in Jewish Kabbalah.