Definition of "kabbalah" []

• A body of mystical teachings of rabbinical origin, often based on an esoteric interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures. (noun)
• A secret doctrine resembling these teachings. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Cleaning up nuclear contamination is too important to be left to the scientists: Madonna, whose interest in kabbalah is well known, was recently observed (by an undercover BBC reporter, according to the New York Post) trying to rid Chernobyl of excessive radiation by means of "a weird religious service, which started with prayer readings and chanting that culminated in everyone turning to the east, pushing the air with their hands, and crying out 'Cher-er-er-er-nobyl' at the top of their voices.""
• "Concepts and images of heaven and earth have a global history, but "The Breaking of the Vessels" pertains to the lore of Jewish mysticism known as kabbalah."
• "Says the LA Times: The word "kabbalah" was not mentioned in the ... class, but its presence seemed unmistakable."