When a mystical tradition meant for an elite few becomes a popular spiritual
practice — what is gained and what is lost?
In this episode of Identity/Crisis, guest host Deborah Barer is joined by scholar of Kabbalah Daniel Matt for a conversation about the Omer and the modern turn toward mindfulness and self‑improvement. Tracing the journey of the Zohar from esoteric text to widely accessible guide, they explore what is gained—and what may be lost—when contemplations of the divine are redirected inward, toward the self. Along the way, they ask how Jewish mysticism understands responsibility, ethics, and community, and what it
might mean to carry “new ancient words” from the wilderness of the Omer toward revelation at Sinai.
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