Mysticism, Hubris, and the 'Holocaust'

[Callafangers]

Almost everyone who would stumble across this forum is likely aware of the notoriety of "six million" with regard to the 'Holocaust' narrative. It's discussed here:

The First Holocaust: The Surprising Origin of the Six-Million Figure
https://holocausthandbooks.com/video/th ... holocaust/

Why not "Four Million" or "Seven Million"? It might have to do with what's regarded as an unusual grammatical discrepancy from the Torah: a 'missing vav'.

Here's a short explanation (AI summary):

The view in Judaism that Jews would "return to Israel minus six [million]" comes from a gematria-based drasha (homiletical teaching) from the Zohar:

• The Source: In Leviticus 25:10 (Jubilee Year), the word tashuvu ("you shall return") is spelled תשבו — missing a vav (which would make it תשובו).
• The Interpretation:
  • The Zohar states this hints to the year of return from exile.
  • Gematria: תשבו = 708 (tav=400, shin=300, bet=2, vav=6). Adding the implied millennium (5) → 5708 (Hebrew calendar) → 1948 CE (State of Israel).
  • The missing vav = 6 → "return minus 6 million" (the Holocaust victims).
• The Claim: The Torah prophesied both the year of return (1948/5708) and the tragic cost (6 million Jews) centuries before the fact.

References:
https://www.chaimbentorah.com/2024/09/h ... ll-return/
https://web.archive.org/web/20170425202 ... shoah.html

What all of this leans into suggesting is that the propagation of the "six million" figure from the beginning of the 20th century may have been an effort to influence or inspire Jews toward a certain action (namely, Zionism; i.e. emigrating to Palestine). The question of how/why this would be expected to motivate Jews into Palestine [en masse] still remains: just how important are these kinds of mystical interpretations of Torah scripture in Judaism?

The following video may help shed light on that question:



It covers (from the description):

What Kabbalah actually is, where it came from, and how old its roots really are.
The core concepts — Ein Sof, the Sefirot, the Tree of Life, and what they actually mean.
The hidden and esoteric dimensions of Kabbalah that mainstream religious institutions don't discuss.
How Kabbalistic ideas filtered into Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Freemasonry, and modern occultism.
What Kabbalah's influence on politics and the middle east mean for Iran
Why this tradition matters for anyone trying to understand the deeper currents running beneath Western civilization.

All in all, with Kabbalistic thought being widespread in Judaism by the early 20th century (and "gematria" or Torah-focused numerology considered a legitimate prophecy tool), there was much reason to expect Jews globally (especially in a vulnerable post-war condition) would pick up on the significance of "minus six" as an ideological rationale to "return" to Israel -- the priority-number-one of Zionism and global Jewry at that time.

[Stubble]

That video is by far the most condensed telling of kabbalah I think I've ever heard. Good find. There's some room for some of the stuff in there to be refined, and some of it is so stripped down it can be argued about, but, ultimately, that guy did a great job trying to explain it.

[Hektor]

That video is by far the most condensed telling of kabbalah I think I've ever heard. Good find. There's some room for some of the stuff in there to be refined, and some of it is so stripped down it can be argued about, but, ultimately, that guy did a great job trying to explain it.

Strong point is conveying the message without over the top text and an almost neutral voice. Will make it more powerful as more folks will now listen to it.

I had Grok summarize the video:

Kabbalah as Hidden Source Code: It is the esoteric "operating system" or energy blueprint of reality, received orally/embodied rather than just read, far deeper than surface Judaism or mainstream religion admits.
Cosmic Shattering (Shevirah): Ein Sof's attempt to create via the Sefirot/Tree of Life overloads and explodes, creating the broken world, divine sparks in souls, and chaos. This reinterprets Genesis creation as catastrophic rather than orderly.
Racial/Spiritual Dualism: Strong distinction between pure (mostly Israelite divine souls) vs. impure (mostly Gentile "gunk"/husks linked to demonic Sitra Achra/chaos). Demons arise from unholy unions (e.g., Lilith and Samael).
Tikkun Olam as Jewish Mission: Jews/rabbis actively repair the shattered divine energy and world through rituals, speech acts, and commandments. This gives them control over "God's loose energy."
Power of Words and Incantation: Language is magical/creative; prayers, names of God, and repetitions harness energy. Examples include golem creation and exorcism-like practices.
Dual Nature of God: Not strictly monotheistic in the simple sense—Ein Sof is infinite energy behind a "mascot"-like manifest God, with masculine/feminine (Shekhinah) aspects. Practices like shuckling engage this energetically.
Messianic Vision: The Messiah finalizes repair; in the perfected age, Israelites rule, with (purified) Gentiles in subservient roles or removed.
Historical and Cultural Influence: Kabbalah shaped Catholic mysticism, Sufism, Freemasonry, 19th-century occult revival, and modern celebrity/esoteric trends. It underlies "hidden" currents in Western civilization and has political implications (e.g., Chabad, Middle East conflicts, symbolic actions against perceived enemies like Iran).
Secrecy and "Hiding in Plain Sight": Mainstream institutions downplay the esoteric/darker dimensions, but the ideas are documented and increasingly discussed in political/cultural spheres.