Kabbalah Me

Feeling a need for spiritual renewal following 9/11, Steven E. Bram—a secular New York Jew about to turn 50—became interested in the tradition of mystical thought known as kabbalah. Here, Bram and co-director Judah Lazarus follow Bram's introduction to the titular esoteric discipline. Bram visits the Hasidic branch of his family (whom he hasn't seen in years), drops in at Manhattan's Kabbalah Center, and participates in large-scale communal gatherings, one at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and another in Brooklyn. Bram also confers with rabbis in person and through Skype, eventually traveling to Israel, where he visits holy sites and listens to descriptions of kabbalah from scholars and religious teachers. The documentary touches on various elements of kabbalah—including its acceptance of reincarnation and its emphasis on unity with “the one”—but the overall portrait that emerges is of a system of thought allowing for divergent interpretations and viewpoints. Along the way, viewers witness Bram's spiritual journey, which brings him a sense of peace and fulfillment—even as his down-to-earth wife and children (as well as friends and professional colleagues) express concern. Recommended. (F. Swietek)