>> “Where is the evidence that the practice you asserted (similar to childish “blood brother” rituals), was the standard practice of that day and place for sealing deals or contracts?” <<
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TRy reading Talmud occasionally.
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>> “First, those Scriptures are condemning more than just hand striking, since there is always an additional connection to some other activity which reveals the reason for the condemnation.” <<
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Wow you must be really slow!
The hand strike carries with it the very sacrifice of one’s life if the privilidge of favor is denied. Look up and read the many oaths of the kabbalist societies. They’re pretty grim.
Whether is was a ‘business’ transaction, or a turning of the law in a supposed court of justice, or the promised taking of another’s life, yes it surely was a practice of the time, as it remains to this day, and will continue until “Mystery, Babylon” is crushed by the Lord. That is the reason for the condemnation.
“TRy reading Talmud occasionally.”
This from a guy concerned about Kabbalists? Sorry, I’ll take my evidence from the Scriptures, not from the scribes and Pharissees, thank you very much.
“The hand strike carries with it the very sacrifice of one’s life if the privilidge of favor is denied. Look up and read the many oaths of the kabbalist societies. They’re pretty grim.”
Only if your assertion that the hand striking referred to is somehow connected to the blasphemous oaths of the esoterics, which I don’t think you’ve shown anything to demonstrate. That’s quite a leap to make, and extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
I would like to comment on this:
There are many misconceptions in regard to Kabbalah. The word in Hebrew means “to receive knowledge”. The Kabbalah is the most center-most part of the 72 layers of understanding in the Torah.
There are no “oaths of the Kabbalistic societies” because there are no “Kabbalistic societies”.
Kabbalah is the teachings of the more mystical and esoteric areas of Judaism and it is something every Torah observant Jew, and every Rabbi of the Orthodox sects studies and “immerses in”. It teaches us about the our relationship HaShem (G-D), to the world of Creation and HaShems attributes. There is nothing grim about it. If anything, it is incredibly joyous and affirming, and wholly about the Divinity of HaShem.
What you may be referring to is a rite performed called the “Pulsa Denura” (Lashes of Fire) which calls upon the Angels of Destruction to block the forgiveness of the sins of someone of extreme evil, or one who brings harm among the Jewish people, so that all the curses of the 10 plagues falls upon him. This requires a judgement, and if that judgement is wrongly given, then those who take part in it are punished, rather than the subject of the ritual.
It was performed upon Ariel Sharon for the sin of removing the Jews from Gush Katif, and upon Rabin- who worked to bring the Muslims into being a part of Israel.
However, this is not Kabbalah. Although, a Kabbalist would know it exists. It is among the ancient Hebrew magical manuals of antiquity, such as Sefer ha-Razim and the Harba de-Moshe.