Super User

Pastor Vitale's Testimonies
(Christ-Centered Kabbalah, Living Epistles Ministries)

COMMENT: Hello, I have a question or two that I would like to ask, if its not a problem. I accidentally ran across your kabbalah web-site...noticed that you  wrap these teachings around 'Jesus'.

Who is "your Rabbi" that you mention?

Also who are "your torah scholars" that were mentioned?

PASTOR VITALE: I have studied the on-line writings of more than one Rabbi, but I do not have "a Rabbi" that I am submitted to. I have a very unusual background which I will outline briefly in response to your next question.

COMMENT: It would be nice to see information about your organization's background, beliefs, etc. in the "about you" section of your web-sites.

PASTOR VITALE: I apologize that the information that you seek is not available on our web pages. Time is very short here, and this is one incomplete area. Here is my story:

I was born a Jew, of secular Jewish parents. There are no Christians in our family. I attended an orthodox Hebrew school as a child, where I was encouraged to attend synagogue on Shabat. I did not know what was happening to me, but I would cry throughout the whole 3-hour service. I did not understand the Hebrew prayers, but the melodies were so beautiful, it was almost too much for me to bear. I wanted God so much.... my mother let me light Shabat candles, and I would cry out of my soul to God with all of my strength.

I wanted to understand the Scripture so badly. I asked and asked, until my father finally took me to the Jewish book store and bought me a Bible. I was devastated, however, to find out that the Scripture made no sense to me at all.

Shortly after that, at 12 years old, I became very ill and almost died. I left Mt. Sinai hospital in New York, alive, but was chronically ill for years thereafter. I begged my parents to send me to yeshiva. My mother went from yeshiva to yeshiva, but could not find one that was affordable, so I went to public school. I stopped attending Hebrew school, but never forgot about that wonderful "feeling" that had touched me in the Young Israel of Tremont, in the Bronx, New York.  I did not know that I had been touched by God.

To make the story short, I suffered with infirmities for many years. I went to all kinds of synagogues: Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed... I was so desperate to find that "feeling" again that I looked for God everywhere, even in church, but He was not in church either. I still wanted to understand the Scripture, but had no idea how to pursue that desire, and eventually "that desire" took a back seat in my life.

Years later, while I was still suffering from infirmity and from many problems in my life, I was invited to a church service, where I was happily surprised to hear a man teaching the Scripture. I started  to attend church regularly and to read the Bible, but still could not understand a word that I was reading, especially when I read the Prophets. I would not give up, however, and forced myself to read several chapters a day.

After about six months, while I was reading the Scripture, a vision appeared in my mind, of a very large angel with one foot on the water and the other foot on the land, The angel was waving his right arm at Heaven. I had absolutely no idea what this meant, but from that day forward, I started to understand the Scripture.

Soon, thereafter, I realized that I was dissatisfied with what I was being taught, and started to study the Hebrew Scripture, one word at a time.

I spent approximately eighteen years pouring over reference books which enabled me to study the Scripture in Hebrew, one word at a time, and praying over each word, sentence and spiritual concept that I could recognize in the Scripture. At the time, I was only seeking God for the improvement of my health and my life, in general. I had no intention of becoming a teacher. I just wanted to stay alive long enough to see my daughter grow up, and pouring through the Hebrew text seemed to be keeping the alive.

What I was learning, however, sounded nothing at all like what was being taught in the Church. On the contrary, I was criticized severely and called a heretic by many. But I knew that the wonderful presence that had touched me in my early childhood was with me. I prayed fervently that God would deliver me if what I was learning was coming from an unholy influence, but the wisdom kept coming, and I developed (what I now understand to be) a system of wisdom and knowledge that is called "The Doctrine of Christ."

I knew the word "Kabbalah," but had been taught that Kabbalah was "Jewish Mysticism," a course a study that was spiritually dangerous and completely "verboten." So you can imagine my shock when I found out that almost all of the spiritual principles that I was teaching could be found in the Zohar. I was absolutely amazed!

I started looking for information on Kabbalah, mostly on the Internet, and found a translation of the first volume of The Tree of Life, by Rabbi Chaim Vital. I picked the book up and put it down several times, without consciously realizing that it was so difficult that it was painful for me to read it. To be honest, my initial reaction to the subject matter was, "this is insanity." Eventually, however, I realized that God wanted me to study  The Tree of Life, so I submitted, under great duress, and with great frustration. I look back on those days now, and laugh at how confused I was.

Please remember that I knew nothing of Kabbalistic teaching at that time, so I had no idea what was happening to me when, suddenly, through the corner of my eye, I saw a facsimile of what appeared to be an angel (I knew that it was an image and not the real thing), rushing towards me at breakneck speed. The "angel" impacted me and entered into me. I sat completely still, very frightened, and prayed, saying, Lord, I know that something entered into me. If it was not of you, please help me, because if you do not, I am in a lot of trouble. Then, I resisted my fear, and continued to study  The Tree of Life. Well, to my absolute amazement, I started to understand the text on a level that I was not previously capable of, and since that time, i have not had to struggle to understand the first volume of  The Tree of Life. 

I am presently studying a translation of Rabbi Luria’s,  The Gate of Reincarnations, which presents some interesting and exciting explanations and confirmations concerning spiritual experiences that I have had. For example, I believe that it was Tevunah, the first influx of Zer Anpin’s Brains, that entered into me, and equipped me to pursue the study of Kabbalah.

Since that time, my spiritual teacher, which I believe to be the glorified Jesus Christ, the most recent garment that covers the one who previously incarnated as Elijah, has been weaving  The Doctrine of Christ together with Lurianic Kabbalah.

Christ-centered Kabbalah, the union of the two systems, is more than one + one = two. The integration of the two philosophies has produced a new, vigorous approach to spiritual ascension (rectification) which offers a fresh hope to all those who wait for Israel (both natural and spiritual) to be restored to Adam’s first estate, and to an even higher estate, one from which he will never fall down again.

The Doctrine of Christ may be experienced at http://www.livingepistles.org.

Thank you very much for writing. I will post this e-mail to the "About Us" link on the Christ-Centered Kabbalah Web Site.

COMMENT: Thank you for your time

PASTOR VITALE: You Are Very Welcome.

By the way, I am no longer dying, and my health increases day by day!

Also, if you are trained in Kabbalah, I would be most interested in discussing, from a scholarly point of view, any issue that you choose.

COMMENT: God's Peace

PASTOR VITALE: To you too..  xxxx

For more information, see About Us on the Living Epistles Ministries Website.

Christ-Centered Kabbalah was born out of Living Epistles Ministries on October 5, 2000.

God Bless You!

Sincerely in Christ,

Sheila R. Vitale,
Pastor, Teacher & Founder
Christ-Centered Kabbalah

Meet The Christ-Centered Kabbalah Team

Sheila R. Vitale
Pastor, Teacher & Founder
Christ-Centered Kabbalah