--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a practicing kabbalist. I'm not a…" description: "\"I'm not a practicing kabbalist. I'm not a spiritual master. I'm not a rabbi. I don't - but it's part of who I am.\" — John Zorn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/john-zorn-11273_israel_i-m-not-a-practicing-kabbalist-i-m-not-a_806988.jpg" --- # I'm not a practicing kabbalist. I'm not a spiritual… ![“I'm not a practicing kabbalist. I'm not a spiritual master. I'm not a rabbi. I don't - but it's part of who I am.” quote by John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/john-zorn-11273_israel_i-m-not-a-practicing-kabbalist-i-m-not-a_806988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/john-zorn-11273_israel_i-m-not-a-practicing-kabbalist-i-m-not-a_806988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/john-zorn-11273_israel_i-m-not-a-practicing-kabbalist-i-m-not-a_806988.jpg) > “I'm not a practicing kabbalist. I'm not a spiritual master. I'm not a rabbi. I don't - but it's part of who I am.” [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges lacking formal religious titles but affirms that spiritual identity is part of them. **In simple terms:** I’m not a formal religious leader, yet spirituality shapes me. Key Takeaway Embrace identity beyond titles. Themes identity spirituality self‑acceptance Mood introspective thoughtful Type personal reflective When to use this quote - daily interactions - personal reflection - community involvement Key Concepts personal narrative cultural heritage Questions to Reflect On - How do you define spirituality without formal titles? - What aspects of your heritage influence you? A Different Perspective Identity may be contested by others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Rabbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rabbi/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-masters/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) ## Related quotes > [When I grew up, I thought I was Jewish. Now I don't consider myself Jewish. I consider myself a Kabbalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-berg/when-i-grew-up-i-thought-i-was-jewish-now-i-don-t-consider-myself-2/) [Yehuda Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-berg/) > [“...the Kabbalist was interested not in the perfected text whose author is dead and can no longer respond but in contact with the living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-idel/the-kabbalist-was-interested-not-in-the-perfected-text-whose-author/) Moshe Idel > [“The Kabbalist Tree of so-called Life was originally made as an explicit emblem for the Scales of the Giza Plateau in correspondence with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-ibrahim/the-kabbalist-tree-of-so-called-life-was-originally-made-as-an/) [Ibrahim Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-ibrahim/) > [One must first become a magician before one he can become a Kabbalist. As a Kabbalist, one works differently and more advantageously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-bardon/one-must-first-become-a-magician-before-one-he-can-become-a-kabbalist/) [Franz Bardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-bardon/) > [In the field of medicine, if you're sick you need a doctor. A doctor has already studied how to deal with your ailments, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/in-the-field-of-medicine-if-you-re-sick-you-need-a-doctor-a-doctor/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [Meditation is not a means to an end. It is both the means and the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-not-a-means-to-an-end-it-is-both-the-means-and-the-end/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [When the teacher, the spiritual master, is praying for the mercy of the Lord to enlighten the student, then by the blessings of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhaktisvarupa-damodar-swami/when-the-teacher-the-spiritual-master-is-praying-for-the-mercy-of-the/) [Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhaktisvarupa-damodar-swami/) > [One must execute devotional service under the guidance of a devotee or directly under the guidance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/one-must-execute-devotional-service-under-the-guidance-of-a-devotee/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/just-try-to-learn-the-truth-by-approaching-a-spiritual-master-inquire/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [Sincerity in sadhna and eagerness to serve is the basis of one's relationship with the spiritual master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/sincerity-in-sadhna-and-eagerness-to-serve-is-the-basis-of-one-s/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Don't go empty handed when going to a temple or to see a spiritual master. Offer something as a symbol of surrender, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/don-t-go-empty-handed-when-going-to-a-temple-or-to-see-a-spiritual/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Isn't it human beings who impart vitality to the image in the temple? If no one sculpts the stone, it doesn't become an image.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/isn-t-it-human-beings-who-impart-vitality-to-the-image-in-the-temple/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Since ancient times, spiritual masters of all traditions have pointed to the Now as the key to the spiritual dimension. Despite this, it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/since-ancient-times-spiritual-masters-of-all-traditions-have-pointed/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [In spiritual life, one must conduct one's whole life under the guidance of the guru. Only one who executes his spiritual life under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/in-spiritual-life-one-must-conduct-one-s-whole-life-under-the/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [Only an empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krishna. By distributing the holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvati/only-an-empowered-personality-can-distribute-the-holy-name-of-the/) [Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvati/) ## More by John Zorn > [I have no doubts. I know what gets in the way and I know what encourages me to do more work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-have-no-doubts-i-know-what-gets-in-the-way-and-i-know-what/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I was always an outsider, proud of being an outsider. I always reveled in the outsiders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-was-always-an-outsider-proud-of-being-an-outsider-i-always-reveled/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I have art. I have music. I have the history, this legacy behind me that I can look up to. This is what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-have-art-i-have-music-i-have-the-history-this-legacy-behind-me-that/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [You can't sit down and write 300 compositions in a three-month period and think that you're doing it all by yourself. Obviously, there's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/you-can-t-sit-down-and-write-300-compositions-in-a-three-month-period/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [One of the reasons I started Tzadik, which is my own label, is to keep things in print. I got tired of labels dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/one-of-the-reasons-i-started-tzadik-which-is-my-own-label-is-to-keep/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [That is a lot of the reason I do what I do, to really spread the word and spread information and turn people onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/that-is-a-lot-of-the-reason-i-do-what-i-do-to-really-spread-the-word/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [People sometimes have a very hard time accepting change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/people-sometimes-have-a-very-hard-time-accepting-change/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I feel like there are messages. I feel like there are angels. I feel that there is a legacy and an energy. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-feel-like-there-are-messages-i-feel-like-there-are-angels-i-feel/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [It's a matter of keeping people on a spontaneous edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/it-s-a-matter-of-keeping-people-on-a-spontaneous-edge/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I don't ascribe to the idea of the ivory tower composer who sits alone in a room composing his masterpieces and then comes down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-don-t-ascribe-to-the-idea-of-the-ivory-tower-composer-who-sits/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [Well, in Japan, I have got a group of musicians that I have worked with a lot, that concentrate just on the hardcore stuff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/well-in-japan-i-have-got-a-group-of-musicians-that-i-have-worked-with/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I have wit in my work and a sense of humor, but I do not use irony in any way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-have-wit-in-my-work-and-a-sense-of-humor-but-i-do-not-use-irony-in/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I don't control it at all. It's all up to the musicians in the group. They control it. They make all the cues, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-don-t-control-it-at-all-it-s-all-up-to-the-musicians-in-the-group/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [I'm constantly tortured, and that's why I say happiness is irrelevant. Happiness is for children and yuppies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-m-constantly-tortured-and-that-s-why-i-say-happiness-is-irrelevant/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [You need to believe in something that's bigger than yourself. I think that's what everybody wants to believe in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/you-need-to-believe-in-something-that-s-bigger-than-yourself-i-think/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) [Explore all 60 John Zorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) ## More Israel quotes > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [In the Green Zone in Iraq you have your radio, you have your food, you have your own electricity, your own toilets. Everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/in-the-green-zone-in-iraq-you-have-your-radio-you-have-your-food-you/) [Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [“Hitler invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Much to the bafflement of the Allies, however, Pope Pius XII said nothing. He refused to condemn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-shahrad/hitler-invaded-poland-on-1-september-1939-much-to-the-bafflement-of/) [Cyrus Shahrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-shahrad/) > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I am a peace supporting Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-am-a-peace-supporting-jew/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) James Cross Giblin [Browse all 16,724 Israel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not a practicing kabbalist. I'm not a spiritual master. I'm not a rabbi. 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