Common Perception:
Following the Shabtai Zvi debacle, Western Ashkenazim outlawed all forms of Kabbalist practices and liturgy
More correct understanding:
[From an email post]
«Western Ashkenazim eliminated much Kabbalah from the liturgy.
Nevertheless R I Horowitz - the Shelah Hakodesh - was a big influence on Ashkenazic Nusach
See EG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_Horowitz
"Rabbi Horowitz also wrote the Sha'ar ha-Shamayim siddur (prayer book) which had an influence on the later Ashkenazi Nusach."
Note: German Jews pushed Kabbalah into the background - for individual "yechidei s'gulah" and out of the public sphere.
However, many "yekke" scholars did study Kabbalah in private even after Shabtai Zvi.
EG R Nosson Adler mentored the Chassam Sofer in Frankfort into the ways of Kabbalah.
RSR Hirsch was at least learned in Kabbalastic symbolism
R Simon Schwab learned Kabbalah in private in Wash. Heights.
The opposition to Kabbalah was not absolute, rather the fear that the masses would be tripped up by "false Messiahs" was the guiding principle for guarding this knowledge.
The Rambam himself warns against the study of "maaseh breisheet" [creation] and "maaseh merkava" [the Divine Chariot] to those who are too immature or unlearned.
KT
RRW
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