Adam and the Kabbalistic Tree [Paperback]

Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1989

Adam and the Kabbalistic Tree is a study of human beings as seen by contemporary Kabbalists. After a brief exposition of the Tree of Life, the mystical tool of Kabbalah, the author sets out in modern terms how eternal principles operate throughout the four Worlds present in a human being. Beginning with the body, the process and laws of biology are related Kabbalistically, so that students can see the connection between body and psyche. This is followed by a deatiled study of the anatomy of the psyche, the ancient and modern approaches to which prepare the reader for an examination of the Soul. The latter part of the book is concerned with the awakening of the Soul and its growing consciousness of the upper Kabbalistic Worlds of Creation and Emanation. The conclusion describes human progress into the realm of the Spirit of the Presence of the Divine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (September 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877282633
• ISBN-13: 978-0877282631
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine analysis of the human soul and psyche, August 31, 2000

By 

Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Adam and the Kabbalistic Tree (Paperback)

This book, like all of Zev ben Shimon Halevi's works, is written with a precise, scientific approach that will appeal to the detail-minded student of Jewish kabbalah, as well as non-Jews interested in the Tree of Life diagram. First published in 1979, it remains a very good bridge between kabbalah and modern psychology. Halevi uses the Tree diagram as a template for exploring various aspects of the human body, psyche, and soul. Especially useful are the many Tree diagrams which illustrate how the human personality fits into kabbalistic thought. However, the book assumes you know the names of the Sefirot (pronounced sfee-ROTE, by the way) and can picture how they are arranged on the Tree. Beginners could get a bit overwhelmed with all the Hebrew terminology, and might want to start with Halevi's more introductory "The Way of Kabbalah" instead. Still, this book does contain a glossary, and if you go slowly and take the time to learn the definitions and compare the text to the diagrams, you will find that it all fits together quite nicely.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, September 8, 2008

By 

D. Peterson (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adam and the Kabbalistic Tree (Paperback)

For the serious student of Kabbalah, this book reveals the bigger picture. The four levels of reality are addressed, each in turn. Really helpful!

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tree of Life teachings for body, mind, and soul., July 13, 2003

By 

A. J. Valasek (Clemmons, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adam and the Kabbalistic Tree (Paperback)

This book's purpose is to relate the sefirot of the Tree of Life system to the whole of human existence. How well it did so could be debated. I thought that the author did quite nicely with applying the tree systemology to the psyche and soul, but found the interpretations as they apply to physical existence to be forced.

The only part of this book I flat out disagreed with however, was the explanation and resulting implication that divorce is somehow acceptable and necessary to certain people's evolution.

Overall, the psychology used is agreeable in modern schools, but has certainly been influenced by some modern tolerance that is in opposition to the Bible.