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The Anthology of Jewish Mysticism

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An Anthology of Jewish Mysticism is a production of a religious Jewish press, and seeks to present introductory texts regarding Jewish mysticism in the context of halakhic practice. The introduction states clearly that the purpose of the book is to provide readers with corrective texts for more recent New Age applications of the Kabalah. This is not a radical move. With the exception of some "heretical" movements in Judaism, the Kabalah has always been associated with the scrupulous observance of the mitzvoth.

Yet, the radical theology of the Kabalah comes through in the works provided here. In the first selection, Sha'ar Yichud VeHaemunah, the Gates of Unity and Faith, the first Lubavitcher rebbe states that there is no existence outside of HaShem (God). Then he equates the name Elohim with nature. And that even that earth "which appears to have an actual existence -- is really nonexistent next to the Holy One, blessed by he." Here we have some of Chabad's flirtation with pantheism, or more properly, their ideas that there is no existent outside of God, and therefore everything we see, feel or experience, is a kind of illusion or facade. Everything is a part of God.

This collection stalls on the last work, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin's Nefesh Hachaim. The translator admits that the quality of this translation is not as high as the others due to time constraints. This is a shame, for Nefesh Hachaim is very interesting presentation of a psychology of the kabbala and a more careful rendition of it in English would have complemented this collection.