Demystifying the Mystical: Understanding the Language and Concepts of Chasidism and Jewish Mysticism [Hardcover]

Chaim Dalfin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1995

Provides terms and explanations to help the beginner understand concepts in Jewish mysticism.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 170 pages
• Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc.; First Edition edition (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568214537
• ISBN-13: 978-1568214535
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Mysticism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not an easy read but thorough, May 2, 1999

By A Customer

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This review is from: Demystifying the Mystical: Understanding the Language and Concepts of Chasidism and Jewish Mysticism (Hardcover)

"Demystifying the Mystical" is an introduction to the language of Chasidism [specifically Lubavicher Chasidism]. Although labeled "A Primer for the Layman," the book's style requires that the layman involved be willing to struggle through densely-written prose that takes a great deal of unpacking. To his credit, the author seems to realize this, and has provided both a glossary and study questions for each chapter. When concepts are introduced, they are often accompanied by a fable or story to illustrate, and this serves the purpose well.

The only serious drawback for me was the transliteration of Hebrew terms, which were only given in Ashkenazic pronounciation. This is the most commonly used amongst Chasidim, but other Jews [and non-Jews who have learned Hebrew] may stumble over the differences, and showing the term in Hebrew in the glossary might have helped.

All things considered, although it's not an easy read, "Demystifying the Mystical" delivers what it promises.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good--with many univeral parallels, March 16, 2006

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Demystifying the Mystical: Understanding the Language and Concepts of Chasidism and Jewish Mysticism (Hardcover)

This small volume is written from a Lubavitcher (Chabad) Chasidic perspective; it has numerous transliterated Hebrew words & phrases (but has a glossary & each chapter begins with translations of key terms for that chapter). The writing is simple & straightforward though some of the concepts are complex & deep. The author includes relevant stories which add to both enjoyment & understanding. Embedded in his Kabbalistic perspective are many similarities (not mentioned by the author) to very different belief systems. These include a psychological, dyadic view of relationships--p. 27: "Anytime one gives of oneself to someone else, it is going to make an impact on both giver & recipient." Also, in agreement with Carl Jung's view that God is not all good--pp. 48-9: "To say God's nature is good is a limitation on God's true infinity...to say God's nature is good is tantamount to saying God is limited & forced to act in a certain way." The author also parallels Hindu oneness of Atman (soul) & Brahman (impersonal "God" - NOT the creator god Brahma) & (to a lesser degree) the Tibetan Buddhist view of humans' Buddha nature & its relationship to the Dzogchen Ground of Being or Mahamudra Mind Itself--p. 74: "The neshomah, the godly soul...not only came from God but is actually part of God...God is inseparable." Congruent with the distinction between Tibetan (Vajrayana) Buddhism & Mahayana or Hinayana in which one transforms negatives into positives for spiritual progress--p. 89: "The Jew's job here is to redirect this longing toward the physical world by transforming the material into the spiritual & p. 135: In Kabbalah the concept "isapcho" is mentioned in regard to transforming darkness to light & bitterness to sweetness." Also, p. 102: [Chesed=loving kindness]-"to everyone without discrimination...the giving of Avrohom was based on self-nullification" whereas Buddhism calls loving kindness Maitri, one of the Four Immeasurables at the heart of Vajrayana practice, & asserts a central doctrine of selflessness (no-self in Zen). Further, in agreement with Aryeh Kaplan (author of "Jewish Meditation," "Meditation & Kabbalah," & "Meditation & the Bible") p. 94: "Within Jewish meditation there are all kinds of practices & forms." The author does (as do virtually all religious groups) distinctly distinguish members (Jews) from non-members (gentiles), but states that the difference is not pejorative--p. 75: a gentile has a different kind of soul than a Jew but "this in no way denotes inferiority but rather a different method of fulfilling his mission in life." Personally, I agree with the mission difference, but not the soul difference. Overall, while seemingly very narrow in viewpoint on the surface, this book surfaces many important counterparts in other belief systems, pointing to the universality of profound truths.