A translation of the Kabbalah for the layperson includes a compact presentation of each primary text and features a practical analysis and vital historical information that offer insight into the various aspects of Jewish mysticism.
The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism
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Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Original Language: Hebrew --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Publisher
A compact presentation of all the primary texts of Kabbalah, elegantly rendered with poetic nuances, exotic imagery, and bold innovation--from one of the foremost authorities on Jewish mysticism.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a great place to start,
By benjamin (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (Paperback)
This is the first book that I ever read on the Kabbalah and I would recommend it as the best starting place to anyone who is interested in the subject. The reason I recommend it over Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (by Gershom Scholem, arguably the most important and influential scholar in this area) is because this book gets the reader directly in touch with the texts (and, thanks to the commentary, the meanings derived from them) that make up what has come to be known as "Kabbalah."Matt divides his book into sections by topic and each entry contains an excerpt from a text that fits the particular topic. The introduction contains a brief essay on the development of the Kabbalah; in the back of the book is a commentary on each passage, helping the reader to understand aspects, meanings, and references in the texts that otherwise may have not been understood. Highly enriching.
44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Basic, but a bit too shallow,
By
This review is from: The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (Paperback)
Many people recommend this text as an introduction to the Kabbalah. I tend to agree, simply because this book was written with beginners in mind. For example, all of the footnotes to the texts are NOT marked on the actual text. Rather, they appear in the back of the book. Daniel Matt does this in order to comfort the beginner, but I find it hinders more than it helps.Probably the best thing about this text is the beautiful poetry Matt utilizes. Translations are never quite the same as the original, but Matt sacrifices more of the literal meaning than most. However, the poetry is very nice. Particularly noteworthy is "The Creation of God," which I fell in love with on the first read. For the casual student, this is a good beginner text. But for those who really want to know more about the Kabbalah, try other authors such as Gershom Scholem, Howard Schwartz, and Aryah Wineman.
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful survey of traditional Kabbalah,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (Paperback)
Daniel C. Matt's compilation is an excellent sampling of traditional kabbalistic writings, covering a wide variety of topics in the "tradition." As a survey, it is remarkable; its translations are poetic and beautiful. However, the span of writing it covers is widely scattered, historically speaking; writings are grouped by topic, unrelated to chronology; if you're looking for a historical perspective on Kabbalah, this isn't likely to be your cup of tea. As an introductory text, though, it will provide those interested in Kabbalah's philosophy and symbolism a good survey of paths to strike out on for further investigation
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
THE ESSENCE of divinity is found in every single thing-nothing but it exists. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
million parasangs, ten sefirot belimah, ein sof, highest sefirah, threshing house, elemental letters, first sefirah, lower sefirot, wondrous paths, supernal wisdom, ravishing maiden, holy spark, the sefirot, donkey driver Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ein Sof, Rabbi Shim'on, Rabbi El'azar, Blessed Holy One, Rabbi Abba, Rabbi Yose, Rabbi Hiyya, Holy Ancient One, High Spark, Keter Elyon, River Kevar New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
THE ESSENCE of divinity is found in every single thing-nothing but it exists. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
million parasangs, ten sefirot belimah, ein sof, highest sefirah, threshing house, elemental letters, first sefirah, lower sefirot, wondrous paths, supernal wisdom, ravishing maiden, holy spark, the sefirot, donkey driver Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ein Sof, Rabbi Shim'on, Rabbi El'azar, Blessed Holy One, Rabbi Abba, Rabbi Yose, Rabbi Hiyya, Holy Ancient One, High Spark, Keter Elyon, River Kevar New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 45
books:
See all 45 books this book cites
40
books
cite this book:
See all 40 books citing this book
- Kabbalah: New Perspectives by Professor Moshe Idel on 9 pages
- Origins of the Kabbalah by Gershom Gerhard Scholem on 7 pages
- Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism by Gershom Scholem on 7 pages
- The Guide of the Perplexed, Vol. 1 by Moses Maimonides on 6 pages
- The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia (Suny Series in the Anthropology of Work) by Moshe Idel on 5 pages
See all 45 books this book cites
- A New Kabbalah for Women by Perle Besserman in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Kabbalah Killings (A Solomon Hunter Educational Murder Mystery) by Arthur Asa Berger in Front Matter, and page 14
- Matrix Healing: Discover Your Greatest Health Potential Through the Power of Kabbalah by Raphael Kellman on page 68, and Back Matter
- Sacred Therapy: Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing and Inner Wholeness by Estelle Frankel in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The View from the Center of the Universe: Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos by Joel R. Primack in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 40 books citing this book
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