Gathering of Angels [Paperback]

Morris B. Margolies (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1994

"A captivating work that will well reward the reader...A well-researched and clearly written guide through one of the most fascinating aspects of Judaism: the multi-facted world of angels from the sacred time of the Bible to the secular time of Isaac Bashevis Singer."
CHAIM POTOK
Rabbi and scholar Morris B. Margolies pores through nearly three thousand years of literature and lore in this enlightening exploration of the angels, who shape and reflect Jewish beliefs, hopes, and fears. An engaging compendium of angelic lore, A GATHERING OF ANGELS is also a memorable study of the evolving role of angels--from Biblical times to the present, from messenger of God to metaphor for good and evil.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Angels are big--very big--right at the moment. As a testament to this sweeping assault on our predominantly secular pop culture, an angel recently appeared on the cover of Newsweek. Margolies' small-format, airily designed volume looks like another product fresh off the angel assembly-line--the checkout-counter gift book. But appearances can deceive, especially where angels are concerned. For example, most books about angels deal with the Christian variety, but Margolies focuses on Jewish angels. No mere collection of angelic trivia, the book supplies a wealth of solid historical information and is written in an almost scholarly manner, whether the topic is angels in antiquity, in literature and mysticism, or throughout Jewish history. Margolies even extends his range beyond benevolent angels, offering a provocative discussion of Satan and his band of lost angels. A thoughtful, fascinating look at a hot topic. Ilene Cooper

Review

In this book, Morris Margolies charms and enlightens his readers with his timeless tales of wonder and being. (Wiesel, Elie )

A captivating work that will well reward the reader. . . . A well-researched and clearly written guide through one of the most fascinating aspects of Judaism: the multi-faceted world of angels from the sacred time of the Bible to the secular time of Isaac Bashevis Singer. (Chaim Potok ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 273 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (February 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345381041
• ISBN-13: 978-0345381040
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,215,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Angel angel shining bright in the soul at darkest night, October 6, 2005

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Gathering of Angels: Angels in Jewish Life and Literature (Hardcover)

One very interesting section of this work has to do with the abundance of angels that appear during the time of the Apocrypha and Psuedigrapha period, a time of crisis for the Jewish people in Israel. Celestial messengers and helpers multiplied so much so that according to Margolies they were denied a place in the Canon.

This book is a gathering of Hebrew and Jewish angels from the Bible to Isaac Singer. It has brief introductions and explanations but is not a deep philosophical work, but rather a work of story and example.

How to put it all together in meaning terms is I think left to the reader. But the author has done a very illuminating work of assembling and introducing the divine helpers.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Angels in Jewish Culture, October 11, 2009

By 

Opal (Newington, CT USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Gathering of Angels (Paperback)

I love this book. There are so many books about angels, but there are precious few of Angels in Jewish culture. I highly recommend this book to anyone who believes in angels (I do) and specifically people of the Jewish faith. I'm so glad I was able to get this book from Amazon.com as I had left my copy behind after I moved out of my marital home after my divorce. Going to a bookstore is hard for me, and as I remember the price was much higher when I bought it there.