The Hebrew Alphabet: A Mystical Journey [Hardcover]

Edward Hoffman (Author), Karen Silver (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1998

Judaism has always regarded Hebrew as a sacred language, the medium of divine communication. And its letters are no ordinary forms. The very word for letter, ot, means sign or wonder. The Hebrew Alphabet: A Mystical Journey reveals the spirituality and power of all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, from aleph, which signifies creative energy, to tav, symbolizing wholeness and joy. Each concise, historical, and poetic letter profile, written by Judaica scholar Edward Hoffman, is accompanied by a lustrous illustration wrought in hues of olive, blue, and silver. An exquisite gift and introduction to a beautiful spiritual practice, this insightful meditation delves into the rich mystical heritage of the letters, offering a modern link to ancient times, when contemplating the Hebrew alphabet could enlighten the inmost soul.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Each person, like each letter in the Torah, has a unique purpose in the divine plan. No one may impinge on another's particular mission in life, just as no two letters may overlap. The Hebrew Alphabet

About the Author

Edward Hoffman is a New York-based psychologist and author of many books in the fields of Jewish mysticism, spirituality, and psychology, including The Way of Splendor and Opening the Inner Gates .

Karen Silver is a San Francisco-based illustrator and editor. This is her first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811818837
• ISBN-13: 978-0811818834
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Mysticism
  • #15 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Hebrew > Instruction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystical exploration of the many meanings of Hebrew letters, October 6, 1998

By 

Prudence M. Thorner "prue thorner" (Charlottesville, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hebrew Alphabet: A Mystical Journey (Hardcover)

This richly printed and illustrated little book is a meditation on ideas, mystical experiences and ancient rabbinical stories sparked by each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, a transliteration of the Aleph Bet in the original language. I recommend it to those interested in Jewish studies, in meditation, and in mysticism. It is short but it contains much wisdom. It is also a beautifully designed little book and a fitting travel companion.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A ray of light, September 3, 2001

By 

Bob - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hebrew Alphabet: A Mystical Journey (Hardcover)

I am not jewish, and I really enjoyed reading this book. I think it helps you understand the passages in the Bible better because you'll understand the jewish context. I wish this book went into even more detail about each letter, but this is a great sampling if you are curious about the powerful meaning of the hewbrew letters. The author, Edward Hoffman, writes beautifully and keeps your focus.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hoffman Rings the Bell for Hebrew Students!, January 24, 2003

By 

Fred W Hood "barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hebrew Alphabet: A Mystical Journey (Hardcover)

After perusing several books on Kabbalah mysticism, not letting them 'sink-in', I went from Rabbi Kushner's Book of Letters and his Book of Words to this little jewel of Hoffman's mysical use of the 22 Hebrew letters. In his ten-age Part I he moves through developing Hebrew alphabet from the North Semitic tribes more than 3500 years ago, to Ezra the Scribe of the 5th Century, to the Midrash, to the Talmudic commentary on Exodus, to the 13th Century, Zohar (Book of Splendor)!

When Hoffman arrives at the Zohar he reflects on the statement that, "God looked into [the letters] of the Torah and created the universe." From one of the early Jewish mystics, Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia he quotes the Hebrew letters as a means to arouse tremendous intuitive capabilities: "Look at these holy letters with truth and belief...[it] will awaken the heart to thoughts of godly and prophetic images." In Abulafia's approach he suggests that one "begin to combine letters, a few or many, reversing and rolling them around rapidly, until [one's] heart feels warm."

In teaching dysfunctional children in their teens, I am making good use of Hebrew letters such as: Yud, Reish and Shin...Yud for the words 'yom' or day; names as Yoel [Joel] Yoneh [Jonah] and impulse for good and evil: yetzer hatov and yetzer hara.

Also, Reish as Holy Spirit [Ruach Ha-Kadosh]; healing [rafooah] and healer [rofeh]; Shin for words as Shabbat, Shalom and simcha [joy]and shanah [year]. These last ones fit beautifully with the name of one of the girls - Kashanah! Not only is Mr Hoffman's little Jewel great for metaphorical teaching it is an avenue to reach those inquiring, inquisitive, uniquely thoughtful minds.
For them to see the beautiful pictures of Karen Silver is a Plus.
I strongly recommend this to teachers of Special Education!
Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood