The History and Varieties of Jewish Meditation [Hardcover]

Mark Verman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 1977

The History and Varieties of Jewish Meditation is a user-friendly guide designed to familiarize the reader with the vast expanse and incredible diversity of traditional Jewish meditation. The material included in this volume is drawn from the great treasure chest of Jewish spiritual heritage, namely, the Hebrew Scriptures. Accordingly, special attention is paid to specific biblical figures and seminal passages, while much of the discussion concentrates on standard kabbalistic and hasidic sources such as the Zohar and the writings of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. In The History and Varieties of Jewish Meditation, Mark Verman examines a wide variety of meditative practices, spanning many centuries, by translating primary kabbalistic sources and providing the reader with intelligible readings of the different techniques found in the Jewish meditative tradition. As the reader will discover, there is no one dominant form of traditional Jewish meditation. Rather, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of disparate techniques, ranging from visualizations of Divine names to candle gazing and chanting. Verman also offers an historical overview of ancient Jewish meditation, starting with the biblical period and continuing to early rabbinic times. Pertinent later commentaries are also cited to elucidate these sources. This background discussion provides the reader with a basic orientation to the tradition of Jewish meditation. This work seeks to combine the academic virtue of methodical study with the creativity and spontaneity of Divine discovery. Some sections, such as Chapter 1, "The Ancient Roots of Jewish Meditation," are more historical in orientation. Others, like Chapter 6, "Breathing," are more experientially focused. The richness of the Jewish meditative tradition is highly adaptable to promoting widespread spirituality. The History and Varieties of Jewish Meditation is a step in helping the reader incorporate the practices of this tradition into his or her own personal spiritual repertoire.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In spite of the mystical tradition that runs so deep in Judaism, very little has been written about the history of meditation in Judaism. Verman's book combines history and practice as it examines the diversity of Jewish meditation practices in great depth. Verman begins with a study of the roots of Jewish meditation in ancient Israel and proceeds to explore the development of a number of meditation practices, including music and chanting, that enable practitioners to bridge the gap between God and themselves. The author also comments on the ways that meditation techniques such as breathing and body posture prepare the practitioner for the experience of meditation. By retelling the stories of the great rabbis and their instructions on meditation, Verman beautifully grounds the contemporary practice of Jewish meditation in the history of Judaism itself.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 239 pages
• Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc. (July 7, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568215223
• ISBN-13: 978-1568215228
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,315,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Old Wine in New Skins, April 27, 2011

By 

Eric Maroney (Trumansburg, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The History and Varieties of Jewish Meditation (Hardcover)

If you read enough books on Jewish meditation, you can see a pattern. The same sources are used over and over again, often cherry picked out of their context. Verman has avoided this by using non-traditional (but Jewish) sources, and finding voices not often heard in examinations of Jewish meditation. He discusses the Jewish use of nature, nocturnal study, music, and chanting in meditation. All of this is in a very Jewish, orthodox context. For a reader interested in a new slant on Jewish meditation, but from old sources, this is the book for you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly the best book of ancient and modern Jewish meditation, June 21, 2011

By 

Mark Waldman "Adj. Faculty, Exec MBA Program,... (Coaching, Research, Training: Malibu/Los Angeles California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The History and Varieties of Jewish Meditation (Hardcover)

Mediation research is my expertise (see How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist. This book gives the best overview, and it's easy to create your own authentic Jewish meditation program. Wonderful!