An Introduction to the Kabbalah (Suny Series in Judaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion) (Suny Series, Judaica) [Paperback]

Moshe Hallamish (Author), Ruth Bar-Ilan (Translator), Ora Wiskind-Elper (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999 | Series: Suny Series, Judaica

This book acquaints the reader with the world of the Kabbalah. The first part discusses the Kabbalist as a person: the personal transmission of Kabbalistic traditions, the Kabbalist's qualities and qualifications, prerequisites and early preparations, risks and achievements, as well as techniques for uncovering mysteries and the sources of revelations. The second part deals with the major themes in the teachings of the Kabbalah, such as the doctrine of the Sefirot, the Sitra-Ahra--good and evil, the creation of the world, the status of the Torah and its commandments, the doctrine of the soul and the transmigration of souls. In treating these issues, the book also notes the assimilation of Kabbalistic notions in Jewish religious customs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

There has been a veritable flood of books on Jewish mysticism in recent years. Many New Age practitioners are attracted to Jewish mysticism, with its emphasis on spirituality, meditation, nature, and even ecology. Hallamish (Jewish mysticism, Bar-Ilan Univ., Israel) has tapped into this trend and produced a readable overview of the main teachings of the Kabbalah, a shorthand expression for Jewish mystical experience. Hallamish discusses techniques for exploring mysticism, mystical doctrines, and the evolution of mystical thought. Scholars will especially appreciate this solid study, though informed lay readers will enjoy it, too. Libraries already owning either Kenneth Hanson's Kabbalah: Three Thousand Years of Mystic Tradition (LJ 10/15/98) or Neil Asher Silberman's Heavenly Powers: Unraveling the Secret Power of the Kabbalah (LJ 10/15/98) can pass. General readers may also enjoy David Cooper's God Is a Verb (Riverhead, 1997), which is more of a how-to manual on Jewish mysticism.?Paul M. Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 379 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791440125
• ISBN-13: 978-0791440124
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,157,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative, January 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: An Introduction to the Kabbalah (Suny Series in Judaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion) (Suny Series, Judaica) (Paperback)

This book is well written and uses a "scientific" viewpoint. Its translation into English is well done. I am converting to Judaism and wanted to know more about the spiritual side of Biblical interpretation (Its also good to understand what the Kabbalah is since all Rabbis are learned Kabbalists, whether practising it or not!). The only drawback that it does not have a glossary of defined terms and assumes that the reader is familar with some basic Judaic terminology. Otherwise, I highly recommend it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Serious Introduction to the Kabbalah, January 8, 2002

By 

Berel Dov Lerner (Western Galilee College, Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to the Kabbalah (Suny Series in Judaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion) (Suny Series, Judaica) (Paperback)

Hallamish has written a book for people who want to understand the basic concepts of Jewish mysticism without being bogged down by complicated historical issues or being hijacked by populist charlatans. Most books on the Kabbalah are written either by secularist professors or by closed-minded believers. Hallamish offers the best of both worlds - he is a professor of Jewish mysticism at Israel's Bar Ilan University, but, while he avoids any preaching or missionizing, he clearly recognizes the living spiritual power of the tradition which he describes in this book.