Jewish Mystical Autobiographies: The Book of Visions and Megillat Setarim (Classics of Western Spirituality) [Paperback]

Morris M. Faierstein (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Classics of Western Spirituality | Publication Date: November 1999

In this remarkable volume in the Classics of Western Spirituality™ are the mystical autobiographies-unusual in themselves for the Jewish tradition-of two influential Jewish thinkers, Rabbi Hayyim Vital and Rabbi Yizhak Isaac Safrin of Komarno. Now translated for the first time in English, these texts will capture the attention of historians, theologians, and anyone studying Judaism.

Rabbi Hayyim Vital (1542-1620) was the foremost disciple of R. Isaac Luria, one of the most important mystics in 16th century Judaism and founder of the major school of mysticism known as Lurianic kabbalah. Vital was the most influential transmitter of Luria's teachings, and the author of a full-fledged mystical autobiography called The Book of Visions. Vital saw himself as the reincarnation of many of the important figures in Jewish history associated with messianic hopes and expectations.

The second text in this volume, The Book of Secrets, is by Rabbi Yizak Isaac Safrim of Komarno (1806-1874), an important Hasidic master. Like Vital, he saw himself as a potential messianic figure who had direct access to the mysteries of heaven. The Book of Secrets is divided into two parts. The first part, The Book of Visions, modeled on Vital's work, consists of incidents in his life and visionary experiences. The second part, the Deeds of the Lord, contains stories about the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This volume collects the autobiographies of two Jewish mystics, Book of Visions by Rabbi Hayyim Vital (1542-1620) and Book of Secrets by Rabbi Yitzak Safrin of Komarno (1806-74). Born in Safed and having studied esoteric subjects with Rabbi Moses Cordovero (1522-70), Rabbi Vital came to see himself as the foremost disciple of Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-72) and a successor of Rabbi Joseph Karo (1488-1575). In Book of Visions, Rabbi Vital analyzes the sources of his soul ancestry by tracing the genealogy of his own soul spark and its reincarnations via transmigration and unification. Like Rabbi Vital, Rabbi Komarno believes himself to be his generation's messiah of Joseph, places importance on dream interpretation, and gives an account of a prediction of his destined greatness before birth. Faierstein's books include Abraham Joshua Heschel, Prophetic Inspiration After the Prophets: Maimonides and Other Medieval Authorities. This translation is recommended for public libraries.
-David B. Levy, Enoch Pratt Free Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

An excellent scholarly edition and translation. -- Mystics Quarterly

Faierstein has provided students of Jewish mysticism translation of two mystical autobiographies in this welcome volume. -- Religious Studies Review

Recommended. -- Library Journal

Recommended. -- Library Journal

These exceptional texts speak for themselves and Faierstein has provided them with a most eloquent voice. -- Religious Studies Review

These fascinating texts are translated, enabling readers to discover for themselves the richness and depth of these mystical autobiographies. -- The Jewish Press

These texts are translated here for the first time in English, enabling readers to discover these mystical autobiographies. -- The Jewish Press

This is a thoughtful, judicious, informed and informative book well worth the effort. -- The Forum

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press; 96th edition (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080913876X
• ISBN-13: 978-0809138760
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,602,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Morris M. Faierstein studied at the City College of New York, the Hebrew University, Yeshiva Pri Etz Hayyim (Jerusalem), Jewish Theological Seminary of America and received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Temple University in Philadelphia. In 2001, he was awarded an honorary D.D. by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is the author or editor of seven books, and has published more than one hundred articles and reviews in a wide variety of scholarly journals. He is currently an independent scholar. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Maryland, Cornell University, College of Wooster, Hochschuele fuer Juedische Studien, Heidelberg, Germany, and University of Maryland Baltimore County. He has lectured and taught in wide variety of settings in the United States, Europe and Israel.