This is a short introduction to the history and nature of Jewish mysticism, including an illuminating account of the major developments in Jewish mystical reflection and a chronological anthology of mystical passages.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Rabbi Cohn-Sherbok deserves applause for the clarity and brevity of this slim, engrossing introduction to Jewish mysticism, which he characterizes as the age-old search "to know God and experience his divine presence." A helpful chronological table of Jewish history precedes the introductory chapter, a 30-page overview of major events and figures in Jewish mysticism. Having thus set the stage, Cohn-Sherbok presents nearly 200 thoroughly annotated, brief excerpts from the greatest mystics, all chosen to pique interest in topics as diverse as the divine messenger Metatron, the influence of daily actions on cosmic restoration (tikkun) and the Hebrew alphabet as a source of mystical knowledge and experience. The selections are chronologically arranged in four chapters, each with its own introduction and list of contents. This rich spiritual banquet fascinates but does not satiate.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Cohn-Sherbok, an English academic and coauthor of American Jew: Voices from an American Jewish Community (LJ 6/1/95), here presents a concise and readable anthology of Jewish mystical documents arranged in a clear chronological order. Each piece has a brief introduction to set it in context. Like Daniel C. Matt's recent anthology, The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (LJ 7/95), it is designed for the casual reader who may have little background in Judaica, and, as such, it will appeal to all students of mysticism. Matt's work is more comprehensive, however, so it gets the nod for first choice. Cohn-Sherbok closes his book with a list of titles for further reading, which would have been more useful had it been annotated. Librarians should check their collections to make sure they have two older introductions to Jewish mysticism that make a nice complement to these anthologies: Martin Buber's classic Tales of the Hasidim (1961) and Jiri Langer's magical autobiographical gem, Nine Gates to the Chasidic Mysteries (Aronson, 1993). Recommended for most larger public libraries.?Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., Ill.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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