Customer Reviews

Kabbalah for Beginners

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Bought this book because I was interested in learning about Kaballah. However, after reading the book I only have learned a brief history of Kabbalah. Still have no clue exactly on what Kabbalah is or the principles. This book had a high rating by previous readers so I am disappointed I didn't seem to "learn" what they must of learned about Kabbalah. Almost like this is a book to read before you want to know or understand what Kabbalah is.

Having read all of Rav Laitman's Kabbalah books, I have to say that, on the positive, I was able to read this whole book while waiting at a bus stop, and it did make me look at all the people on the bus completely differently once I got on (well, this is a Rav Laitman thing which I like about all his books, including this one--that he always talks about "you"--the "desire to receive"--the person reading the book, and you simply can't see things the same way afterwards)...HOWEVER, on the negative, in the span of having read all of his books, and considering that this was his first book...the explanations in this book are much more incomplete and less satisfying than any of his other books.

Actually, I'd have to go as far as saying that if I only read this book, I would simply categorize Laitman's teaching of Kabbalah as another one of many ways that we can look at the world and ourselves, with agreeable and disagreeable concepts, simply because that's the style that comes across, and the style and explanations aren't as "calculated" as they are in later books.

But I have to put the stick in here and say that this book is misleading as to the ever-increasing depth that Laitman gets into in his later books. For starters, I'd recommend anyone who's interested in buying this book, that you instead buy Laitman's 2006 beginners book "Kabbalah, Science and the Meaning of Life." For one, it is a much better translation, it speaks to you much more, and it really hones in on what Kabbalah is and isn't. The uniqueness of the Kabbalah teaching is much more clarified and differentiated from other teachings in "Kabbalah, Science and the Meaning of Life," it speaks a lot more to the English mentality, and presents a lot more information about Kabbalah, about how it relates to a person individually and to humanity as a whole, in a much more intriguing scientific manner.

The other book I'd recommend which is a MUCH better introduction to Kabbalah, and to Rav Laitman's teaching method, is "Awakening to Kabbalah: The Guiding Light of Spiritual Fulfillment." It is also written in much better English, and it really digs into new ways of perceiving things.

Basically, the main thing that I get from Laitman's Kabbalah books is that they change you, slowly, gradually, you start perceiving things differently and reacting to things differently, and you start "researching" the world completely differently. They really give you a wisdom that you take with you at every moment and that you use and experiment with at every moment. All it takes is some initial willingness to change your current perception of reality, and then, Laitman offers this life-changing process of how to keep changing it, continuously.

I am a beginner in Kabbalah I wanted to say that i just did not find such a book among all kabbalah books i could find until now in my location. What makes the difference is that this book speaks about yourself, not about abstract or philosophical concepts. This book can change your life !

I am not a native English speaker, so please forgive my English that is not very correct. But maybe the fact I let you know that some persons are actually reading this book even in stranger tongue will indicate how valuable it is considered in our location, much more than a simple book ...

This book does not tell you about the history of Kabbalah. I am not sure anyone wants to know the history of something before you know what the principals are that make it work. I think that this is a great first book for anyone wanting to understand the principals and how they can integrate them into their lives.

I am new to Kabbalah. Actually my husband has been studying Kabbalah but could really not explain it to me. I was always wandering why Kabbalah was so important to him that he gave most of the activities that he had enjoyed before and concentrated on Kabbalah. But either he could not explain it or I was a bad listener. Finally, he brought this book home. I am a very slow reader, I like to digest every page, every word. I could not believe that I finished the book in one night. I just could not stop reading it. I was finding the answers for the questions I did not know that I had. I never followed any religion because of my background and I could not say that the my sense of spirituality had gone outside of just enjoying classical music or appreciation of Picasso. This book changed that perception immediately. It opened a new world., or an old world with a new view of it. This book is great start for anyone who not only curious why their husbands gave up watching football on Sundays but anyone who wants to discover the spirtuality.

In this book I found direction to an actual method for acheieving what other books on the subject only talk about. This writing comes from a living source. Others I've read are descriptions, memories of memories of once living schools, dealing mostly with form or intellectual concepts - Not this one. This is so utterly simple and suited to the souls of this generation - no special talent, no meditation, nothing but the light of the Creator. - hey I loved it.

What a wonderful book for all those Divine Souls, who not only see the door or pass by but open it to enter. You are giving all these souls the opportunity not only to enter but to stay inside and enjoy the Master of the Universe`s light.

This book gives a great (but general) overview about Kabbalah. If you are curious about this subject, this book is a quick read and can inspire you to go ahead and read and learn more. And it comes from an excellent source, Rav Michael Laitman.

I am 40 and been searching all my life for a book like this. It is the only book I know of that teaches you true peace and tranquility. Easy to understand.

Read this book if you are in search of the truth of our world and of this universe. Do you feel that you are destined to find the answer? If so, the information obtained from this book will point you in the right direction.