Kabbalah For Dummies [Paperback]

Arthur Kurzweil (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 6, 2006

Kabbalah For Dummies presents a balanced perspective of Kabbalah as an “umbrella” for a complex assemblage of mystical Jewish teachings and codification techniques. Kabbalah For Dummies also shows how Kabbalah simultaneously presents an approach to the study of text, the performance of ritual and the experience of worship, as well as how the reader can apply its teaching to everyday life.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Study, pray, and celebrate the Kabbalah way

Understand the spiritual and ethical teachings of the practice

Curious about Kabbalah? This friendly, plain-English guide clears up the common misconceptions about this mystical tradition, showing you how to incorporate its wisdom into your daily life. You'll explore the history of Kabbalah and its major texts, understand the mystical tree of life, examine Kabbalah controversies and conflicts, and see how Kabbalists grow closer to God.

Discover how to

• How to live life like a Kabbalist
• The big "secret" of Kabbalah
• What Kabbalah is — and isn't
• The importance of karma and reincarnation
• The contributions of great Kabbalists

About the Author

Arthur Kurzweil is known as America's foremost Jewish genealogist. The author/editor of several books, he lectures extensively on the subjects of Judaica, magic, and mysticism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (November 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471915904
• ISBN-13: 978-0471915904
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Mysticism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Beginners Book, December 12, 2006

By 

J. Brock (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kabbalah For Dummies (Paperback)

This book is very informative, well writen, and basic for new students of kabbalah and individuals interested in the subject. Kabbalah is a difficult topic to understand and learn. The author did a wonderful job by making it kabbalah easy to understand. I have read over 20 kabbalah books and would sometime have questions about the books I have read. I did not have that issue when i read this book, my questions were answered.

I also love the fact the author teaches you how to pronounce many of the jewish words. I will now pronounce the words correctly with the group of students I study kabbalah with.

As a kabbalah student I now understand the Tree of Life (Ten Sefirot) more from the book. I finally learned how to connect to it and the meaning about each sefirot.

I highly recommened this book, add it to your shopping cart right now. :)

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight, February 28, 2008

By 

M. Racer (brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kabbalah For Dummies (Paperback)

I bought this book for my mother a few months after she lost my sister to cancer. She couldent comprehend how this can happen to such a young person in life, especially her daughter. Naturally, she was really depressed and this book really helped her recover. She constantley talks about this book and how much it helps her understand why things like this happen in life. Her outlook on life has changed for the better. This is the best gift I could have given her.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, July 21, 2008

By 

Kimberly D. Keane (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kabbalah For Dummies (Paperback)

Not only does this book cover the basics of traditional Kabbalah, it explains meanings, has pronounciations, includes a few graphics and is nicely organized. It also delves slightly into the major branches of Judaism if one is unfamiliar, and shows how it's impossible to take the Torah away from Kabbalah and still find what you are seeking spiritually.

Torah and Kabbalah and Judaism go together. You can learn things from Kabbalah that might help you in your life, but you can't expect to live a lifestyle based on Jewish teachings if you're not living in accordance with Torah.