Customer Reviews

The Kabbalah Experience: The Practical Guide to Kabbalistic Wisdom

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

 

 

Generally and overall, I liked this book. There are definitely some concepts written about and not explained, not the least of which is the Kabbalah, as advertised by its very title. There are also some incorrect explanations. This being said, the writing style is quite enjoyable. The visual imagery for meditative purposes is very good. A big problem with this book is its title does not aptly describe its contents, and is very misleading.

I like, however, the information about other religious perspectives discussed. Further, I also like and agree with the overall perspective of there being similarities of concepts in different religions, as this could help lead to more understanding between peoples, as well as more respect across the board. While I can appreciate what Ozaniec seeks to accomplish, it is obvious she is a Christian. I say this because the study of Kabbalah is not something a non-Jew can completely grasp. Additionally, I say this with respect for other viewpoints; however, there is a depth of understanding which can only come from growing up in a Jewish household, Jewish study, and from depth of Torah study in particular, which is necessary background for students of Kabbalah.

I say this as someone who absolutely sees, understands, and seeks to educate the public with comparisons of similarities across various religions. There is no way to be completely unbiased about anything, as our point of view is necessarily shaped by our environments. While I am a student of world religions and a lifelong learner like Ozaniec, I am fully aware of my own sentiments about a full Jewish background as necessary for a greater and more profound understanding of Kabbalah, all of which also apply to my own inadequacy of depth of understanding about other religions. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that Ozaniec only touches upon the surface of Kabbalah, and spends most of the writing of the book on educating us about other religious (non-Jewish) perspectives, based upon a cursory explanation of the Kabbalistic concepts the title of the book advertises.

While I enjoyed the reading of the book for its educational value, for its attempt to be a part of healing the world, educating the world, and for its attempt to open our eyes to the beauty a more spiritual, peace-loving world could provide us, I was greatly disappointed in its contents based upon the title, and what I thought was the content such a title would provide. I don't think I have ever been as completely misled by a title of a book as I have been by this one.

What The Torah Teaches Us About Spirituality/ Through Isaac's Own Spiritual Journey
What the Torah Teaches Us About Survival
Companion Workbook to What The Torah Teaches Us About Survival

I only wish I had purchased this used at $3 price range. It's filled with babble, not clearly explained with a metric ton of filler text. Avoid at all costs.

Very easy to grasp! I love this book!
But I feel though some concepts are not explained clearly maybe for the sake of simplicity.

This book pretty much brings it all together---a difficult subject made a lot easier by Naomi Ozaniec.