Kabbalah: A Brief Introduction for Christians [Paperback]

Tamar Frankiel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2006

An insightful exploration of Jewish mysticism--written especially for Christians.

Kabbalah is well known as the foundation of the Jewish mystical tradition, but few are aware that Kabbalah's spiritual applications extend beyond Jewish life. In this accessible, intelligent guide, Tamar Frankiel, PhD, a leading teacher of Jewish mysticism, demystifies the intricate world of Kabbalah. You will find that the teachings of Kabbalah are not only for Jewish scholars--anyone can incorporate this enduring wisdom into everyday life if they have an open mind and a willing heart.

Unlike the faddish books that discuss Kabbalah as simply a "magical system," this book discusses the evolution of Kabbalah from its origins in Judaism and gives Christian readers the vocabulary and tools to begin to understand this long-standing mystical tradition. It also explores the similarities and differences between Jewish and Christian mysticism, placing both in a larger and more comprehensive framework.

* Explore the kabbalistic Tree of Life to discover how God is expressed in the world around us.
* Examine your life and discover how it can be understood as part of an unfolding spiritual path.
* Travel through your personal and collective histories to find a more personal perspective on the principles of Kabbalah.
* ... and more

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

God isn't only for Jews and neither is Kabbalah," according to Frankiel. Maintaining that "Kabbalah as a theosophy is primarily about understanding what God is (as far as humans can understand) and who we are as refractions of the divine image," Frankiel delivers a thoughtful overview of the often elusive cornerstone of Jewish mysticism. Her years of experience as a teacher are reflected in the ease of her presentation and in her gentle suggestions for active explorations of thought and practice. Frankiel takes a logical approach to explaining the often confusing map of the divine energies by initially working top down, then bottom up and finally interlacing the energies, encouraging readers to begin building the layers of understanding needed to peel back the layers of the Kabbalah itself. The glossary, diagrams and notes provide a good basic reference for those seeking an overview of Kabbalah, and the smattering of illustrative Talmudic tales adds a bit of flavor. However, despite a few references to Christian concepts and devotions, and a handful of allusions to Buddhism, Sufism and even Jainism in conjunction with Christianity, nothing makes this book particularly "for Christians." (Nov.)
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Review

“A blessing for us all. Beautiful and clear, [it] explains the Tree of Life and tells us how to use it in our lives. With wisdom and insight, shows us how to become our true selves (the Divine image) and how to remember our purpose in life (to become mirrors of Divinity in the world).” —Rev. Peggy Hays, Episcopal priest “By learning something about Kabbalah, Christians can deepen their insight into the highest teachings of their own tradition. The resonance between the two traditions is profound.” —Fr. Thomas Ryan, CSP, director, Paulist Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations “Perfectly tailored.... Encourages us to use the teachings of Kabbalah to rewrite the human story, not in accordance with politics, but in attunement with spiritual reality. A must read.” —Connie Kaplan, DMin, author of The Invisible Garment and Dreams Are Letters from the Soul --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; annotated edition edition (October 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580233031
• ISBN-13: 978-1580233033
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #968,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Mysticism

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Customer Reviews

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Basic Intro Text, May 13, 2009

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This review is from: Kabbalah: A Brief Introduction for Christians (Paperback)

The book is written in a very approachable style. There is very little that will ever confuse even the newcomer to Kabbalah. Tamar Frankiel does a nice job of bringing the basics of Kabbalistic thinking to a level that anyone can relate to.

Having said that, the title is a bit of a misnomer. There are few references to Christianity - and probably just as many to Buddhism and other Eastern traditions. What Dr. Frankiel does well is shows how Kabbalah transcends religion and can be adopted and followed by anyone - but she certainly doesn't tie it back to a Christian tradition much at all.

If you are new to Kabbalah, would like a decent intro book that will give you some of the general background in a generally "non-religios" or "trans-religious" way, this is a good buy and a decent, if basic, read.