Palm Tree of Devorah [Hardcover]

Moshe Cordevero (Author), Moshe Miller (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1994

A classic work of Jewish philosophy and Mussar by the famed Safed Kabbalist. Hebrew text with facing, new, annotated translation.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Targum (1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568710275
• ISBN-13: 978-1568710273
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ethics and Kabbalah, August 6, 2006

By 

TiZ - See all my reviews

This review is from: Palm Tree of Devorah (Hardcover)

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero was one of the greatest Kabbalists (Jewish Mystics) of the 16th century. He was a prolific author, and "The Palm Tree of Devorah" may be one of his most famous works. This edition includes an introduction, translation and annotations by Rabbi Moshe Miller.

The introduction includes a nice biography of Cordovero, a description of his works and a very brief explanation of the principles of his Kabbalah. The notes on the book follow after the translation, and include explanations of some difficult terms and sources.

"The Palm Tree of Devorah" is set forth clearly in Hebrew alongside an English translation. The Hebrew is pointed, and difficulty with the English is a result of the difficulty of the work rather than the translation.

This work is a Kabbalistic exposition of the biblical commandment to emulate God. Cordovero describes the attributes of God such as kindness, compassion and patience, and explains how to emulate these attributes.

This book is intended for laymen and scholars. I think that much of this book is easily understandable by those who know little or nothing about Kabbalah (including myself). The difficult sections may be best studied under the guidance of your local Hassidic Rabbi.

Readers may also be interested in the Feldheim edition of Luzzatto's ethical masterpiece, "The Path of the Just".

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not really the sort of book one rates--, October 30, 2005

By 

Michael Lewyn (Forest Hills, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Palm Tree of Devorah (Hardcover)

This book is so unusual that all I can say is that I don't see any reason to believe it was translated badly.

This book has 10 chapters- each focuses on one of the sefirot (attributes of God, according to Jewish mystics) and makes practical suggestions as to how its 16th-century readers could practice the sefirot in their daily lives. For example, one chapter focuses on God's chesed (kindness) and suggests ways of practicing chesed in the daily world (e.g. giving charity).

Although 400 plus years have passed since Cordevero wrote, most of the book still tells readers what they already know (at least if they are good Jews and good people). In other words, Cordevero, reminds us of our ethical obligations, but dresses his admonitions in mystical clothing. In other words, the book seeks to combine Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and Mussar (Jewish ethics).

The last few chapters are much more ascetic in their recommendations and abstract in their approach; someone not particularly knowledgeable in mysticism (me, for instance) is unlikely to get much out of the last 20% or so of the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Palm Tree of Devorah, February 21, 2010

By 

Duane Kerstetter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Palm Tree of Devorah (Hardcover)

An excellent book for anyone wanting to understand the 13 attributes of G-d and understand how to emulate them.