Jewish mystics from biblical times to the present have explored the hidden secrets of the Torah in quest of a single goal: to lose the self in the Infinite "No-thingness" (Ein Sof) and be at one with God. In language accessible to the layperson, this Shambhala Guide provides a detailed introduction to the complex world of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. With an extensive background in meditation practice, Perle Besserman emphasizes Kabbalah's spiritual disciplines, grounded in righteous living, devotional practices, and meditation. She discusses the Kabbalistic universe, including the four worlds and ten sefirot; Jewish meditation techniques and instructions for beginning meditation; mystics and teachers from Rabbi Akiva and the Baal Shem Tov to Aryeh Kaplan; the often uneasy relationship between Kabbalah and mainstream Judaism; and incorporating the ancient wisdom of Jewish mysticism to life in the world of today.
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Kabbalah, the mystical tradition of Judaism, has a reputation for being cloaked in secrecy. The tradition, originating in biblical times, flowered in the nineteenth-century Hasidic community, but it was not until after World War II that writers such as Gershom Scholem brought Kabbalah into the modern era. Besserman does a fine job of making this incredibly complex topic accessible for a lay audience. Besides giving a history of Kabbalah and where it fits into the Jewish religion, she explores the Kabbalah universe and introduces meditation techniques. Of immense interest is her final chapter, in which she discusses the issue of the ancient tradition vis-a-vis the technological age. An extensive bibliography will guide seekers to more detailed information. If you have need of just one book on the topic of Kabbalah, this is an excellent choice. Ilene Cooper
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"In language accessible to the non-specialist general reader, Perle Besserman's Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism emphasizes Kabbalah's spiritual disciplines, grounded in righteous living, devotional practices, and meditation."—Wisconsin Bookwatch
"This is a work which explains the Kabbalah with as much clarity as it can be explained and with a genuine feeling for mystic lore. I recommend it to all readers."—Isaac Bashevis Singer
"This is a work which explains the Kabbalah with as much clarity as it can be explained and with a genuine feeling for mystic lore. I recommend it to all readers."—Isaac Bashevis Singer
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0 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
She encourages sin,
This review is from: The Shambhala Guide to Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism (Paperback)
This woman who claims to be a descendent of the Baal Shem Tov makes the Sabbatean-like argument that it is OK to sin specifically claiming that a major rabbi had her eat cookies on a fast day to show her that in kabbalistic practice, there is nothing wrong with such things. I'm writing this from Tsfat just before Yom Kippur and I'm sure she doesn't care but she certainly has at least the sin of eating cookies on a fast day to atone for this year. Horrible sinful author. Horrible book.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE to regard the Kabbalah's elaborate visions of heavenly palaces and supernatural beings as anything more than symbolic waystations on the path to the One. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
mystical companions, letter permutation, lower sefirot, cosmic tree, rotate your head, archetypal world, angelic guardian, meditation posture, cosmic man, divine emanations Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Akiva, Isaac Luria, Adam Kadmon, Ancient One, Ein Sof, Small Face, Rabbi Shimon, Moses de Leon, Tree of Life, Abraham Abulafia, Dov Baer, Maggid of Mezerich, Sefer Yetzirah, Rabbi Kook, Append Yod, Song of Songs, Lurianic Kabbalah, Moses Cordovero, Baal Sherri Tov, Joseph Caro, Measuring the Body, Nefesh Angel, Rabbi Lowy, Rabbi Zvi Yehudah New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE to regard the Kabbalah's elaborate visions of heavenly palaces and supernatural beings as anything more than symbolic waystations on the path to the One. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
mystical companions, letter permutation, lower sefirot, cosmic tree, rotate your head, archetypal world, angelic guardian, meditation posture, cosmic man, divine emanations Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Akiva, Isaac Luria, Adam Kadmon, Ancient One, Ein Sof, Small Face, Rabbi Shimon, Moses de Leon, Tree of Life, Abraham Abulafia, Dov Baer, Maggid of Mezerich, Sefer Yetzirah, Rabbi Kook, Append Yod, Song of Songs, Lurianic Kabbalah, Moses Cordovero, Baal Sherri Tov, Joseph Caro, Measuring the Body, Nefesh Angel, Rabbi Lowy, Rabbi Zvi Yehudah New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 28
books:
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7
books
cite this book:
See all 7 books citing this book
- The Essential Kabbalah (Mystical Classics of the World) by Daniel C. Matt on 9 pages
- Tales of the Hasidim: Book One: The Early Masters and Book Two: The Later Masters (v. 1-2) by Martin Buber on 7 pages
- Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide by Aryeh Kaplan on 5 pages
- THE WAY OF THE JEWISH MYSTICS (Shambhala Pocket Classics) by Perle Besserman on page 106, and Back Matter
- The Way of Splendor: Jewish Mysticism and Modern Psychology by Edward Hoffman in Back Matter
See all 28 books this book cites
- The Sacred Bedroom: Creating Your Personal Sanctuary by Jon Robertson on page 127, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- In the Same Breath by Jean Latz Griffin on page 39, and Back Matter
- The Forest of Souls: A Walk Through the Tarot by Rachel Pollack in Back Matter
- Accountants' Response to Ethical Issues as Work (CIMA Research) by C. Fisher in Back Matter
- The Kabbalah Tree: A Journey of Balance & Growth by Rachel Pollack in Back Matter
See all 7 books citing this book
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