Customer Reviews

Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism

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Want to know what happened before the world was created according to mythic Judaism? Turn to page 71: "God rode upon the wings of the wind and upon the flames of the sword." Curious about the ten kabbalist sefirot (channels of God's energy)? Check page 529 for a diagram. Not sure if the above falls within the accepted Jewish tradition or outside of it? Peruse the "Note on Sources," clear-as-day footnotes and fifty-six page bibliography.

Late at night, my four-year-old awoke and asked why God had to be a boy (and not a girl). Thanks to "Tree of Souls," I retold a story I had just read about the Shekhinah, the bride of God--divine presence--exiled at the time of the destruction of the Temple, she will return when it is rebuilt. My daughter loved the story and has since asked me to read to her aloud from the book (Although this is very much a text for grownups, kids will love your personal adaptions of these myths and the hauntingly mysterious illustrations. Or else pick-up one or more of Howard Schwartz's many richly imagined children's books.)

Anyone at all interested in mythology will find something of value in "Tree of Souls." If you were born Jewish but looked to other traditions for your spiritual nourishment (like I did), then turn back. You will find what you seek (or the most thorough beginning of the journey you could ever hope for) right here. The newest jewel in my collection, this treasure will be with me until the end of days.

Howard Schwartz has been gathering the sparks and the scattered fragments of the vessels of Jewish folklore, scholarship and mysticism for many years. He is truly one of the great illuminators of the ancient and voluminous body of Jewish thought. He is also a poet and a storyteller who performs his vision for the edification of both Jew and non-Jew alike. This work, Tree of Souls, is in many ways the culmination of his lifelong effort to bring together the sparks and fragments he has been so carefully nurturing into a coherent and far-reaching mythology of Judaism. This book should not only be of interest to Jews but to anyone interested in the great mythologies of the world. It can be read cover to cover, or dipped into whenever or wherever the heart desires. I can guarantee you, though, that once you have contemplated even one leaf from this magnificent tree of souls you will return again and again for more.

"The Tree of Souls" is a rare book one wants to treasure in one's library, yet it will not suffice just to have it sitting on a shelf. It should be placed on a desk close by, in order to be able to reach out and read once, twice, indeed many times the fascinating stories that engulf us as soon as we open the gates to the contents of the book. Once the reader finds himself inside this wondrous world, it becomes wide open, yet it is not difficult to decide which path to choose since the author has designed ten stepping stones, each of which will lead to a particular destination. In reality though, it does not matter which of the ten books Howard Schwartz has created within "The Tree of Souls" - each an impressive book in its own right - we choose to start with. We may read for sheer enjoyment, yet Howard Schwartz, the scholar, has made it easy also for those searching for a particular theme or topic within this vast domain to find what they are looking for and are interested in.

Initially, when I saw the title of the book, a number of images flashed in front of my eyes since many civilizations in antiquity, and even into the present, treat trees with great reverence with the belief that some are associated with supernatural powers. In the Caribbean basin island of Curacao, a giant tree spreads its immense canopy over a large area, just as its enormous roots extend from the trunk, far and wide in all directions. This particular tree serves as a symbol of homeland and a quest for peace to local Indian tribes who transplanted it from a rain forest into the arid soil of this island hundreds of years ago. It thrives there miraculously despite the harsh conditions it is subjected to. This could be the tree that many in that area of the world believe enables the souls of the righteous departed to ascend to heaven. This marvelous tree could serve as a companion to other mythical trees, such as those found in ancient Greek tales, where they aided certain divine entities that restrained, punished or rewarded human beings, depending on the situation.

The "Tree of Souls" is most marvelous since it facilitates repaired souls to descend, and thus they are not only a source of renewed life and knowledge but also the symbol of the never-ending cycle of re-creation. Whether it is the mysterious tree of Abraham described in this book, or maybe the sacred glistening tree under which the Buddha sat and meditated, or a different mythical tree of perfection from another tradition, suffice it to say that these trees, in different ways, are subject to many interpretations and explanations. It is hard not to succumb to the magic of storytelling, particularly of this storyteller who retells these magnificent tales in his own incomparable way. Thus this tree of narratives will always flourish and remain a source of enjoyment and knowledge to those sitting under its branches ...

Tree Of Souls should become the centerpiece on the shelf of anyone interested in Judaism, storytelling or mythology. Howard Schwartz shows in this book the connections to the universal as well as the dynamic uniqueness of Jewish mythology.
I love that it's such an in-depth, all encompassing scholarly work, yet presented with the clear and entertaining voice of a master storyteller. I find the introduction and the detailed annotations on every story particularly helpful and enjoy randomly opening up any page and immediately finding something interesting, intriguing and new to learn.
A real treasure!

The magnificent Tree of Souls arrived yesterday. What a beautiful, soulful, scholarly, graceful, balanced, and whole book it is! I love Caren Loebel-Fried's illustrations and I think the combination of these truly archetypal images, and Howard Schwartz's storytelling is perfect!

I've been writing a new book called Nights By The wall...the subtitle is Torah, Dreams and Everything. I had reached a place of pause, when this delicious book arrived. I am reading it by opening to wherever I happen to open it, and reading that portion. This works amazingly well. I think that is because Tree of Souls is so complete a telling of the entire story of Judaism that it functions as a wisdom book. Open to any page. You will learn and feel refreshed.

Howard Scwatrz's stunningly researched, organized,
and artisticly recreated TREE OF SOULS will keep Jewish lore alive and accessible to the larger population for generations to come. In addition, he has offered a window into the wealth of one faith's lore while simultaneously providing a mirror of major issues, charatcers, and themes that embue the lore of many cultures.

Tree of Souls is a long-awaited and much-needed tome on the mythology of Judaism. The 670 stories present everything anyone would want to know about Jewish stories; they run the gamut from myths of God to myths of the Messiah to myths of the Holy Land to myths of exile. The copious introduction and notes about each story testify to the scholarship of the author, Schwartz, an acclaimed folklorist and author. Tree of Souls should be on the shelf of every home and library, both as a reference work for scholars and as informative and pleasant reading for the layman.

This magnificent volume is a valuable reference for both students and scholars of Judaica and folklore, among other fields. It is also a beautiful gift. Tree of Souls is that rare book that manages to simultaneously enlighten, entertain and inspire. It is certain to become a classic.

Excellent book, very informational, greatly written. I learned so much from this book, 5 stars. I haven't read it for the kindle however, I am sure it will be a great buy for the kindle.

This book is really neat. I like the fact that the different "myths" are consolidated into a common area.