The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet (Artscroll (Mesorah Series)) (Hardcover)

by Michael L. Munk (Author), Micheal L. Munk (Author) "The N symbolizes the One and Only, the Eternal, the Omnipotent God..." (more)
Key Phrases: Oral Law, Bereishis Rabbah, Vilna Gaon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
From the very first Kabbalistic work, through the Talmud, through an impressive array of rabbinic literature, great minds have found the Aleph-Beis to be a gold mine of wisdom and guidance. This fascinating best-seller weaves these golden threads into a glorious tapestry, presenting hundreds of ideas and comments on the Aleph-Beis, including: the Aleph-Beis as the force of Creation, as a primer for Jewish living, and as a fountainhead of Torah insight and mystical meaning. The product of decades of learning, thinking, and teaching by the revered educator, lecturer, and community activist Rabbi Michael L. Munk. A treat not to be missed.

Language Notes
Text: English, Hebrew

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Artscroll; 1st edition (June 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899061931
• ISBN-13: 978-0899061931
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,635 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #3 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Sacred Writings > Kabbalah
  #5 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Jewish Life

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the best book on this topic in English!!!, January 17, 2003

By	Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The story is told how Rebbe Nachman of Breslov once suffered from amnesia and could not remember any of the Torah he had learned. In desperation, he asked one of his disciples to recite the Hebrew alphabet. He did -- and the Rebbe's memory came back to him. After reading this excellent book, you will understand how that is possible. The Hebrew alphabet is much more than 22 letters written on paper. Each letter has a numerical value, a number of symbolic Torah meanngs, and a mystical connection to the Creation of the Universe. According to kabbalah, the Hebrew letters are the primal "energies" with which God spoke the Creation into existence. The inner essence of a thing are the letters which compose its name in Hebrew. (The Overview in the book is entitled "Protoplasm of Creation," and explains this concept in more detail than I can do here.)

Unlike so many of those pseudo-kabbalah books on the market, which attempt to use the Hebrew alphabet and its numerology for fortune-telling, this book is solidly grounded in authentic Torah sources. Like all of Artscroll's publications, the approach is Orthodox, but also accessible to both Jews and non-Jews of all backgrounds. This is not an easy-read "spirituality" book, however. It is a detailed set of Torah lessons, to be savored slowly, one letter-chapter at a time. The author also assumes that you are either familiar with basic Hebrew terms, or at least willing to take the time to learn them. But even if you do not already know the Hebrew alphabet, this book will help you understand the deeper wisdom within traditional Judaism.

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful view of Judaism, through the Hebrew alphabet, April 9, 1999

By	Judy Oak (Albuquerque, NM, US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a Christian Minister, and I greatly enjoyed this book. It gives an overall view of the basic ideas of Judaism that is clear and beautiful. It also explains the concept of the creative Word of God and the power of the spoken word, by a metaphysical analysis of each letter from Aleph to Tav, each of which is an "entity." Beautifully written. I read a copy loaned by a Rabbi friend, and had to get my own copy for future reference.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Letters not for the casual reader, January 4, 2005

By	Manuel Gwiazda (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Going over the Hebrew Alphabet, Rabbi Munk offers more than enlightening insights about these letters of divine origin

He makes many observations about the reason why every letter was created, why it has that particular shape and orientation and how it communicates with the physical and spiritual realms as well as with other letters

It also makes many related references citing Midrashic (Torah interpretations), Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) sources

Although the book follows a definite structure, one letter, one chapter, the extent and depth of the explanations for every letter go quite different as letters are indeed different too

I conclude that this is not a book to read just one time because one is interested in this particular subject but a reference volume worth to be consulted many times, in any library of any University for the purpose of religious studies and research