The fundamental work of Jewish mysticism--and the most influential work of Jewish literature after the Old Testament and the Talmud--the Zohar has also influenced Christian thought. Though it purports to be the work of the 1st century scholar Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai, it is now believed to have been written near the end of the 13th century by Rabbi Moses de Leon of Avila, Spain. This new three-volume edition is an anthology of extracts arranged by subject with extensive annotations and introductory material. The clear translation will make this important work accessible to the English-speaking reader for the first time and should remain the standard English-language work on the Zohar for many years to come.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
'We thought we had understood the Zohar but Tishby showed us the mystical level, and we never read the Zohar the same way again... Now the splendour of the Book of Splendour is available for all to see. The masterful work of Tishby has been complemented by a masterful translation by Goldstein... This work is a solid step into a substantial and new view of what religion is about; it should be a part of every scholarly library, in religion as well as in Jewish studies.' David R. Blumenthal, Journal of the American Academy of Religion '... extensive and erudite introductions to every section of this magnum opus ... [Tishby's] introductory essays, as well as his annotations to the passages in these three volumes, demonstrate his vast erudition and comprehension of Kabbalistic theology and literature and thereby introduce the reader into the realms of Kabbalah hitherto inaccessible except to a coterie of scholars. The comprehensive bibliography, select glossary, an index of references to the Zohar, as well as an index of Scriptural references to the texts of this anthology, enhance our appreciation of this tour de force which deserves to adorn the bookshelf of the intelligent layman and the serious student.' S. B. Leperer, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 'Excellent English translation ... We are presented not only with the best available English translation of large sections of the Zohar but with an extensive, informed running commentary ... a brilliant introduction that situates the Zohar in its historical and theological context... with an extensive, informed running commentary that for the first time really makes the arcane, esoteric, Zoharic text available. In addition Tishby has provided an excellent introduction ... Every library of any size and quality should add this work to its collection.' S. P. Katz, Choice 'In many ways the crowning achievement of the Littman Library.' Samuel H. Dresner, Conservative Judaism 'An indispensable guide ... stylishly and accurately translated ... The bewildering diversity of the Zoharic literature is made manageable by the arrangement of the most important passages as an anthology under subject headings, while the lucid notes and introductions to each section by Isaiah Tishby throw light on even the most obscure passages.' Hyam Maccoby, European Judaism 'An elegant English translation ... [Tishby's] work on Jewish mysticism opened up new paths and helped to establish it as a focus of scholarship.' Hyam Maccoby, The Independent (from his obituary of Tishby) 'This superb addition to the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization comes already garlanded with awards ... These three volumes deserve, and demand, serious and committed study, equal to the enormous dedication and devotion that went into their production. We must be grateful to all concerned in opening this mysterious Jewish world to a wider audience.' Jonathan Magonet, Jewish Chronicle 'Makes possible, for the English-speaking reader, the study of a broad selection of texts from the Zohar thematically arranged and set in the context of a systematic exploration of their conceptual background. It is a work greatly to be welcomed ... there has long been a need for such a work... We should be grateful to David Goldstein for his decade of labour of love and to Louis Littman and the Littman Library for having the courage and commitment to support such a task ... each passage is well-footnoted, the great achievement of this project being to provide a guide for the uninitiated to the rich symbolism and metaphoric reference of the text ... There is something immensely rich and fertile about the text and texture of the work which has always been of broad appeal... David Goldstein's translation reads beautifully. Fortunately, he has added additional explanations, when necessary, to the notes ... There can be no doubt that The Wisdom of the Zohar affords the English-speaking reader a far deeper entry into the subject than was previously available... This translation ... must place him among the best translators of our time ... The Wisdom of the Zohar is therefore evidence that [Louis Littman's] vision of a Library of Jewish Civilization of a standard of excellence will not be forsaken.' Jonathan Wittenberg, Jewish Quarterly 'For over thirty years, Isaiah Tishby's study of the Zohar has been hailed as a classic, a landmark in modern Hebrew letters. Beautifully written and deeply learned, it has opened the recondite world of the Zohar to more than a generation of Hebrew readers. Thus, the appearance of the long-awaited English translation is a cause for celebration ... its mysterious power remains largely intact ... The Zohar ... is the richest, most imaginative work in the annals of Jewish mysticism ... Tishby's selection of primary sources is exemplary, and the commentaries to them, lucid ... the unusually fine, exacting translation ... the English reader remains in Goldstein's debt. Excellent indices have been provided, as well as an updated bibliography... essential reading for anyone seeking to plumb critically the depths of the Jewish mystical tradition ... this is a classic about a classic.' Elliott Ginsburg, Journal of Religion 'Its three-volume English translation now, for the first time, puts the Zohar truly at the disposal of students coming from other disciplines concerned with religious mysticism who appreciate the importance of treating the Jewish material seriously... it is a monumental achievement ... Goldstein's sensitive English version is a great convenience ... the service to scholarship of the Littman Library in making it available.' Raphael Loewe, L'Eylah 'La Littman Library of Jewish Civilization ajoute a sa panoplie d'etudes juives un des classiques des recherches modernes sur la mystique ... sera ... un element indispensable a la bibliographie de tout etudiant de la mystique ... la tradition anglaise, aussi erudite qu'elegante ... cette serie prestigieuse.' Paul Fenton, Revue des Aetudes Juives 'An essential aid for understanding the text of the Zohar, and Goldstein, the Littman Library ... have done us a great service in making it available in English translation ... any library which claims to cover Judaism and mysticism will have to have a copy of this book.' A. P. Hayman
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew
Original Language: Hebrew
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Trustworthy Translation of the Zohar,
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This review is from: The Wisdom of the Zohar: An Anthology of Texts (3 Volume Set) (Paperback)
In getting any stuff translated into English, one question that arises is "Is this a good translation of the original?" and this is especially important when we intend to read "holy stuff"."The Wisdom of the Zohar" is a set of 3 books (Volumes I, II and III), totalling more than 1500 pages. Isaiah Tishby was awarded the Bialik Prize (1972), the Israel Prize (1979) and the Rothschild Prize (1982) mainly for this work on "The Wisdom of the Zohar". David Goldstein was awarded the Webber Prize (1987) for the translation into English. Numerous footnotes appear corresponding to various verses to clarify the meanings which are not obvious. These I find particularly useful and make things understandable and avoiding misinterpretation on the part of the reader. Volume I covers the historical and literary background of the Zohar (half of the book) and Part I - The Godhead (about En-Sof and the World of Emanation, Sefirot, and Shekkinah). The second book, Volume II comprises Parts II, III, and IV. Part II is about the forces of Uncleanness, and activity of such, and also about demons and spirits eg. Lilith, Naamah, etc. Part III is about creation of Worlds and also about Angels and our natural world. Part IV is about the doctrine of Man (the three souls, body and soul connection, sleep & dreams, and Death). Volume III is the thickest book and comprise Parts V (Sacred Worship) and VI (Practical Life - Morality, Conjugal Life, the Righteous & the Wicked, Repentence). If you are interested in reading the Zohar in English, this is a good translation, and as demystified as it can be...
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding,
By
This review is from: The Wisdom of the Zohar: An Anthology of Texts (3 Volume Set) (Paperback)
A "must" for any English speaking serious student of the Zohar.While scholarly, plainly written and easy to read, and free from jargon. The introductory chapters that introduce the Kabbalah and the Zohar are plainly written for those without a background in Hebrew history and linguistics. Captivating and interesting. Hard to put down while reading. Lots of footnotes for the scholars as well. Well worth the purchase price. While it is three volumes, don't be intimidated by the size (nearly 1600 pages). It is a faster read if one skims over the footnotes, indices and appendices. Hint: shop around before buying.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Wisdom of the Zohar,
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This review is from: The Wisdom of the Zohar: An Anthology of Texts (3 Volume Set) (Paperback)
Just what we wanted...an exploratory reference for our study and understanding of Kabbalah. So happy our teacher recommended this Anthology.
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