Customer Reviews

Zohar (5 Volume set)

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The Zohar is the most important text of the Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition. Though there are many partial translations available, this is the most comprehensive. In 5 volumes, the authors translate about 35% of the full text of the Zohar. It only translates the main core of the Zohar, the part that interprets the Bible. The rest of the books of the Zohar are omitted. Sometimes the translation seems to be inaccurate, and notes are very sparse, so a good knowledge of Kabbalah is recommended. Comes with introduction, glossary, and explanatory essays. A good buy if you're interested in Kabbalah.

This five volume set offers the best translation of the Zohar available in English as yet. While it does not contain the entire Zohar, it offers enough so that if one feels inclined, they may also read the Kabbalah centre translation. What is refreshing about the soncino edition is they did not add commentary to the text like so many other translators do. This is the problem with such translations as the one by Daniel Matt or the Kabbalah centre, while their commentary may have some jewls of wisdom in it, the bulk is very misleading, and reptative. In Daniel Matt's translation, he also misplaces certain esoteric sections of the Zohar into a separate book, like a section describing the chambers in the palace of light. Not knowing that All sections were placed in their order for a reason. For these reasons, I would recomend the soncino edition. And because the Zohar is so obscure, it is a good idea to study it with someone who knows the text most intimately from a mystical perscective, without such a guide, one will likely find reading the Zohar confusing and cryptic.
The Ari of safed used to engadge in a practice where he would read a section of the Zohar over and over and over until he could see what it meant. This is actualy the only way that I know of to understand the Zohar.
The Zohar is a great jewel of wisdom for those who can look and see.
Praise the most High!

Despite the length (over 2000 pages) this English translation is only a part of the actual Sepher ha Zohar (Book of Splendor). The rest was to a large degree untranslatable due to its symbology, plays on words, etc. Yet, the authors (and it took a team to do it) did a great service to Kabbalah in particular and mysticism in general but completing this herculean effort. The Zohar presents itself as a Midrash or commentary on the Bible. This is an ancient literary form. It attributes its authorship to Shimon bar Yohai, an ancient Kabbalistic master who is also the main character in the book. To a large degree, the book is about the wanderings of this itinerant master with his disciples--especially their discussions and encounters. Gershom Scholem attributes the work to Moses de Leon in medieval Spain. de Leon claimed that he discovered the text but didn't write it. Moshe Idel argues that de Leon (judging from his other works, for example) could not have written it alone, was evidently part of a Kabbalistic circle of masters including Joseph Gikatilla, and that it was written by the group (perhaps based on a discovered scrap or fragment). Who knows? The work stands on its own as the reputedly greatest Kabbalistic work of all time. However, anyone at all familiar with Kabbalah knows how steeped in symbolism it was. Indeed, much of it was passed on by word of mouth. Thus, publication of the Zohar was a watershed event. The only other great work that might rival it, Moses Cordovero's "Garden of Pomegranetes," has not been translated into English, unfortunately. The Simon, Sperling, et al translation is by far the most comprehensive (as far as I know) and does include some descriptions and analysis, but it is most definitely NOT a commentary on the Zohar. Most of them are one volume long and not all that helpful (see Scholem's or Yehuda Liebes's commentaries). So, whatever you do, do NOT make this your first read Kabbalah book. Rather, read some of the numerous introductory books (e.g. "Introduction to Cabala" by Halevi) or any of many others. Then try some intermediate texts and commentaries such as those of Aryeh Kaplan (he did commentaries on the Bahir, Sepher Yetzirah, and Nachman's Tales) and, above all read lots of Gershom Scholem's works, especially "Kabbalah" and "Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism." Then, and only then, try this book. Its a challenge, but well worth the time for those who are ready for it. I found it to be complicated and very variable as to style. There are straight-forward (though symbolic to a degree) teaching stories as well as rather mysterious passages of unknown intention. It should be noted that the Zohar includes some later additions such as the Tikkuney Zohar which sometimes conflict with the basic text. This is a book for the serious student of Kabbalah. For such folks, however, it is indispensible.

This set of books has the Potential to be SUPER. However, the set that I received has serious FLAWS. Book III is missing part of the last chapter and also the Glossary. The last chapter in Book V is NOT Ha'azinu, as it should be, but it is Shemini which is a repeat of the last chapter from Book IV. Also, the Appendix is missing from this Book V. Not the seller's fault unless they knew about this. I see the publisher, Soncino Press as the perpetrator of the crime here. Caveat Emptor. CHECK YOUR BOOKS.

This edition of the Zohar is not the complete text of the Zohar, however it is a complete translation of its commentary on the Pentateuch. The translators also note in the introduction that, "This edition of the Zohar represents a complete translation of what we may refer to as the Zohar proper...Two extra-Zoharic works that are often commonly grouped together with the Zohar - the Zohar Chadash and the Tikkunei Zohar - are not part of this edition." I find the books to be very good quality, and the translation very readable, while not being overly simplistic. And at less than $100, a bargain compared to the 23 volume Kabbalah Center version, and the now 6 volume out of a planned total of 12 volumes Pritzker edition. If you want the entire Zohar get one of those editions, but if you want the core of the Zohar's teachings, beyond what you can get in an introduction to Kabbalah book, then this is the perfect collection in my opinion.

I purchased the Zohar 5 volume set as a christmas gift for a friend. She is half way through the first book and already raving about the insight she is receiving from the book.

While it is a herculean task, it leaves a lot to be desired. Mostly, I would have liked to see the Aramaic (or a Hebrew Translation)added to the text. It would help a lot to understand some of the things which are simply not translatable.

I cannot imagine anyone who dosn't have a basic knowledge of Hebrew and/or Aramaic trying to read this text anyway.

It is a good start however.

if my memory serves me corectly this is not the complete set of the zohar. the entire zohar was not translated into english untill the kabbalah center finaly translated it this last 15 years. up untill that there were only 5 volumes translated into english. i would save my money and by the one put out by the kabbalah center. if you want to look at their zohar set they have the whole thing on line at [...]i would by theirs as it is the most acurate one out there.

This is an esoteric text of jewish mysticism. The vast majority of the book is simply an interpretation of the bible. It's maybe the most obscure book I've ever encountered. For most people, the "mysteries of the Zohar" are simply inaccessible, period.