Customer Reviews

Zohar: Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)

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This work, a careful update of Matt's earlier edition of Zohar excerpts, provides an accurate and thoughtful translation of many of the most important sections of the Zohar, a primary text in the mystical tradition of the kabbalah. The Zohar itself is voluminous, and it has never been fully translated into English. This book, though, is short and just covers a few essential areas of the Zohar. While basic, it is not watered-down. It's a great place to start if you've recently heard about the Zohar and are wondering about it. There are a lot of unreliable and "fluffy" treatments filling the shelves these days -- this is the authentic article, prepared by one of the most highly regarded scholars in the field.

If you like this book, you might also be interested in the same translator's new, complete translation of the entire Zohar. It's being published volume-by-volume by Stanford University Press. But if you just want the highlights, if you just want to see what this text is about, then this Skylight edition is the way to go.

In the Foreword, series editor Andrew Harvey relates his interesting experience with a wise man in Israel who taught him about the seven wonders of Kabbalah, whilst in the Preface Daniel Matt explains the origin of this book of commentary, drawn from his volume for the Paulist Press. These are the most powerful passages from that book in a revised translation.

The introduction deals with the history and contents of the Zohar, a commentary on the 5 books of Moses written in the form of a mystical novel. The questions of its original author/s, the language, and the Ten Sefirot are also discussed here. I found this interpretation of the first words of Genesis very interesting, as well as the insight that the Zohar urges us to regain cosmic consciousness, a closer connection to the divine.

From a linguistic perspective, it is valuable to learn of the neologisms and the use of multiple connotations, oxymorons, puns, parables and puzzles in the text. A chart of the Sefirot is provided. Chapters 1 to 17 consist of selected passages from the Zohar on the right-hand page, with commentary on the left. Chapter titles include The Essence Of Torah, The Creation Of God, The Hidden Light, Adam's Sin, The Binding Of Abraham and Isaac, Jacob's Garment Of Days, the Secret Of Sabbath, The Aroma Of Infinity, God, Israel and Shekhinah, and The Wedding Celebration.

The book concludes with notes, a glossary, a bibliography and an index of Zohar Passages. I did not find this book very clear or accessible at first. It was only after I had read The Essential Zohar: The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom by Rav P S Berg that I returned to this one and it made sense. For the novice, I recommend the work by Berg as it is a more comprehensive and cohesive introduction to this fascinating esoteric book.

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Daniel Matt's beautifully annotated Zohar leads one into the depth of Jewish mysticism while celebrating the wisdom of our ancestors. Study of the Kabalah requires a teacher, one who can guide the learner deeper into Torah and Talmud, and is not for the easily discouraged. This is a complex book with multiple levels of meaning and Daniel Matt opens the door to the initiate.

I just wanted to leave a note to those interested in buying this product. I recently read this book and the way it was set up made it very easy to read. It is also easy to take with you because of its size. So i do reccomend it.

The book is a very good introduction to Kabbalah through some translations of its major reference, the Zohar. It focuses on several passages, and how they relate to the Ten Sefirot - about Adam (Adam's sin - driving out the divine), Abraham & Sarah (prophecy of a child - opening to the divine), Abraham & Isaac (balance of love and judgement), Jacob (garment of days - Torah/Zohar - key to the whole world - including resurrection), Joseph (dreams are reflections of the mind - Shekhinah enters), etc.

The book's forward is very good in offering seven 'wonders' of Kabbalah, as a preface to embarking further - like 1) vision of the infinite, Ein Sof, 2) fusion of male/female, good/evil and light/dark, 3) flowing of the Ten Sefirot, 4) Shekhinah - feminine side of God, body of the soul, 5) creativity of Kabbalah, 6) God needs us as we need God - tikkun ha nefesh (mending the soul) and tikkun olam (mending the world), and 7) the glory of living a 'divine' life.

Some other things from the book I think worth mentioning are:

1. Parts of Kabbalah may have been composed by 'automatic writing' - the authors writing while in a state of meditation - writing more from inspiration than analytical thought.

2. The Zohar is poetic, mysterious - only suggests, hints.

3. Zohar means 'radiance' - hidden power.

4. Light shows for the righteous - understanding the Torah.

5. God at Sinai reveals himself through letters.

6. The Sabbath - brings in Shekhinah

Overall, the book is very good, but really just an introduction.

The book gave me insights into the Zohar, but I felt it didn't give me all of the passages that needed clarification. Since I am just starting to investigate the Zohar, I'll read some other books and come back to this one, maybe I'll be ready for it then.

Would highly recommend this book. It is a keeper, to study, read, and read again. To share with friends. Daniel Matt is a wonderful teacher. He has the ability to take you deeply into spiritual truth that otherwise would not be available. Life changing. Would recommend anything written by this author. He is a one of a kind teacher. A treasue.

great expectations, and this vendor lived up to to mine. the book came quickly and in perfect condition. it arrived just as it appears and it's sitting on my night table waiting for me to dive in and devour it. i will definitely buy from this vendor again.