The Mystical Tradition: Insights into the Nature of the Mystical Tradition in Judaism (The Mystical Dimension, Vol. 1) (Hardcover)

by Jacob Immanuel Schochet (Author) "Mystics and their followers are often asked what the Kabbalah and Chassidism can tell us today..." (more)
Key Phrases: bitul hayesh, sitra achara, mystical concepts, Baal Shem Tov, Chaim Vital, Likutei Sichot (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Jewish mysticism has long fascinated and intrigued scholars and truth-seekers of every kind. Kabbalah, the esoteric wisdom of Judaism, and chasidism, its more accessible modern counterpart, have been the sublect of endless study and research. An authentic and scholarly English text that draws upon the full spectrum of traditional Jewish sources is a most valuable addition to this study. In this three-volume series, Rabbi Schochet, presents a sweeping survey of the major themes and concepts found in kabbalah and chasidism, and show how the exoteric and esoteric aspects of Torah complement each other in a manner analogous to body and soul of one entity.

Volume One: The Mystical Tradition - An overview of the general nature of Jewish mysticism, its place within Judaism, the unique aspects that distinguish it from non-Jewish mysticism, and the significance of its dissemination in modern times.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 165 pages
• Publisher: Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826605281
• ISBN-13: 978-0826605283
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #868,450 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MYSTICAL TRADITION DEMYSTIFIED, May 21, 2000

By	I. MUSENSON (Los Angeles CA) - See all my reviews

Dr. Schochet's "The Mystical Tradition", the first volume of an astounding trilogy called "The Mystical Dimension," is an extra-ordinary text that demystifies the Jewish mystical tradition, known as "Kabbalah" to make it understood even by laymen. The first part ("To Be One With the One") explains the basic objective of the Kabbalah and Hassidism: what they teach, their perspective of world, mankind,life, the bond between the material and spiritual, Divine monism and so forth. With practical examples, relating the subject-matters to science and philosophy, carefully annotated to let the original texts speak for themselves, the reader will not only be informed and educated but inspired. The author succeeds in making the contents a relevant living reality, far beyond the merely academic. The second part, "Authentic Tradition vs. Subjective Intuitions," is an absolute must-reading to understand the fundamental difference between historical Jewish Mysticism and "new age philosophies," currently popular neo-Kabbalah teachings in vogue with Hollywood stars, and other cults. It offers important insights to distinguish authentic tradition from subjective cults. The third part explains the rise in the promulgation and popularization of Kabbalah and Hassidism in the last 2 centuries after the Jewish mystical tradition was generally kept cocealed and reserved to the learned initiates. This volume, along with the other 2 ("Deep Calling Unto Deep" and "Chassidic Dimensions") which deal with more specific subjects (the mystical dimensions of Prayer, Repentance,Inter-human relations, Ritual Laws, the Concept of the Saint etc., is an absoilute must-reading for anyone interested in obtaining an authentic view based on, and culled from, the original sources of the Kabbalah and Hassidism.