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Kabbalah: The Way of the Jewish Mystic (Paperback)

~ Perle Epstein (Author) "Study of Kabbalah is likened to entering a splendid but dangerous garden..." (more)
Key Phrases: cosmic tree, divine influx, pure marble, Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Simeon, Shneur Zalman (more...)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"* "Explains the Kabbalah with as much clarity as it can be explained and with a genulne feeling for mystic lore. I recommend it to all readers." - Isaac Bashevis Singer, author of The Chosen" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.


Product Description

A comprehensive explanation and history of the secret tradition of Jewish mysticism - its methods, schools, and practitioners.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 171 pages
  • Publisher: Shambhala (March 12, 1988)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0877734380
  • ISBN-13: 978-0877734383
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,609,917 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Author

Perle Besserman
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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First Sentence:
Study of Kabbalah is likened to entering a splendid but dangerous garden. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
cosmic tree, divine influx, pure marble, mystical practice, vowel points, animal self, mystical life
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Simeon, Shneur Zalman, Dov Baer, Rabbi Nehuniah, Rebbe Nachman, Rabbi Akiva, Holy Land, Joseph Caro, Moses Cordovero, Rabbi Nathan, Shem Tov the Sephardi, Isaac Luria, Rabbi Joseph, Jewish Law, Lurianic Kabbalah, Maggid of Mezerich, Rabbi Eleazar, Throne of Glory, Abraham Abulafia, Abulafian Kabbalist, Chayim Vital, High Priest, Aryeh Kaplan, Isaac of Akko
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This book cites 25 books:
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Kabbalah by Professor Moshe Idel
 

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4.2 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to Jewish spirituality!, October 11, 1999
This book was first written back in the '60's and published in the early 70's, when so many Jews were going to Eastern religions in search of the spirituality that (they thought) was not in Judaism. At that point in time, there was -- hard as it is to believe now -- very little material available about Jewish mysticism for the popular-level English reader. Seekers either had to struggle through the post-Ph.D.-level heaviness of Gershom Scholem's academic style, or learn Hebrew and read the source texts. Either was a daunting task for the casual seeker who just wanted some authentic info about kabbalah and how the Jewish mystics practiced its forms of meditation, etc..

Enter Perle Epstein (now Perle Besserman). She was already doing a series on the various forms of mysticism, and had already covered Buddhism, Zen, etc., so she decided her next project would be on the mysticism of her own Jewish background.

(As an interesting aside: Like so many assimilated Jews of that era, Epstein came to mysticism and meditation through yoga and Hinduism first, and was not a religious Jew when she began the "Kabbalah" project. So, she had a two-fold struggle: (1) to find the teachings, and (2) to confront her own issues and stereotypes about the Orthodox Jews she was interviewing. The personal story of these struggles and how she collected the material for "Kabbalah" is told in "Pilgrimage: Adventures of a Wandering Jew" which, as far as I know, is out of print but well worth tracking down a copy.)

The influence of her Eastern studies and practical experience with Hindu gurus and Zen masters can be seen in "Kabbalah," such as the way she describes the 16th-century Safed community of Rabbi Isaac Luria as a "Jewish Shangri-la" and a sort of ashram community, -- which, in a sense, it was. This made the teachings very understandable people who were already familiar with the Eastern forms of meditation. In fact, it was the first popular book I know of that clearly identified some of the practices as forms of visualization, use of mantras, etc.

In my opinion, these types of cross-cultural comparisons are very helpful to Jews (and others) who want an introduction to how Jewish mysticism has been practiced down through the centuries. The book is not an academic tome, but is written in a clear popular, almost poetic style that I found a delight to read the first time around, and have returned to again and again. For many years during the 70's and 80's, this book was my #2 recommendation to Jewish beginners in kabbalah, as well as non-Jews wanting to know something about our spirituality. (my #1 recommendation was "9 1/2 Mystics" by Herbert Weiner).

I am delighted to see that Epstein's book is available again, so I can recommend it on my website.

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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Good history..., March 28, 2003
By J. Edgar (ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Kabbalah: The Way of The Jewish Mystic (Shambhala Classics) (Paperback)
I am a Christian...
I read this book because it was given to me by a friend. I wasnt disappointed... but it wasnt exactly enchanting either. Basically, this book gives a good history of the practices of Kaballah. However, the author mostly ignores the ancient practices, and skips to the middle ages. Basically, the Author outlines the three main practices of Kaballah, tells where they came from and gives a very general idea of how they are practiced. You wont find a guide to practicing Kaballah in here... and you wont find a guide to enhancing your own meditations. I did find it slightly helpful, and it gave me a few ideas for enhancing my meditations - but for the most part it isnt worth your time.
I wouldnt recommend this to Christians, because it only gives you a history from about the mid-ages onward. I was hoping to atleast find some insight into how the ancients practiced Kaballah, but the book only makes a few references to the ancients.
The only people i would recommend this book to are people who are only seeking a history of Kaballistic practices, and curiosity seekers looking to find out more about what Kaballah is and where it came from.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Background not hands on how to., May 3, 2009
By Gary Sprandel (Frankfort, Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Kabbalah: The Way of The Jewish Mystic (Shambhala Classics) (Paperback)
This book presents a history of Jewish Mysticism from Rabbi Akiva and Merhabah (throne mysticism), Safed to Hassidism and the Baal Shem Tov. Epstein presents a view of Safed, as a Jewish Shangri-La, as a center of creation of Kababalist tradition five centuries ago. "Because of its communal nature, Jewish mystical practice presents a double burden: one must not only learn to cleave to God, but he must take the entire community, the entire creation with him.". The largest part of this book is on Kabbalist practices, with an introduction to the path of the spheres; path of the letters; and path of ecstasy. The introductory tales of Rabbi Akiva, presents how ridiculous it is to someone to "casually" pick of Kabballah, and that should not be the intent of the reader. This is not a how to book, but rather an exploration of different practices. She presents interesting parallels between the Jewish saint (tzaddik), and the Buddhist bodhisattva as well as parallels to Taoist meditation. . I found this to be a good accompaniment to The Teaching Company course on "The Mystical Tradition".
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4.0 out of 5 stars This wasn't what I was expecting
I bought this book believing it would teach how to practise the Kabbalah.

This book is more a history of Kabbalistic though and practises since the middle ages. Read more

Published on January 2, 2001 by W. Lambdin

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