Kabbalah: A Very Short Introduction

Kabbalah: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Joseph Dan
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195313488
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 145

Book Description
In Kabbalah: A Very Short Introduction, Joseph Dan, one of the world's leading authorities on Jewish mysticism, offers a concise and highly accurate look at the history and character of the various systems developed by the adherents of the Kabbalah. Dan sheds light on the many misconceptions about what Kabbalah is and isn't--including its connections to magic, astronomy, alchemy, and numerology--and he illuminates the relationship between Kaballah and Christianity on the one hand and New Age religion on the other. The book provides fascinating historical background, ranging from the mystical groups that flourished in ancient Judaism in the East, and the medieval schools of Kabbalah in Northern Spain and Southern France, to the widening growth of Kabbalah through the school of Isaac Luria of Safed in the sixteenth century, to the most potent and influential modern Jewish religious movement, Hasidism, and its use of kabbalistic language in its preaching. The book examines the key ancient texts of this tradition, including the Sefer Yezira or "Book of Creation," The Book of Bahir, and the Zohar. Dan explains Midrash, the classical Jewish exegesis of scriptures, which assumes an infinity of meanings for every biblical verse, and he concludes with a brief survey of scholarship in the field and a list of books for further reading. Embraced by celebrities and integrated in many contemporary spiritual phenomena, Kabbalah has reaped a wealth of attention in the press. But many critics argue that the form of Kabbalah practiced in Hollywood is more New Age pabulum than authentic tradition. Can there be a positive role for the Kabbalah in the contemporary quest for spirituality? In Kabbalah, Joseph Dan debunks the myths surrounding modern Kabbalistic practice, offering an engaging and dependable account of this traditional Jewish religious phenomenon and its impact outside of Judaism. About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.

Between Kant and Kabbalah

Between Kant and Kabbalah PDF Author: Alan L. Mittleman
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 9780791402399
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 242

Book Description
Detective Dave and his crime-solving mother return to take on the religious establishment out West, as Mom traces the connection between a small-time preacher's murder, some shady real estate promoters, the High Episcopal Church, and assorted fanatics

Judaism: A Very Short Introduction

Judaism: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Norman Solomon
Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks
ISBN: 0191606472
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 208

Book Description
Norman Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. In addition to answering questions such as Who are Jews? and How did Judaism Develop?, this Very Short Introduction outlines the basics of practical Judaism-its festivals, prayers, customs, and various sects. Modern concerns and debates of the Jewish people are also addressed, such as the impact of the Holocaust, the establishment of the State of Israel, the status of women, and medical and commercial ethics. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Jewish Literature: A Very Short Introduction

Jewish Literature: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Ilan Stavans
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190076992
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 144

Book Description
The story of Jewish literature is a kaleidoscopic one, multilingual and transnational in character, spanning the globe as well as the centuries. In this broad, thought-provoking introduction to Jewish literature from 1492 to the present, cultural historian Ilan Stavans focuses on its multilingual and transnational nature. Stavans presents a wide range of traditions within Jewish literature and the variety of writers who made those traditions possible. Represented are writers as dissimilar as Luis de Carvajal the Younger, Franz Kafka, Bruno Schulz, Isaac Babel, Anzia Yezierska, Elias Canetti, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Irving Howe, Clarice Lispector, Susan Sontag, Philip Roth, Grace Paley, Amos Oz, Moacyr Scliar, and David Grossman. The story of Jewish literature spans the globe as well as the centuries, from the marrano poets and memorialists of medieval Spain, to the sprawling Yiddish writing in Ashkenaz (the "Pale of Settlement' in Eastern Europe), to the probing narratives of Jewish immigrants to the United States and other parts of the New World. It also examines the accounts of horror during the Holocaust, the work of Israeli authors since the creation of the Jewish State in 1948, and the "ingathering" of Jewish works in Brazil, Bulgaria, Argentina, and South Africa at the end of the twentieth century. This kaleidoscopic introduction to Jewish literature presents its subject matter as constantly changing and adapting.

Simple Kabbalah

Simple Kabbalah PDF Author: Kim Zetter
Publisher: Conari Press
ISBN: 1609252055
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 232

Book Description
In Simple Kabbalah, journalist and Jewish scholar Kim Zetter outlines the history of this mystic tradition, the main tenets of its belief system, and explains its central symbol, the Tree of Life. She then shows how to practice the wisdom of Kabbalah in everyday life through meditation and exercises for calming the mind and sharpening awareness. As we gradually absorb this ancient form of knowledge, we see how it affects every aspect of our lives, from attitudes about work and the environment to our social and personal interactions. Despite its popularity at cocktail parties and in the media, few people genuinely understand what Kabbalah is. Unlike traditional Judaism, Kabbalah views God as a divine source of light, energy, and love, ever present in the physical world, rather than a patriarchal diety. Kabbalah practitioners look beyond a literal interpretation of the Hebrew Bible for information about the soul; the nature of God, Creation, and the spiritual world; and humans' relationship to God and to each other.

The Secret World of Kabbalah

The Secret World of Kabbalah PDF Author: Judith Z. Abrams
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing
ISBN: 1580132243
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 82

Book Description
A rabbi introduces Kabbalah by providing its history and explaining its basic tenets using simple examples and kid-friendly text.

Kabbalah for Beginners

Kabbalah for Beginners PDF Author: Michele Gilbert
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781516970490
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 34

Book Description
Would you like to get a better understanding of what Kabbalah Is ? Do you want to improve your life in ways that you have been dreaming of? Do you want peace, happiness, and perhaps miracles to come into your life? Read "Kabbalah For Beginners An Introduction To The Wisdom Of Kabbalah" For a simple to understand, and everyday explanation of this timeless practice. In "Kabbalah For Beginners" you will discover: The Brief Overview - What Is The Kabbalah? - A simple to understand, everyday explanation of this timeless secret The History Of Kabbalah - The History Of The Kabbalah - Where, what, why and how Aspects of Kabbalah like.. . - Keter - harness the power of your super-conscious mind - Binah - understand the true state of joy - Chochmah - discover the art of selflessness - Da'at - improve your concentration and memory - Chesed - explore your emotions - Gevurah - trust how to give correctly - Tiferet - awaken your heart and mercy and many more... Kabbalah For Beginners can help you develop your spiritual skills and gain a better understanding of the world around you. Just Scroll to the top and select the BUY button and receive your copy today of "Kabbalah For Beginners An Introduction To The Wisdom Of The Kabbalah"

Absorbing Perfections

Absorbing Perfections PDF Author: Moshe Idel
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300135076
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 686

Book Description
In this wide-ranging discussion of Kabbalah—from the mystical trends of medieval Judaism to modern Hasidism—one of the world’s foremost scholars considers different visions of the nature of the sacred text and of the methods to interpret it. Moshe Idel takes as a starting point the fact that the postbiblical Jewish world lost its geographical center with the destruction of the temple and so was left with a textual center, the Holy Book. Idel argues that a text-oriented religion produced language-centered forms of mysticism. Against this background, the author demonstrates how various Jewish mystics amplified the content of the Scriptures so as to include everything: the world, or God, for example. Thus the text becomes a major realm for contemplation, and the interpretation of the text frequently becomes an encounter with the deepest realms of reality. Idel delineates the particular hermeneutics belonging to Jewish mysticism, investigates the progressive filling of the text with secrets and hidden levels of meaning, and considers in detail the various interpretive strategies needed to decodify the arcane dimensions of the text.

Criminal Kabbalah

Criminal Kabbalah PDF Author: Lawrence W. Raphael
Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing
ISBN: 1580231098
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 258

Book Description
This anthology of 13 mystery stories touches on various aspects of Judaism, with selections from Kinky Friedman, Stuart Kaminsky and more.

Introduction to the Book of Zohar, Volume 1

Introduction to the Book of Zohar, Volume 1 PDF Author: Yehudah Ashlag
Publisher: Laitman Kabbalah Publishers
ISBN: 0973231564
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 612

Book Description
The Science of Kabbalah (Pticha) is the first in a series of texts that Rav Michael Laitman, Kabbalist and scientist, designed to introduce readers to the special language and terminology of the Kabbalah. Here, Rav Laitman reveals authentic Kabbalah in a manner that is both rational and mature. Readers are gradually led to an understanding of the logical design of the Universe and the life whose home it is. The Science of Kabbalah, a revolutionary work that is unmatched in its clarity, depth, and appeal to the intellect, will enable readers to approach the more technical works of Baal HaSulam (Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag), such as 'Talmud Eser Sefirot' and Zohar. Although scientists and philosophers will delight in its illumination, laymen will also enjoy the satisfying answers to the riddles of life that only authentic Kabbalah provides. Now, travel through the pages and prepare for an astonishing journey into the 'Upper Worlds'.
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