Chapter 1 Seekers of Unity: The Nature of Mysticism Chapter 2 Visionaries, Mystics, and Kabbalists: The History of Jewish Mysticism Chapter 3 The Hidden and the Revealed: The Infinite God of Jewish Mysticism Chapter 4 The Calculus of the Divine World: The Teaching of the Sefirot Chapter 5 The Shekhinah: The Feminine Aspect of God Chapter 6 Entering the Garden: The Meaning of Torah Chapter 7 The Oneness of Being: The Destiny of the Soul Chapter 8 The Mystic Drama: The Religious Life of the Jewish Mystic Chapter 9 Raising the Sparks: Modern Jewish Mysticism Chapter 10 Mysticism and Meditation: The Mystic Quest
David Ariel is President of the Laura and Alvin Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland. He is the author of the best selling book What Do Jews Believe? The Spiritual Foundations of Judaism, and Spiritual Judaism: Restoring Heart and Soul to Jewish Life. Ariel lives in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
Ariel (Laura and Alvin Siegal College of Judaic Studies) offers a
helpful, readable introduction to the complex, arcane world of
kabbalah. Most importantly, the book is an accurate description of
its subject (not always true for books on Jewish mysticism).
Following a useful review of scholarly views on the nature of
mysticism, Ariel presents a brief history of Jewish mysticism from
the 6th century BCE and the prophecy of Ezekiel following the
destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, to the composition
and publication of the most famous work of kabbalah, the Zohar, at
the end of the 13th century. Two chapters review the esoteric
doctrines of the Zohar, especially the Sefiroth, God's emanated
attributes; included is a discussion of the Shekinah, the feminine
aspect of the divine. Four additional chapters take up other
central topics, such as the meaning of Torah according to the
kabbalists, the destiny of one's soul, the mystical meaning of
Jewish ritual obligations (mitzvot), the practice of meditation,
and the influence of kabbalah in Hasidism. Overall, this is a
wide-ranging, thoughtfully constructed, user-friendly introduction
to kabbalah. Libraries serving Judaica and religion programs will
want to purchase it. . . . Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates
through graduate students.
*CHOICE, October 2006*
This is the first book in the post Kabbalah is chic era that does
not sacrifice personal meaning for intellectual depth. David Ariel
has found that very special place from which to teach Kabbalah. He
is analyst and participant, objective scholar and passionate
believer and thus speaks to our minds and hearts.
*Rabbi Irwin Kula, President, National Jewish Center for Learning
and Leadership (CLAL)*
Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest In Judaism by David Ariel is the first
book to provide an intellectual focus on Kabbalah, providing a
scholarly study of Jewish mysticism suitable for the nonspecialist
as well as the Jewish thinker. People outside the Jewish faith are
exploring concepts of Kabbalah and applying them to life
situations, so this revised edition represents the perfect study
for all faiths to provide a focus on academic scholarship and
understanding Jewish mysticism. From basic concepts of the divine
world in the Kabbalah to the influences of Greek and other
philosophies, Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest In Judaism is packed with
memorable insights.
*Midwest Book Review*
David Ariel has produced a wonderful description and explication of
Kabbalah in his work Kabbalah: the Mystic Quest in Judaism.
*Jewish Book World*
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