From AudioFile
Kabbalah is the deeply spiritual study of the soul and internal mysteries of Jewish philosophy clothed in allegory and requiring extensive knowledge of the Torah and Talmud. Daniel C. Matt provides a clear overview of the tenets and history of Kabbalah, along with illuminating excerpts from the original text. Edward Asner reads this philosophical work with a deep, slow, sonorous tone, which relaxes the listener. As the history is left behind, Asner's steady narration opens the mind and allows the finer points to sink in while contemplating the overall picture told by the stories. When the audiobook ends, the listener will want to hear it again to try to better understand these mysteries, which seem a little clearer after each period of listening. M.B.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Book Description
New from the bestselling author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying--365 thought-provoking meditations on life, death, doubt, mindfulness, compassion, wisdom, work, and more!


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew


From the Publisher
A compact presentation of all the primary texts of Kabbalah, elegantly rendered with poetic nuances, exotic imagery, and bold innovation--from one of the foremost authorities on Jewish mysticism.


About the Author
Daniel C. Matt has written many books and articles on Jewish spirituality, including Zohar:The Book of Enlightenment and God and the Big Bang. He is a professor of Jewish mysticism at the Center for Jewish Studies, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

For hundreds of years, the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah has not been available for general readership. Now, Daniel Matt - an internationally respected authority on Jewish mysticism - has gathered together the most important, delightful, and profound passages from all the literature of Kabbalah in this extraordinary presentation, elegantly rendered with poetic nuances, exotic imagery, and bold innovation. Beautifully introduced with lucid analysis and vital historical information, The Essential Kabbalah offers insightful accounts of the primary aspects of Jewish mysticism, including Ein Sof (the radical transcendence of God), the Sefirot (the ten divine attributes), and the Shekhinah (the feminine aspect of God). Selections of text are rendered with clarity and an eye for the magical. The Essential Kabbalah is a crucial and momentous contribution to the normally esoteric world of Jewish mysticism.

SYNOPSIS

An anthology of important, profound, and beautiful selections from the cabalistic texts, arranged and introduced by Daniel Chanan Matt, an authority on Jewish mysticism and author of Zohar: The Book of Enlightenment. This is an accessible but authoritative introduction to the history and significance of the kabbalah, ideal for readers just beginning to explore the subject.

FROM THE CRITICS

AudioFile - Miriam B. Kahn