The Book of Letters: A Mystical Hebrew Alphabet

by Lawrence Kushner

Book Overview

In these old prayerbook-like pages you will enter a world of sacred tradition and religious feeling. Weaves Talmudic commentary, Hasidic folktales and Kabbalistic mysteries around the Hebrew alphabet to reveal each letter's special personality and meaning.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1683363442
• ISBN13: 9781683363446
• Release Date: October 1990
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.8" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Sefer OTiYOT is truly a Prayerbook of Hebrew Letters

The first words from the Book Cover, speak literal truth: When opening this Prayerbook-feeling of like pages as "The Book of Letters" you enter a special world of sacred, traditional and religious feeling. More than just symbols, all 22 letters of the Hebrew Alef-Bait become like personalities all their own. The SEFER OTiYOT exist independently of ink and paper or even words. The good Rabbi again spins out his volumes of meaning, much the same as in the Introduction to The BOOK Of WORDS. "The SEFER OTiYOY (written in Hebrew letters) have been a mystical Alef-Bait and fantasy for the Jewish people all through their history...One mythical hope with this book is to keep that tradition alive for so many who have even forgotten some of the letters!" Each beautifully ornamented Hebrew Letter from ALEF...to SHIN... to TAV...is carefully introduced almost in Rabbinical language! I can only quote from SHIN: "Shin is the letter just before the end. It is the fitting together of all the parts. The restoration of all the scattered shards parts. This is Shin: Peace (Hebrew) SHALOM. Completion. Wholeness. Rabbi Kushner likely spent many hours, many days, maybe even many years, creatively putting together these mystical letters and words of the Hebrew Alef-Bait. What a treasure of spiritual depth, learning and wisdom in few pages. Reverently from Retired Chap Fred W Hood

Stunning

It is believed that G-d spoke the universe into existance using the letters of the Hebrew Alefbet. Each letter, therefore, carries within it one 22nd of the energy of the universe. Kushner captures this so beautifully in The Book of Letters. Each page is a collage. Each letter beautifully drawn. Each description a love letter to G-d. This is truly a holy book.

New Every Time I Read It

I borrowed this book and read it for the first time about 15 years ago. How could such a slim volume have so much wisdom and power and poetry in it? Both my wife and I found it deeply moving and enlightening as we explored what it meant to be Jews in a modern world, while part of a faith and tradition that had deep and ancient roots. When I tried to buy a copy, I learned that it was out of print and had been for a while. We decided that this was an unacceptable situation. We heard about so many people who loved this book and wanted to share it with others. So, we started Jewish Lights Publishing to bring it back into print. Read it and you'll understand why, whether you are Jewish or Christian or just seeking. And, the whole thing is in calligraphy from Larry Kushner's own hand -- just the icing on this mystical treat.

Beautiful

This is a beautiful book. I look at it from time to time and remember the beauty of the hebrew alphabet and words that can be formed. We all need to be reminded of the beautiful creation of the world from time to time.