The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism

by Daniel Chanan Matt and Daniel C. Matt

Book Overview

A translation of the Kabbalah for the layperson includes a compact presentation of each primary text and features a practical analysis and vital historical information that offer insight into the various aspects of Jewish mysticism.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062511637
• ISBN13: 9780062511638
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

A Great Read For Learners

I first heard about the art of Kabbalah through celebrities such as Madonna and Demi Moore. I figured if it touched some of the shallowest people in the world, I might as well learn about its background. This essential guide to the ancient Jewish mysticism of Kabbalah is complete and concise for beginning learners of the faith. Daniel C. Matt separates the book into various sections dealing with one particular topic accompanied by an excerpt from the text with signifance to that topic. The book also expresses deep thought into beliefs discussed in the Torah/Old Testament which I found to be helpful and engaging. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone interested in the faith of Kabbalah. It's simply a great read!

Kabbalah For Dummies

Next to Hinduism, I've found a comprehension of Kabbalah's message to be quite the challenge.Finally in Matt's work we have an explanation of Jewish mysticism that MAKES SENSE!

Helpful, Not Essential

I picked up this slim book expecting a simple, New Age-y take on a complex tradition. The fact that so few selections run over a page and the authors get banished to the end notes didn't help to dispel this impression. But reading more closely I was surprised by how well Matt manages to cover some of the Kabbalah's central obsessions in such a short space. The intricate patterns of the Sefirot, the notion of God's 'Nothingness', and a more philosophical account of Creation than the version in Genesis all make a concise appearance. Reading authors from different centuries on the same subject helps to reinforce some of the trickier ideas. The intro and notes lean heavily on Gershom Scholem's more detailed scholarship. I'd have liked to see more passages from the Zohar (the most famous text of Kabbalah, which Matt's translated), and a historical arrangement would appeal to readers looking for more than Chicken Soup for the Soul. But Matt compensates with useful notes and a good bibliography. The translations themselves are clear but not afraid to shy away from knotty philosphical concepts that will have you thinking of parallels from Buddhism to the Big Bang. The book left me wanting to read more from the texts, which was probably its aim. A helpful start for anyone interested in learning about this fascinating tradition.