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: 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.
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