Kabbalah: A Very Short Introduction
E-Book: 140 English Pages
Publisher: OUP
Download: Kabbalah: A Very Short Introduction (). FREE DOWNLOAD
Keenly aware of the daunting task of condensing thousands of years of history into a “very short introduction,” Dan, the Gershom Scholem Professor of Kabbalah at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, sharply defines his mission: from the historical perspective of religious ideas, “…there is no ‘true’ meaning that is above all others,” so he seeks to “present some of the most prominent characteristics of the different phenomena…described as ‘kabbalistic’ in various periods, countries and cultural contexts.” Beginning in the second century CE and continuing through the present day, Dan methodically details the changing definition and practice of Kabbalah, incorporating a wide array of tangential texts and illustrations. He addresses not only ancient Jewish mysticism, but the fifteenth century hybrid Christian Kabbalah, the myriad Hasidic interpretations and contemporary New Age applications. A six-point summary of the most likely ways in which readers today may encounter the Kabbalah and an extensive list of suggested further reading round out the book’s conclusion. This survey of Kabbalah offers deep history in succinct fashion, resulting in a fascinating and highly readable effort.
Review
“Dan has given us the best concise history of Jewish mysticism…. As a ‘very short introduction’ to this sublime treasure house, Joseph Dan’s book is warmly recommended.”
–Benjamin Balint, Commentary
“This survey of Kabbalah offers deep history in succinct fashion, resulting in a fascinating and highly readable effort.”
—Publishers Weekly
“In a little more than a hundred pages, Dan races through more than a thousand years of Jewish religious texts, explaining a vast, amorphous body of beliefs and practices that have influenced Freemasons, Hasidim, Carl Jung, New Age gurus and, more recently, Hollywood celebrities. It’s quite a performance, carried off with only a few stumbles.”
–William Grimes, The New York Times
“A lucid history and explanation of Kabbalah, covering its key periods, texts, figures, and theories. Dan knowledgeably and expertly untangles the complexity of the tradition, specifically addressing misconceptions by discussing what Kabbalah is and what it is not…. This primer is scholarly yet accessible to the lay reader; it’s ‘Kabbalah for Dummies’ sans the cheeky humor.”
–Library Journal
“Even someone who knows nothing more than the celebrity connection will come away with a nuanced understanding.”
—Dallas Morning News
“Professor Dan is one of the leading scholars of Jewish mysticism in the world today. He combines deep erudition with methodological sophistication and clarity of exposition. He is the ideal person to write a short introduction to the study of the Kabbalah.”
–Shaye J. D. Cohen, Harvard University
“Culling over fifty years of Kabbalah research, Joseph Dan presents a schematic introduction to Kabbalah, its major periods, personalities, and ideas. This slim volume is a window into the intriguing history of this esoteric wisdom– its Christian and Islamic influences, the proliferation of Christian Kabbalah, its influence on modern philosophy, and the important periods of Jewish heresy. From the ancient world to New Age spirituality, Dan lucidly covers the key ideas of Kabbalah as they developed over the centuries. Accessible, readable, and informative.”
–Shaul Magid, Indiana University
