Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #104941 in Books
• Published on: 1995-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 221 pages

Customer Reviews

a great place to start
This is the first book that I ever read on the Kabbalah and I would recommend it as the best starting place to anyone who is interested in the subject. The reason I recommend it over Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (by Gershom Scholem, arguably the most important and influential scholar in this area) is because this book gets the reader directly in touch with the texts (and, thanks to the commentary, the meanings derived from them) that make up what has come to be known as "Kabbalah."

Matt divides his book into sections by topic and each entry contains an excerpt from a text that fits the particular topic. The introduction contains a brief essay on the development of the Kabbalah; in the back of the book is a commentary on each passage, helping the reader to understand aspects, meanings, and references in the texts that otherwise may have not been understood.

Highly enriching.

Basic, but a bit too shallow
Many people recommend this text as an introduction to the Kabbalah. I tend to agree, simply because this book was written with beginners in mind. For example, all of the footnotes to the texts are NOT marked on the actual text. Rather, they appear in the back of the book. Daniel Matt does this in order to comfort the beginner, but I find it hinders more than it helps.

Probably the best thing about this text is the beautiful poetry Matt utilizes. Translations are never quite the same as the original, but Matt sacrifices more of the literal meaning than most. However, the poetry is very nice. Particularly noteworthy is "The Creation of God," which I fell in love with on the first read.

For the casual student, this is a good beginner text. But for those who really want to know more about the Kabbalah, try other authors such as Gershom Scholem, Howard Schwartz, and Aryah Wineman.

A beautiful survey of traditional Kabbalah
Daniel C. Matt's compilation is an excellent sampling of traditional kabbalistic writings, covering a wide variety of topics in the "tradition." As a survey, it is remarkable; its translations are poetic and beautiful. However, the span of writing it covers is widely scattered, historically speaking; writings are grouped by topic, unrelated to chronology; if you're looking for a historical perspective on Kabbalah, this isn't likely to be your cup of tea. As an introductory text, though, it will provide those interested in Kabbalah's philosophy and symbolism a good survey of paths to strike out on for further investigation