For over sixty years, some of the most powerful essays written by Rav Yehuda Ashlag, known as Baal HaSulam (Owner of the Ladder) for his Sulam (Ladder) commentary on The Book of Zohar, have been sealed and concealed. In some, the text has become indiscernible and the letters barely readable. In some, the text has been torn and some was lost. For this reason, ellipses are quite common, either because the original text is incomplete, or because it cannot be read with certainty. And yet, the authenticity of the texts, and the content and message resonate from every page in this inspiring book. You cannot truly understand Baal HaSulam until you read such seminal essays as “600,000 Souls,” “Exile and Redemption,” or “One Commandment.”

The writings of Rav Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag (RABASH), the firstborn son and successor of Rav Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag (Baal HaSulam), author of the Sulam (Ladder) commentary on The Book of Zohar, provide us with insights that connect the wisdom of Kabbalah to our human experience. These books disclose the profound knowledge of human nature that the RABASH possessed, and take us on a journey to our own souls. As we absorb the texts, we find that Kabbalah is not some cryptic occultism, but a time-tested method to understand ourselves and improve our lives and the world around us.

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Food Issues explores the topic of food across multiple disciplines within the social sciences and related areas including business, consumerism, marketing, and environmentalism. In contrast to the existing reference works on the topic of food that tend to fall into the categories of cultural perspectives, this carefully balanced academic encyclopedia focuses on social and policy aspects of food production, safety, regulation, labeling, marketing, distribution, and consumption. A sampling of general topic areas covered includes Agriculture, Labor, Food Processing, Marketing and Advertising, Trade and Distribution, Retail and Shopping, Consumption, Food Ideologies, Food in Popular Media, Food Safety, Environment, Health, Government Policy, and Hunger and Poverty. This encyclopedia introduces students to the fascinating, and at times contentious, and ever-so-vital field involving food issues. Key Features: Contains approximately 500 signed entries concluding with cross-references and suggestions for further readings Organized A-to-Z with a thematic “Reader’s Guide” in the front matter grouping related entries by general topic area Provides a Resource Guide and a detailed and comprehensive Index along with robust search-and-browse functionality in the electronic edition This three-volume reference work will serve as a general, non-technical resource for students and researchers who seek to better understand the topic of food and the issues surrounding it.

Alcohol consumption goes to the very roots of nearly all human societies. Different countries and regions have become associated with different sorts of alcohol, for instance, the “beer culture” of Germany, the “wine culture” of France, Japan and saki, Russia and vodka, the Caribbean and rum, or the “moonshine culture” of Appalachia. Wine is used in religious rituals, and toasts are used to seal business deals or to celebrate marriages and state dinners. However, our relation with alcohol is one of love/hate. We also regulate it and tax it, we pass laws about when and where it’s appropriate, we crack down severely on drunk driving, and the United States and other countries tried the failed “Noble Experiment” of Prohibition. While there are many encyclopedias on alcohol, nearly all approach it as a substance of abuse, taking a clinical, medical perspective (alcohol, alcoholism, and treatment). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Alcohol examines the history of alcohol worldwide and goes beyond the historical lens to examine alcohol as a cultural and social phenomenon, as well—both for good and for ill—from the earliest days of humankind.

In the twenty-first century, just as Li Yun was about to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff, a bolt of purple lightning struck him, bringing him to a chaotic period. In the end, when he encountered Pangu, he took his treasure, and during the time of Pangu's creation, he was schemed by the heavens to help Pangu.

This is a collection of quotes and excerpts from generations of great Kabbalists, including Rav Yehuda Ashlag, author of the Sulam [Ladder] commentary of The Book of Zohar. This compilation reveals the spiritual concepts of Kabbalah in every realm of human life, using poignant and thought-provoking passages with accurate references from authentic Kabbalistic sources as well as the greatest Kabbalists of all time. A student or a spiritual searcher can use this book as compass in their quest to find true spirituality. The quotes from Gems of Wisdom: words of the great Kabbalists from all generations will become an indispensable source book the reader will constantly revisit and utilize. It is a priceless gift to any person who is a kabbalah student or wishes to explore this age old wisdom.

The Hermetic Museum was published in Latin at Frankfort, in the year 1678, and, as its title implies, it was an enlarged form of an anterior work which, appearing in 1625, is more scarce, but, intrinsically, of less value. Its design was apparently to supply in a compact form a representative collection of the more brief and less ancient alchemical writers; in this respect, it may be regarded as a supplement to those large storehouses of Hermetic learning such as the Theatrum Chemicum, and that scarcely less colossal of Mangetus, the Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa, which are largely concerned with the cream of the archaic literature, with the works of Geber and the adepts of the school of Arabia, with the writings attributed to Hermes, with those of Raymond Lully, Arnold de Villa Nova, Bernard Trevisan, and others. This is volume 2 out of 2. Contents: The Golden Tripod, Second Tract. The Chemical Treatise Of Thomas Norton, The Englishman, Called Believe-Me, Or The Ordinal Of Alchemy. The Testament Of Cremer The New Chemical Light A Preface To The Riddle Of The Sages. A Parable, Or Enigma Of The Sages. A Dialogue Between Mercury, The Alchemist, And Nature. New Chemical Light. Second Part. Concerning Sulphur. Concerning Sulphur. An Open Entrance To The Closed Palace Of The King. A Subtle Allegory Concerning The Secrets Of Alchemy The Three Treatises Of Philalethes. A Brief Guide To The Celestial Ruby. The Fount Of Chemical Truth. John Frederick Helvetius’ Golden Calf, The All-Wise Doorkeeper, Or A Fourfold Figure, Addendum.