Havings studied this material for several years, I had the opportunity to read Brian Lancaster's book on the Essence of Kabbalah. I found the writing to be well based in theory. Lancaster references many of the seminal works in Kabbalah and many of the great writers - from Luria Havings studied this material for several years, I had the opportunity to read Brian Lancaster's book on the Essence of Kabbalah. I found the writing to be well based in theory. Lancaster references many of the seminal works in Kabbalah and many of the great writers - from Luria. He makes sense out of a very complex tradition by providing adequate background, common sense language, and a nice balance of scholarship and approachability. The book is also sprinkled with a few illustrations, and Lancaser does a great job of describing the comcepts of gematria and the Hebrew alphabet - which comprise a major foundation for Kabbalistic thinking. All in all a great introductory book.

Science explains the mechanisms that sustain life; Kabbalah explains why life exists. In Kabbalah, Science and the Meaning of Life, Rav Michael Laitman, PhD, a kabbalist and a scientist, combines science and spirituality in a captivating dialogue that reveals lifes meaning. For thousands of years kabbalists have been writing that the world is made of a single entity divided into separate beings. Today the cutting edge science of quantum physics states a very similar idea: that at the most fundamental level of matter, we are all literally one. Science proves that reality is affected by the observer who examines it. And so does Kabbalah. But Kabbalah says more: even the Creator of reality is found within the observer. In other words, God is inside of us, he doesnt exist anywhere else. When we pass away so does he. These earthshaking concepts and more are eloquently introduced so that even readers uneducated in Kabbalah or science will easily understand them. Therefore, if youre just a little curious about why you are here, what life means, and what you can do to enjoy it more, this is your book.

There can be no perfecting above without the perfecting influence of humans when they are righteous and act from love. (Zohar 2:155a) The Essence of Kabbalah explains the mysticism of the Torah and the other books in the Hebrew Bible, and presents an overview of the historical trends that have shaped Kabbalah as it is known today. It examines the interpretative methods that are viewed as unlocking the secrets of the Torah - those teachings that point to the inner fabric of creation. Acclaimed author Brian Lancaster explores key extracts from the seminal works of Kabbalah - the Sefer Yetsirah, the Bahir and the Zohar, and presents the major teachings of influential kabbalists. He places Kabbalah in the context of Judaism as a whole, and illustrates the ways in which Judiasm's teachings, prayers and rituals express a concealed inner tradition. Further, he shows how contemporary scholarship and science are enabling a creative dialogue with the ancient teachings preserved within Kabbalah, leading to a twenty-first century renaissance in the importance of mysticism for providing a much-needed and profound sense of connectedness and purpose in our world.

Kabbalah: A Guide for the Perplexed is a concise and accessible introduction to the major elements of the prevalent metaphysical system of Judaism, Kabbalah. The book covers the historical and theoretical essence of Kabbalah, offering a clear definition of the term and the limitations of what Kabbalah is and is not. Pinchas Giller provides an overview of the history of the movement, reflecting the sweep of Jewish history as a whole, and examines its metaphysical system, the advanced mythos of early and later Luria, doctrines of the soul, and the mysteries of Jewish religious practice and law. The book concludes with a summary of the contemporary kabbalistic phenomena, particularly in light of the notoriety of some modern purveyors of Kabbalah. As cogent and objective as possible, this is the ideal companion for those wishing to gain a sound understanding of this often perplexing mystical aspect of Judaism.

Jewish mysticism

Answers the question "Who am I?" with the teachings of the Torah, and offers ways to become enriched spiritually and live more satisfying lives.

The essence of Kabbalah is contained within the glyph of the Tree of Life, which represents a map of human consciousness and which offers a route to the divine. This guide is an introduction to a popular spiritual tradition.