Synopses & Reviews
Study, pray, and celebrate the Kabbalah wayUnderstand the spiritual and ethical teachings of the practice
Curious about Kabbalah? This friendly, plain-English guide clears up the common misconceptions about this mystical tradition, showing you how to incorporate its wisdom into your daily life. You'll explore the history of Kabbalah and its major texts, understand the mystical tree of life, examine Kabbalah controversies and conflicts, and see how Kabbalists grow closer to God.
Discover how to
- How to live life like a Kabbalist
- The big "secret" of Kabbalah
- What Kabbalah is — and isn't
- The importance of karma and reincarnation
- The contributions of great Kabbalists
Synopsis
Kabbalah For Dummies presents a balanced perspective of Kabbalah as an
"umbrella" for a complex assemblage of mystical Jewish teachings and
codification techniques. Kabbalah For Dummies also shows how Kabbalah
simultaneously presents an approach to the study of text, the performance
of ritual and the experience of worship, as well as how the reader can
apply its teaching to everyday life.
Synopsis
See how ancient Jewish mystical traditions and rituals can transform your life
Kabbalah For Dummies presents a balanced perspective of Kabbalah as an "umbrella" for a complex assemblage of mystical Jewish teachings and codification techniques. Kabbalah For Dummies also shows how Kabbalah simultaneously presents an approach to the study of text, the performance of ritual and the experience of worship, as well as how the reader can apply its teaching to everyday life.
Synopsis
"Kabbalah For Dummies" presents a balanced perspective of Kabbalah as an “umbrella” for a complex assemblage of mystical Jewish teachings and codification techniques. "Kabbalah For Dummies" also shows how Kabbalah simultaneously presents an approach to the study of text, the performance of ritual and the experience of worship, as well as how the reader can apply its teaching to everyday life.
Synopsis
Kabbalah For Dummies presents a balanced perspective of Kabbalah as an “umbrella” for a complex assemblage of mystical Jewish teachings and codification techniques. Kabbalah For Dummies also shows how Kabbalah simultaneously presents an approach to the study of text, the performance of ritual and the experience of worship, as well as how the reader can apply its teaching to everyday life.
About the Author
Arthur Kurzweil (Passaic, NJ) is often described as America's foremost
Jewish genealogist, and his name has become synonymous with Jewish
genealogical research. Arthur has been published by New York Magazine,
the L.A. Times, the Miami Herald, and Newsday, and has served as a weekly columnist for the Jewish Week of New York for the past two years. Kurzweil
lectures extensively on the subjects of Judaica, magic, and mysticism.
Arthur is a professional librarian, editor-in-chief of the Jewish Book
Club for 17 years, past president of the Jewish Book Council, Judaica
acquisitions editor and literary agent, and is the author / editor of
several books including Generation to Generation, The Best Jewish Writing
2003, and The Hadassah Jewish Family Book of Health and Wellness
(Jossey-Bass).
Table of Contents
Introduction.
Part I: So, What’s the Big Secret? Unmasking Kabbalah.
Chapter 1: What Is Kabbalah?
Chapter 2: Magic, Mishegas, and Other Things that Kabbalah Isn’t.
Chapter 3: Looking Back: A Brief History Of Kabbalah.
Part II: Cutting to the Core of Kabbalah.
Chapter 4: The Link between Heaven and Earth: Kabbalah’s Own Top-Ten Countdown.
Chapter 5: Everything (Even a Traffic Jam) Is for the Best.
Chapter 6: Our Bodies Don’t Have Souls; Our Souls Have Bodies.
Chapter 7: Like Déjà Vu All Over Again: Reincarnation in Kabbalah.
Chapter 8: Instant Karma’s Gonna Get You.
Part III: Livin’ La Vida Kabbalah.
Chapter 9: Living One Day at a Time.
Chapter 10: Living One Week at a Time.
Chapter 11: A Year in the Life of a Kabbalist.
Chapter 12: A Kabbalist’s Life Cycle.
Part IV: Fine-tuning the Essential Skills of the Kabbalist.
Chapter 13: Discovering the Kabbalistic Books that Really Matter.
Chapter 14: Hitting the Books — and Kissing Them: Studying Like a Kabbalist.
Chapter 15: Praying Like a Kabbalist.
Chapter 16: Knowing the Unknowable God.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 17: (Almost) Ten Myths about Studying Kabbalah.
Chapter 18: Ten Great Kabbalists in History.
Chapter 19: Ten Places that Kabbalists Visit.
Part VI: Appendixes.
Appendix A: Books and Authors You’ll Thank Me For Recommending.
Appendix B: Patriarchs, Swindlers, Prophets, and Sinners: Meet 100 Torah Characters.
Appendix C: A Glossary of Everything Kabbalah.
Index.