Synopses & Reviews
Distills a forty-year search for wisdom by one of the world's leading interpreters of the Jewish mystical tradition who shares with us the fundamental ideas and spiritual teachings of Kabbalah. In addition, Green explains how the ancient language of Kabbalah can be retooled to address the needs of our generation. Unlike other books on Kabbalah, he does this in a future-oriented context. Probing questions are designed to challenge -- and potentially change -- readers as they are encouraged to stretch to new ways of thinking with both heart and mind.
-- How is the kabbalistic tradition relevant to today's seeker?
-- Are the ancient and mysterious symbols of any value to us in our very different world?
-- How should Kabbalah be re-fitted so that it might serve as an appropriate vehicle for a contemporary spiritual quest?
-- Can this be done without destroying the soul of the tradition and while acknowledging today's reality?
Written in a way that avoids overwhelming readers new to the subject or watering down the tradition to the point of trivialization, Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow will set seekers on a rewarding path to the wisdom Kabbalah has to offer -- for today and tomorrow.
Synopsis
What can Kabbalah teach us about our lives today? What can it teach us about our future?
According to the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah, Ehyeh, or "I shall be," is the deepest, most hidden name of God. Arthur Green, one of the most respected teachers of Jewish mysticism of his generation, uses this simple Hebrew word to unlock the spiritual meaning of Kabbalah for our lives.
When Moses experienced his great moment of call at the Burning Bush, he asked God, "When people ask me, 'What is His name?' what should I say to them?" God answers with this mysterious phrase, "I shall be what I shall be," and says to Moses, "Tell them that 'I shall be' sent you."
God's puzzling answer makes the conversation sound like a koan-dialogue between a Zen master and disciple.... Like the koan, the text here is reaching to some place beyond words, seeking to create a breakthrough in our consciousness. What is it trying to tell us?
--from the Introduction
Blending Jewish theology and mysticism, Arthur Green invites us on a contemporary exploration of Kabbalah, showing how the ancient Jewish mystical tradition can be retooled to address the needs of our generation.
Drawing on the Zohar and other kabbalistic texts, Green examines the fundamental ideas and spiritual teachings of Kabbalah, encouraging today's modern seeker to stretch to new ways of thinking with both heart and mind, setting us on a rewarding path to the wisdom Kabbalah has to offer.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-192).