Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah: An Annotated Translation of His Or Ne'erav, Vol. 3
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First published in 1587, Moses Cordovero's now classic introduction to Kabbalah, Or Ne'erav, was intended to serve several purposes; it was meant both to provide a justification for the study of Kabbalah and to encourage that study by providing detailed instructions for interested laymen on how to go about that study; indeed, it was intended as a precis of Cordovero's much larger Pardes Rimmonim. In many ways, Cordovero was ideally suited to compose such a work. His teacher of rabbinics was no other than R. Joseph Caro, author of the Shulhan Arukh, which rapidly became the halakhic code par excellence. His master in Kabbalah was Solomon ha-Levi Alkabetz, whose sister he subsequently married. The result of his studies with both was no less than a kabbalistic "code", a systematic kabbalistic theology of the Zohar, the basic text of Jewish mysticism. But this work was too large, and too complex to be easily mastered. Moreover, it assumed too much previous knowledge to serve as an introduction to the subject; hence the need for Or Ne'erav. Or Ne'erav succeeded in fulfilling all these purposes, and has remained a classic introduction to the study of Kabbalah - and is used as such to this day. Dr. Robinson's accurate but readable translation is the first English rendition of this essential work.
AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPt. IOn the Rectification of the Harm which Occurs on Account of the Opinions of Those who Stay Aloof from This Science1Pt. IIOn the Obligation of the Enlightened to Study Theology45Pt. IIIOn the Manner and Time of Study53Pt. IVOn the Superiority of This Science to the Other Portions of Our Holy Torah85Pt. VOn the Virtues of This Science Beyond [Those of] the Other Portions of Our Holy Torah97Pt. VIOn the Necessary Preparation for Beginners in This Science [Arranged According to the] Sections of the Book Pardes [Rimmonim]109Pt. VIIA Brief Explanation of some [Divine] Appellations149Appendix: The Introductory Materials205Bibliography225Index233
