The Way into Jewish Mystical Tradition
Search in google:
The Way Into Jewish Mystical Tradition, guided by Lawrence Kushner, explains the principles of Jewish mystical thinking, their religious and spiritual significance, and how they relate to our lives. Kushner offers us a step-by-step exploration of: What "Jewish mysticism" means—the key concepts in mysticism, with classic texts to explore and learn from. Why mysticism is a part of the modern Jewish experience. The goals of mysticism, and how they relate to broader Jewish spirituality. Here is a book that allows us to experience and understand the Jewish mystical approach to our place in the world. Publishers Weekly Jewish Lights adds another installment to its The Way Into... series with this examination of Jewish mysticism, which fails to live up to the standard of earlier volumes on such subjects as prayer and God. While those books each succeeded in presenting a basic introduction to one important concept in Judaism, most readers will find that Jewish mysticism continues to be a mystery after reading Kushner's murky primer. This is a shame, since Kushner is a genuine expert on Jewish mysticism and has authored much better books (Honey from the Rock; The River of Light) on the subject. Here, he relies largely on "classical texts" that turn on unfathomable passages drawn mostly from obscure 18th-century Hasidic rebbes. The material is organized into three parts, based on his division of Psalm 19 into a "triptych of Jewish mystical tradition." Throughout, Kushner offers 50 "Jewish mystical ideas": phrases, words or brief biblical quotations that are supposedly explained by the citations from the Hasidic rebbes. Some attempts at clarification become gross oversimplifications; for example, Kushner confounds Jewish mysticism with political activism, asserting that the mysticism of Abraham Joshua Heschel, "like most Jewish mysticism, was one of political activism." Such dubious statements are disappointing in a work that ought to elucidate the Jewish mystical tradition, not shroud it in further layers of obfuscation. (May) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
AcknowledgmentsIntroduction11Presence91God's presence is the fullness of all the world2The power of the Creator within each created thing3There is no place without God's presence4The light of the Divine Presence is everywhere2Nothing175My help will come from Nothing6Every moment God sustains all creation!7God is God and there is nothing else8Upper unity, lower unity9Something from Nothing10Attaining the level of Nothingness3Name3511One Without End12The Name of Being, the Ineffable Name13The entire Torah is composed of Names of God14Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth4Truth5115Each day the Torah calls us in love16The whole world is made of letters17God created the world with the Torah18The sound of almost breathing19How to say (your own) Torah5Organism7120The inverted tree21Sefirot22The worlds of separation and unity23Ayn Sof withdrew itself24I have created, I have formed, I have even made25Those who walk within rivers of fire6Consciousness8726Hidden light27The business with Ezekiel's chariot28The four who entered the orchard29The other side30I will surely hide My face31The secret wisdom of Kabbalah7Person10732Self33No two human beings are alike34Returning to your source35Descent for the sake of ascent36Self-annihilation37A human being who contains all creation8Deed11938Restoring the universe39Unio Mystica40For the sake of unifying God41Awakening below causes awakening on high42Our service fulfills a cosmic need43To sense the sacred9Yearning13744It's all from the One of Blessing45I have set the Lord before me continually46Every single utterance is an entire universe47Rapture48The time of the Messiah49Shabbat: A taste of the world to come50You shall be holyEpilogue157Notes165Glossary169Suggestions for Further Reading173Index177About Jewish Lights Publishing193
