The "Zohar" is the medieval compendium of Jewish esoteric and mystical teaching and the basis of the Kabbalistic faith. It is, however, a notoriously difficult text, full of hidden codes, concealed meanings, obscure symbols and ecstatic expression. This study, based upon several decades of modern "Zohar" scholarship, unravels the historical and intellectual origins of this rich text and provides an introduction to its themes, complex symbolism, narrative structure and language. This title is therefore a companion to the "Zohar" itself, as well as a resource for scholars and students interested in mystical literature, particularly that of the West, from the Mmiddle Ages to the present.
Arthur Green is the Philip W. Lown Professor of Jewish Thought at Brandeis University. A historian of Judaism and also a theologian, Professor Green is the author of a number of works on Jewish mysticism and Jewish spirituality.
@fmct:Contents @toc4:Preface iii @toc1:Part I. Introduction @toc2:1. Prologue 000 2. The Kabbalistic Tradition: A Brief History Until the Zohar 000 3. Teachings of the Kabbalists: The Ten Sefirot 000 @toc1:Part II. What Is the Zohar? @toc2:4. The Zohar: Midrash on the Torah 000 5. The Zohar Narrative 000 6. Mysticism of the Zohar 000 7. The Zohar in Historical Context 000 @toc1:Part III. Selected Themes Within the Zohar @toc2:8. Creation and Origins 000 9. Between Worlds 000 10. Evil and the Demonic 000 11. Torah and Revelation 000 12. The Commandments 000 13. Avodah: The Life of Worship 000 14. The Tsaddiq and the Life of Piety 000 15. The Jewish People, Exile, and Messiah 000 @toc1:Part IV. The Zohar @toc2:16. Special Sections of the Zohar 000 17. The Question of Authorship 000 18. The Language of the Zohar 000 19. Editing and Printing of the Zohar 000 20. Influence and Canonization of the Zohar 000 toc4: Bibliography 000 Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication: Zohar, Cabala Early works to 1800, Bible, O, T, Pentateuch Commentaries Early works to 1800
"This is more than a useful corrective for the pop-Kabbalah fantasies that have become fashionable among some spiritual seekers - it is also a serious aid to anyone seeking a serious encounter with Jewish spirituality." - Tikkun "...[Arthur Green's] 191-page introduction [to the Zohar] is so lucid and thorough that one almost does not notice how capably it has synthesized and presented the material." - The Forward "This is now the best introduction to the Zohar in English..." - CHOICE "...a succinct study that in distilling half a century's research, including Green's own, proves unflailingly lucid and illuminating: he is equally skillful at explicating ideas and at explaining their historical context." - Times Literary Supplement "This work can stand on its own as an excellent introduction to the Zohar, the central text of the Jewish mystical tradition. It is highly recommended to anyone interested in Jewish mysticism and would make an excellent text for undergraduate courses." - Religious Studies Review
