Jewish Mysticism and the Spiritual Life: Classical Texts, Contemporary Reflections

by Lawrence Fine, Eitan Fishbane, Or N. Rose

Leading scholars and teachers share their favorite texts of the Jewish mystical tradition―many available in English for the first time―and explore why these materials are meaningful and relevant to us today. In this unique volume, some of Judaism's most insightful contemporary thinkers bring the words of sages past to bear on the present. They explore how we can become closer to God through our relationships with others, our observance at home and our actions in the world, Organized thematically, each section focuses on how mysticism engages and complements the dimensions of religious life, including studying Torah, performing mitzvot and observing halakhah. Yehonatan Chipman • Mimi Feigelson • Lawrence Fine • Eitan Fishbane • Michael Fishbane • Nancy Flam • Everett Gendler • Joel Hecker • Shai Held • Melila Hellner-Eshed • Barry W. Holtz • Jeremy Kalmanofsky • Judith A. Kates • Lawrence Kushner • Ebn Leader • Shaul Magid • Ron Margolin • Daniel Matt • Haviva Pedaya • Nehemia Polen • Neal and Carol Rose • Or N. Rose • Zalman Schachter-Shalomi • Jonathan P. Slater • Gordon Tucker • Sheila Peltz Weinberg • Chava Weissler

Genres: Judaism, Jewish, Religion, Judaica, Spirituality, Theology

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2010

Reviews

[Steve]

Fascinating essays on the relevance of classical texts

[Dale Rosenberg]

Contemporary essays on mystical texts written by some of the greatest Jewish thinkers of our time, including Gordon Tucker, Lawrence Kushner, Sheila Peltz Weinberg, and Nehemia Polen. Each essay takes a classic text and then offers commentary on it. No Hebrew required and very accessible.