A Journey Into The Zohar: An Introduction To The Book Of Radiance Project Muse Upcc Books

An introduction to the Zohar , the crowning work of medieval Kabbalah. Includes original translations and analysis. The crowning work of medieval Kabbalah, the Zohar is unlike any other work in the Jewish canon. Written in Aramaic, the Zohar contains complex mystical exegesis as well as a delightful epic narrative about the Companionsa group of sages who wander through second-century Israel discussing the Torah while encountering children, donkey drivers, and other surprising figures who reveal profound mysteries to them. Nathan Wolski offers original translations of episodes involving this mystical fellowship and goes on to provide a sustained reading of each. With particular emphasis on the literary and performative dimensions of the composition, Wolski takes the reader on a journey through the central themes and motifs of the zoharic kabbalistic hermeneutics, the structure of divinity, the nature of the soul, and, above all, the experiential core of the Zohar the desire to be saturated and intoxicated with the flowing fluids of divinity. A Journey into the Zohar opens the mysterious, wondrous, and at times bewildering universe of one of the masterpieces of world mystical literature to a wider community of scholars, students, and general readers alike. The Zohar is one of those books that is next to impossible to comprehend without a teacher. However, a manual such as this one, could come close to filling the bill. Wolskis structure is as simple and straightforward as the material allows. AJL Reviews Wolski does an excellent job of introducing and making sense of key elements in the zoharic texts Readers who carefully work through the passages selected, together with Wolskis narrative commentary, will gain a comprehensive sense of what the Zohar has to teach. CHOICE With a poets heart and a scholars mind, Nathan Wolski guides us through the Zohar the masterpiece of Kabbalahrevealing its wonder and mystery. His translations of these mystical narratives are superb, conveying the potency of the original Aramaic. His commentary reveals the ancient secrets with exquisite sensitivity. Readers who have been daunted by the Zohar now have a gateway and a path. Daniel Matt, translator and editor of The Pritzker Edition Wolskis book is elegantly written, erudite, and enlightening. It makes available to a much wider audience the kinds of religious thinking that went into the production of the Zohar . There is no book like it in English, and as an original commentary on the Zohar, it will have lasting value. Joel Hecker, author of Mystical Bodies, Mystical Eating and Embodiment in Medieval Kabbalah "The crowning work of medieval Kabbalah, the Zohar is unlike any other work in the Jewish canon. Written in Aramaic, the Zohar contains complex mystical exegesis as well as a delightful epic narrative about the Companions - a group of sages who wander through second-century Israel discussing the Torah while encountering children, donkey drivers, and other surprising figures who reveal profound mysteries to them. Nathan Wolski offers original translations of episodes involving this mystical fellowship and goes on to provide a sustained reading of each. With particular emphasis on the literary and performative dimensions of the composition, Wolski takes the reader on a journey through the central themes and motifs of the zoharic world: kabbalistic hermeneutics, the structure of divinity, the nature of the soul, and, above all, the experiential core of the Zohar - the desire to be saturated and intoxicated with the flowing fluids of divinity. A Journey into the Zohar opens the mysterious, wondrous, and at times bewildering universe of one of the masterpieces of world mystical literature to a wider community of scholars, students, and general readers alike."--Jacket The crowning work of medieval Kabbalah, the Zohar is unlike any other work in the Jewish canon. Written in Aramaic, the Zohar contains complex mystical exegesis as well as the story of the Companions—a group of sages who wander through second-century Israel discussing the Torah while meeting up with children, donkey drivers, and various types who have spiritual lessons for them. Nathan Wolski offers original translations of episodes involving this mystical fellowship and goes on to provide a sustained reading of each. With particular emphasis on the literary and performative dimensions of the composition, Wolski takes the reader on a journey through the central themes and motifs of the zoharic world: kabbalistic hermeneutics, the structure of divinity, the nature of the soul and above all, the experiential core of the Zohar—the desire to be saturated and intoxicated with the flowing fluids of divinity. A Journey into the Zohar opens the mysterious, wondrous and at times bewildering universe of one of the masterpieces of world mystical literature to a wider community of scholars, students, and general readers alike. A Journey into the Zohar 5 Contents 11 Acknowledgments 13 Note on Translation 15 1.The Way of the Zohar 17 2. In the Mountains of Kurdistan: Reading Torah with the Companions 39 3. In the Image of God 63 4. The Magical Book in the Cave of Souls 85 5. “Feast Friends and Drink,Drink Deeply O Lovers”: Rabbi Yeisa the Younger on Wine and the Divine Flow 105 6. Pearls in a Beggar’s Wallet: The Zohar Reads Kohelet 129 7. Midnight in the Garden of Delight 155 8. The Great Chain of Being and the Light of the World 177 9. Rabbi H iyya, Rabbi Yose, andthe Merchants in the Cave: The Mystical Poetics of Zoharic Narrative 201 10. The Palace of Love 231 Appendix: The Sefirot and Their Symbols 239 Notes 241 Selected Bibliography 273 Index 279 A 279 B 279 C 280 D 280 E 281 F 281 G 281 H 281 I 282 J 282 K 282 L 282 M 282 N 283 O 283 P 283 R 284 S 284 T 285 U 286 V 286 W 286 Y 286 Z 286 1438430531,9781438430539,143843054X,978-1438430546 The Way Of The Zohar -- In The Mountains Of Kurdistan : Reading Torah With The Companions -- In The Image Of God -- The Magical Book In The Cave Of Souls -- Feast Friends And Drink, Drink Deeply O Lovers : Rabbi Yeisa The Younger On Wine And The Divine Flow -- Pearls In A Beggar's Wallet : The Zohar Reads Kohelet -- Midnight In The Garden Of Delight -- The Great Chain Of Being And The Light Of The World -- Rabbi Hiyya, Rabbi Yose And The Merchants In The Cave : The Mystical Poetics Of Zoharic Narrative -- The Palace Of Love -- Appendix: The Sefirot And Their Symbols. Nathan Wolski. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 257-262) And Indexes. The way of the Zohar In the mountains of kurdistan : reading Torah with the companions In the image of God The magical book in the cave of souls Rabbi Yeisa the younger on wine and the divine flow Pearls in a beggar's wallet : the Zohar reads Kohelet Midnight in the garden of delight The great chain of being and the light of the world Rabbi Yiyya, Rabbi Yose and the merchants in the cave : the mystical poetics of Zoharic narrative The palace of love Appendix: the sefirot and their symbols. This text is an introduction to the 'Zohar', the crowning work of medieval Kabbalah. The book includes original translations and analysis and opens the mysterious universe of one of the masterpieces of world mystical literature to a wider community