The Palm Tree of Devorah

by Moshe Cordevero

The classic kabbalistic work, The Tomer Devorah by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, is now available for the general English-speaking public! Written by one of the foremost Jewish mystics of Safed's golden age, Tomer Devorah is a unique moral treatise based on a Kabbalist's understanding of mitzvot. It teaches us to emulate G-d in everything we do, and imbues us with a sense of purpose and responsibility. This new English translation, with its extensive notes and commentary, is an invaluable resource for the student and scholar alike. Translation and original included.

Genres: Judaism, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Spirituality, Religion, Jewish

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1588

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I leaned this book in chevrutah over the course of several months. The book contains deep and beautiful learning as well as a whole lot of things that miss the mark in the modern world. It is unclear what the title referrs to, other than the Biblical passage and potentially something regarding an oasis. Women are vessels, not individuals. Even the Shechinah, at least in places towards the latter portions of the book, is portrayed more someone the rabbis want to be with (or to be) than she is God. The standards that Cordovero sets are in some places kind and in some places actually impossible and unhealthy.
While I realize that we can't read back modern culture onto medieval and ancient texts, those that are truly inspiring continue to inspire timelessly. There are teachings in the first half of this book about sickness and depression that I found very relevant in chaplaincy work today.
I was disappointed in part because I'd waited so long to read it and had a lot of anticipation. There are parts that are good, and worth the time, and much that is not. Recommended, selectively.

[Scot · Rating 3 out of 5]

How can something so simple be so deep? One of the seminal texts on Kabbalah from Rabbi Moshe Kordovero who took a less woo approach then his counterpart (Rabbi Luria) at the time and who built off the Zohar to share a basic approach to the 10 sefirot and how we both exhibit them in our life and society and how we can work with them to move up the tree of life. I was enrapt early on and then got bored setting the book aside for months until my friend who is a Rabbi talked with me about the lower sefirot and agreed with my conclusion that all religion is essentially about the divine merger of the feminine and the masculine and involves some form of sexual alchemy. That piqued my interest and helped propel me through to the finish line. The version I read was edited by Shelomo Alfassa and it is not posted on Good Reads so I did my review hear. From what I heard from talking to others it is quite a good translation from Aramaic and a tad bit more modern than the older versions.

[Alexander Temerev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and to the point, some nice practical insights.

[Jim George · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, whom is credited with being the Rabbi who wrote the modern precepts of the Kaballah movement in Safad, Israel. The book obviously has spiritual merit. It just didn't pop for me, so to speak.

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound and enlightening.