The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism – A Compact Translation with Practical Analysis and Historical Context for Laypeople

by Daniel C. Matt

A translation of the Kabbalah for the layperson includes a compact presentation of each primary text and features a practical analysis and vital historical information that offer insight into the various aspects of Jewish mysticism.

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

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book alongside a cherished friend who died shortly thereafter. Together we poured over the pages and thoroughly enjoyed the language and the ambiguity. Now I cherish the book and her memory.

[Chris brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good introductory book on the subject of Kabbalah. The reader is left with and overview of the concepts and notions of Kabbalah without straying into areas that could be considered "occult" as well as not being to heavily laden with concepts that Kabbalic scholars and theologians spent a lifetime attempting to put into words. If you are interested in learning what Kabbalah is, this book will give you the essence of it and does have a "suggested reading" list at the end that will guide you further, some books I have already been told I should read that were on the list. Its a basic starter book that has the reader ask questions and either answers them or points the reader in the direction of the answer. I was surprised at how much of it sounded like Zen Buddhism and Hinduism respectively

[Aliza Cotton]

so immaterial by sophie coded tbh

[Kirsten D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resplendent! This was the first book I’ve ever read about Kabbalah and I felt that it was a solid introduction. The selected passages were beautiful and the author’s commentary on each passage was helpful. I will return to this book for devotional purposes and just to bask in its glory!

[Mr Rumpy · Rating 5 out of 5]

brb finding god in the splendor imbued within everything

[Sylas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Jewish atheist, so I read this book looking to understand the more spiritual side of my cultural heritage. I found that the Kabbalah contains wisdom that holds beyond the realm of faith and religion, which is why it inspired the likes of Walter Benjamin and Franz Kafka. Much like Buddhism, it is emphasized to not worship or seek a singular truth, but rather find peace in the limited perception of the human mind. I don't believe in objective morality, but something I find special about Judaism is the emphasis on living a "good" life not out of reward or punishment or fear--there is no judgement day--but simply out of love (and the rest we aren't supposed to understand fully, I guess?).

Oh, and I appreciated the additional lore that preludes Genesis and explains what God is (abstractly, the Sefirot). It also provides interesting language that applies to some degree to cosmology (Ein Sof, infinite and incomprehensible). While I don't believe in God, I like the framework of conceptualizing the universe "God being in everything", or rather a word to describe the... vitality... of all things, of nature, of the universe, how it evolves and changes. I figured that there may also be some sort of pansychism in Kabbalistic thought, and when I looked into it, behold, there is. I mean, when I have experiences in my life which I would classify as "spiritual", the stuff in this book is the stuff I'm talking about.

Here are some poignant quotes!

...

THE RIGHTEOUS PILLAR
ONE PILLAR extends from earth to heaven. Its name is Righteous One, named for the righteous. If there are righteous people in the world, the pillar is strengthened; if not, it is weakened. It upholds the entire world, as it is written: "The righteous one is the foundation of the world." If it weakens, the world cannot endure. So if the world contains just one righteous person, that person sustains the world.
...”One who understands this secret understands the immense power a human has to build and to destroy.”

SHATTERING AND GROWTH

THE SUPERNAL vacuum is like a field, in which are sown ten points of light. Just as each grain of seed grows according to its fertile power, so does each of these points. And just as a seed cannot grow to perfection as long as it maintains its original form-growth coming only through decomposition-so these points could not become perfect configurations as long as they maintained their original form but only by shattering.

ALONENESS AND ABUNDANCE

When you fulfill the conditions of aloneness in your room, you will attain the flowing abundance of the six sefirot emanating to the diadem, whose splendor dwells within your soul ... “If your mind races, return to the place,” return to where you were before the thought. Return to the site of oneness.

THOUGHT IS like a mirror. One looking at it sees his image inside and thinks that there are two images, but the two are really one.

GATES OF HOLINESS
TO ATTAIN you must be alone, so that your contemplation not be disturbed... The more you strip yourself of material being, the more powerful your comprehension.

EVERYTHING ASPIRES
We cannot identify the abundant vitality within all living beings... Nor can we estimate our own inner abundance. Our inner world is sealed and concealed.

THE SONG OF SONGS
Then there is one whose soul expands until it extends be yond the border of Israel, singing the song of humanity. In the glory of the entire human race, in the glory of the human form, his spirit spreads, aspiring to the goal of humankind, envisioning its consummation. From this spring of life, he draws all his deepest reflections, his searching, striving, and vision.

Then there is one who expands even further until he unites with all of existence, with all creatures, with all worlds, singing a song with them all.

There is one who ascends with all these songs in unison-the song of the soul, the song of the nation, the song of hu manity, the song of the cosmos-resounding together, blend-ing in harmony, circulating the sap of life, the sound of holy joy.

[Nick Mather]

I first read this book several years ago for a course I took while working on my master’s degree. As I decided to incorporate weekly meditations in my world religion course, I wanted to revisit some of the mystical writings of each tradition I cover. This is mostly selections of Kabbalistic writings, which are quite frequently rather abstruse, though that’s the nature of most mystical writing. There is a notes section in the back of the text that helps explain some of the hidden meanings and references, though I think more detailed notes would be helpful. The text begins with a small essay that provides the history of Kabbalah which would be helpful for the beginner. There are some excellent passages included here that invites the reader to mediate upon them and many do not require a deep knowledge or understanding of this mystical tradition.

[Tepintzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a vital introduction to Kabbalah. Daniel Matt is a trustworthy guide into the lands of Jewish mysticism, and this book is simply written, divided into subjects and parables about them. Even if Kabbalah isn't one's "path", this book is a good contribution to one's Jewish, mystical, or occult knowledge.

[Owlseyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quote from the book:


"Four priests had gotten inside pardes (paradise):
Ben Azzai,
Ben Zoma, Aher and the rabbi Akiva.

Ben Azzai saw it and died.
Ben Zoma saw it and got insane.
Aher cut the plants.

Rabbi Akiva left in peace".

[Revy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though not nearly enough information to be considered a comprehensive overview, I devoured just about the whole thing in one sitting. Beautifully written with plenty of references, lots of insight. A must-read for anyone who wants to dip their toe into the vastness of Kabbalah

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve read on the Jewish variant of the Kabbalah as opposed to the Christian or Hermetic. There is no mention of Dion Fortune, Israel Regardie, Aleister Crowley, or A.E. Waite and likewise no mention of the correspondences with the tarot. Nevertheless, it was interesting; I had not heard of Abraham Abulafia before nor his meditation technique on the Hebrew letters.

[B. Rule · Rating 4 out of 5]

This doesn't get too far into the esoterica of Kabbalah, but it's a good summary of an important facet of Jewish wisdom traditions. I thought the selections were well-curated and translated, and it's all succinct enough that you can absorb the whole thing very quickly.

[Curtis Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this little intro into Kabbalah a few days ago. It was given to me by a rabbi from Vancouver who commended it as a good overview of a huge subject.

[zane littleswol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for beginners wanting to know more about kosher Torah Kabbalah.

[Brett C · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good beginning read into the background and information about the Kabbalah. Filled with wisdom and spiritual prose.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The similarities between mystical traditions are so exact at times that it does appear that one has been simply translated into another language. Exchange the names of God and the descriptions of God's manifestions and this is Sufism. Judaism and Islam in particular with their emphasis on the Oneness of God and the holistic life approach to religion share a great deal in their mystical writings.

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read. Picked it up out of curiosity and I don't know quite enough to make sense of it, but it sated my curiosity.

[Myhte]

When Moses encounters God at the burning bush, he is overwhelmed:
"afraid to look at God," he hides his face. Soon God reveals the divine name, "I am that I
am," intimating what eventually becomes a mystical refrain: God cannot be defined

I want to enter without shame into the world that is coming.
Holy words, until now unrevealed, I want to reveal in the presence of Shekhinah,
so it will not be said that I left the world deficiently.
Until now they were hidden in my heart

All are levels of enlightenment.
In the light of each and every level
there is revealed what is revealed.
All those lights are connected:
this light to that light, that light to this light,
one shining into the other,
inseparable, one from the other.

I AM the one who planted this tree for all the world to delight in. With it I spanned the
All, calling it All, for all depends on it, all emanates from it, all need it, all gaze upon it
and await it. From here souls fly forth in joy.
Alone I was when I made it. When I spread out my earth, in which I planted and
rooted this tree—giving them joy in one another, rejoicing along with them—who was
with me? To whom could I reveal this secret of mine?

WHOEVER DELVES into mysticism cannot help but stumble, as it is written: "This
stumbling block is in your hand." You cannot grasp these things unless you stumble over
them.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like his subsequent editions of the Zohar (snippets of that medieval text excerpted herein), and his thoughtful Big Bang-impacted study (I reviewed the 2018 updated version recently), Rabbi Daniel Matt has a knack for combining erudition and compression for a wide audience. A necessary service.

For around the time this appeared, in 1995, charlatans and hucksters capitalized, not for the first time, to exploit these mystical teachings. One often hears pitched the "secret or forbidden" unless to men before the age of forty, safely married etc.) claim to sensationalize the Kabbalah. Matt doesn't deny that the heady atmosphere of rarified lore may not be for the giddy or the headlong seeker. Yet he doesn't indulge in hype or heebie-jeebies. He presents well-chosen passages, with their learning linked to endnotes which don't impede the texts proper (at least in my Kindle layout), allowing a new reader to encounter their fascinating messages and hard-earned wisdom prudently and respectfully.

I applaud the accessible presentation. It couldn't be easy to wade into this vast sea of introspection to pluck out a few strands from the dense foliage along even the shores of what opens up past horizons. This little guide offers smart commentary in its annotations and introduction, testifying to an editor's expertise in teaching and understanding this famously too-often misunderstood body of knowledge.

[Edwin Setiadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete introduction to Kabbalah

Daniel C. Matt had studied Kabbalah for 25 years, and it shows in how he can describe such a complex religion into a relatively simple narrative. He also curates some of the most essential teachings from the huge trove of Kabbalah, translated himself the passages from the original Hebrew and Aramaic texts, alongside adding contextual explanations on the translations.

The result is this compact book filled with all the essential knowledge on Kabbalah, broken down into several neat short themes that make it easier to digest. The book finishes at about 59% of the way, with the remaining pages reserved for the explanation notes and a substantial list of “suggested reading”, for those who decide to read more about it.

But still, even with the clarity and neat organisation, any novice in Kabbalah could find it a little overwhelming, due to the unique style of the religion, the many beautiful descriptions of Ein Sof (the Creator or the Infinite), and especially with the sophisticated structure of the ten Sefirot and the many different meanings that contains them.

But this is a testament to the completeness of the book on the subject. And no need to worry, as the book patiently guides us step by step to introduce the many parts of this fascinating religion, in a tone that is easy to understand even to a complete newbie.

[Michael Huang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kabbalah is an esoteric Jewish mysticism. But there is some wisdom that seeps through.

In the Foreword, the author explains a bunch of things, which perhaps reflects only his own understanding:
• God is not a static being, but dynamic. Without human participation, God is incomplete, unrealized. --- isn't this a round-about way of admitting God is a human creation?
• The basic theology is that things emanate from Ein Sof (infinite). Then ten sefirot came into being. There's the crown, wisdom, understanding, etc.
• All these theosophy later influenced Judaism and Hasidism.
• Restrictions have been placed. Anybody must be at least 40 to seek entrance. The point is to protect them. Because the real view is that God is no longer a traditional concept (meant for the uninitiated mass). Letting go is liberating, and yet terrifying (for some).

The rest of the book tries to translate the ancient scripts. It's never going to be easy to understand, as it needs to maintain mysticism.

[James W Brede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel C. Matt’s The Essential Kabbalah is a captivating journey into the heart of Jewish mysticism, blending poetic beauty with profound mystery. The book’s introduction, which traces the historical roots of Kabbalah, is both informative and engaging, providing a solid foundation for readers new to the subject. Matt’s translations of key texts are lyrical, drawing readers into the enigmatic depths of Kabbalistic thought. However, the concept of the ten sefirot remains elusive, leaving some confusion that may require a second reading—or frequent revisiting—to fully grasp. This is not a flaw but a testament to the book’s depth, as its compelling nature invites ongoing exploration. Highly recommended for those drawn to spiritual and poetic wisdom, this is a work that rewards patience and reflection.

[Gary Jaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books for an introduction to the Jewish literature on the Kabbalah. The best book to use for a group discussion on the topic. I am involved in one group and lead another group that has been slowly going through these essays over the years. The amazing thing about this book is that EVERY version, from all hardback editions to all paperback editions, they are all paginated the exact same way!!! Thus when you say turn to page 23, everyone in the group, no matter which copy they have will be on the same page! A miraculous feet of Kabbalah in an of itself!

Absolutely a must own for anyone interested in the Jewish exploration of the Kabbalah.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

a nicely accessible introduction to Kabbalah. although it’s esoteric, I’d say it’s more easily grasped than something like Daoism or Zen. the concepts themselves are pretty neat as well. the world is suffused with Yahweh, and all of our mundane actions serve as opportunities to cleave to Yahweh.

the section on sex was interesting. Kabbalah rejects Puritanism and chastity, saying that Yahweh made everything as it was intentionally, thus it must be good. “The holiness derives precisely from feeling the pleasure. This secret is wondrous, deep, and awesome.”

worth reading for anyone interested in religions.

[Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masterful curation and commentary. Answered a lot of questions I've had for a long time about the origins, meaning, and purpose of kabbalah - and almost all by skillful presentation of excerpts from historic source texts! I was quite moved by glimpsing the earnest endeavor to raise the soul and touch the ineffable. While obviously deeply rooted in Judaism, the parallels to Eastern spirituality are striking as well - Buddhists will find passages that seemingly spell out foundational doctrines such as karma and dependent origination. Great read if, like me, you've been wondering what this esoteric discipline is all about.

[Bohemian Bluestocking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a gorgeous selection of inspiring and divine Kabbalists. This is a great book to start with because you will learn so much and discover your favorite writers. The only drawback is that you have to keep turning to the endnotes to see the author/source of the passage on each page. But this is my entry into the Kabbalah (reading alongside The Essential Zohar), and it has planted a seed for my continuing to learn about this area of spirituality, not just for knowledge but for personal use in my own meditation and awakening.

[Tayylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I bought this I obviously didn't pay attention to the summary, because I expected this to be an explanation of Kabbalah rather than extracts of key texts. So initially I wasn't a fan, but it didn't take too long to become thoroughly immersed. Not all the chosen texts had an impact on me or made sense, but I enjoyed the majority and got a lot out of this. Also found the notes at the back very helpful.

[Emma Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for an accessible book on the history and symbolism of Kabbalah. The first couple of chapters helped some withe the history, but the bulk of the book is more like a study guide. If that is what you are looking for I would give this five stars. But unfortunately it wasn't really what I was looking for. If someone is aware of a good book on this topic that explains the symbolism and purpose of kabbalah to the layman I'd be interested in eecommendations.

[Barrystein · Rating 5 out of 5]

In addition to Yehuda Berg's book, this another work that is well-organized and precise as it presents important basics of kabbalah (i.e., the mystical part of Judaism).

This book, along with other means (e.g., music bands like "Kabbalah Cowboy" https://soundcloud.com/user-472120778...) is moving Kabbalah more into the mainstream

[Dāna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet intro... still hard for me to explain exactly what I gleaned but the image of God’s energies divided but whole, transposed onto the human body so that we can begin to conceptualize the vastness... is magical and burns brightly inside me. Need to return to it and read more from the suggested list in the back.