The Alef-Beit: Jewish Thought Revealed Through the Hebrew Letters

by Yitzchak Ginsburg

This intriguing volume takes readers on a fascinating journey through the Hebrew alphabet. Along the way, Rabbi Ginsburgh reveals each letter's secrets and demonstrates that they are a key to Jewish spirituality.

518 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 1977

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to intensity of text and a flood of ideas new to me, ideas that I immediately knew that somehow I'd been looking for, it's taken me just over a year to finish this book. If you're looking for a mystical take on the alef-beit including gematria and lots of practice with Atbash, this is the place to start.

Caveats: 1) it's addicting and you're going to see it everywhere. It can be either crazymaking or infinitely beautiful. Know what you're getting into, and 2) you have to be well enough versed in the poetry of your own soul to take what's offered here that resonates and leave the rest. The author is a very right-wing political figure, do some research on him before you read. You'll see minimal bits of it show up in this writing. You're going to have to get past political notions, gender norms, and complete dismissal by the author of some things that may matter to you as a liberal reader. It's worth the work, to hear what he's teaching.

[Deborah Mccann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening thoughts on how words and the letters of words express themselves through us and to us.