Archive-name: judaism/reading-lists/mysticism
Soc-culture-jewish-archive-name: reading.mysticism
Posting-Frequency: Monthly

              Selected Sources for Additional Reading on Judaism
		Part III: Kabbalah, Mysticism, and Messianism
         [Last Change: $Date: 1995/10/19 15:22:19 $ $Revision: 1.2 $]
                    [Last Post: Wed Jun 14 11:07:09 1995]

     There is nothing more uniquely characteristic of the style of Jewish
     religious life than the great love Jews have for holy books. [Sie73]
     
   This list provides a collection of sources on "traditional" practice
   for readers of soc.culture.jewish. While no book can substitute for a
   formal course of instruction guided by one's Rabbi, these books are
   useful as reference material for the knowledgeable, and as an
   introduction for the not-yet-knowledgeable about Judaism.
   
   It is difficult to separate what is now termed "Orthodox" judaism from
   the collective term "Judaism". The practices of Orthodoxy tend to be
   the traditional practices. Furthermore, Orthodoxy is not organized as
   a movement in the same sense as Reform or Conservative; although
   Orthodox organizations exist, congregations do not need to join them
   to be considered Orthodox.
   
   In general, throughout the reading lists, North American (US/Canada)
   terms are used to refer to the movements of Judaism. Outside of North
   American, Reform is Progressive or Liberal Judaism; Conservative is
   Reform or Masorti, and Orthodoxy is often just "Judaism". Even with
   this, there are differences in practice, position, and ritual between
   US/Canada Reform and other progressive/liberal movements (such as UK
   Progressive/ Liberal), and between US/Canada Conservative and the
   conservative/Masorti movement elsewhere. Where appropriate, these
   differences will be highlighted.

   Reproduction of this posting for commercial use is subject to
   restriction. 

------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: ORGANIZATION

   This reading list is organized as follows:
     * Introduction to this Reading List 
     * Academic Treatments of Kaballah 
     * Religious Treatments of Kaballah 
     * Spirituality 
     * The Messiah 
     * Chassidic Approaches To Spirituality 
       

------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Academic Treatments of Kaballah

   [Ari92]
          Ariel, David. The Mystic Quest: An Introduction to Jewish
          Mysticism Schocken Press. 1992.
          
   [Dan86]
          Dan, Joseph. Jewish Mysticism and Jewish Ethics. University of
          Washington Press, Seattle WA. 1986.
          
   [Fin95]
          Fine, Lawrence. Essential Papers on Kabbalah. NYU Press. 1995.
          [according to the JTS catalog]
          
   [Ide88]
          Idel, Moshe. Kabbalah: New Perspectives. New Haven CT: Yale
          University Press. 1988.
          
   [Low90]
          Lowenthal, Naftali. Communicating the Infinite. University of
          Chicago, Chicago IL. 1990.
          
   [Mat93]
          Matt, Daniel Chanan. Zohar, The Book of Enlightenment. New York
          NY: Paulist Press. 1983.
          
   [Sch60]
          Scholem, Gershom. Jewish Gnosticism, Merkvah Mysticism and
          Talmudic Tradition. Ktav, New York. 1960. 2nd Ed. Block, New
          York. 1965.
          
   [Sch41]
          Scholem, Gershom. Major trends in Jewish Mysticism. Schocken,
          New York. 1941.
          
   [Sch49]
          Scholem, Gershom G. Zohar: The Book of Splendor-Basic Readings
          from the Kabbalah. Schocken, New York. 1949.
          
   [Sch65]
          Scholem, Gershom G. On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism.
          Schocken, New York. 1965.
          
   [Sch73]
          Scholem, Gershom G. Sabbatai Sevi. 2 vols. Princeton Univ.
          Press, Princeton NJ. 1973.
          
   [Sha82]
          Sharot, Stephen. Messianism, Mysticism & Magic: a Sociological
          Analysis of Jewish Religious Movements. Univ of North Carolina
          Press. 1982.
          

------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Religious Treatments of Kaballah

   [Ban78]
          Band, Arnold. The Tales: Nahman of Bratslav. New York NY:
          Paulist Press. 1978. [Although Paulist Press is a Christian
          publishing house, Dr. Band is a long-time professor of Jewish
          Studies at UCLA]
          
   [Bok78]
          Bokser, Ben Zion (ed.) Abraham Isaac Kook: The Lights of
          Penitence, The Moral Principles, Lights of Holiness, Essays,
          Letters, And Poems. New York NY: Paulist Press. 1978.
          
   [Kap78]
          Kaplan, Aryeh, Meditation and the Bible. Samuel Weiser Inc.,
          York Beach, Maine, 1978, ISBN 0-87728-617-5
          
   [Kap79]
          Kaplan, Aryeh (trans.) The Bahir: An Ancient Kabbalistic Text
          Attributed to Rabbi Nehuniah ben HaKana, First Century, C.E.
          New York: S. Weiser, 1979.
          
   [Kap82]
          Kaplan, Aryeh. Meditation and Kabbalah. Samuel Weiser Inc.,
          York Beach, Maine, 1982, ISBN 0-87728-616-7
          
   [Kap85]
          Kaplan, Aryeh. Jewish Meditation. Schocken Books Inc., New
          York, 1985, ISBN 0-8052-4006-3 (hardcover), ISBN 0-8052-0781-3
          (paperback)
          
   [Kap90]
          Kaplan, Aryeh. Innerspace, Introduction to Kabbalah,
          Meditation, and Prophecy. Maznaim Publishing Corp., 4304 12th
          Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219, 718-438-7680, New
          York/Jerusalem, 1990.
          
   [Kap90b]
          Kaplan, Aryeh (trans.). Sefer Ye-zirah (The book of Creation):
          In Theory and Practice. York Beach, ME: S. Weiser, 1990.
          
   [Keh89]
          Kehot. A Jewish Mysticism Primer Kehot, Brooklyn NY. 1989. [A
          collection of essays from an international conference]
          
   [Rob93]
          Robinson, Ira. Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah: An
          Annotated Translation of His Or Ne'erav. Yeshiva University
          Press (New York) and Ktav Publishing (Hoboken, New Jersey).
          ISBN 0-88125-439-8. 1993. [This is a classic text authored by
          the Rama"k, who headed the the Safed community just before the
          Ariza"l (Rabbi Yitzkhak Luria). It is an indispensible
          introduction for the serious student. Try to learn it in Hebrew
          if you are able.]
          
   [Sho90]
          Shochet, J. I. The Mystical Dimension. Kehot, Brooklyn NY.
          1990. [3 volumes: The Mystical Tradition (explains basics of
          Jewish mysticism), Deep Calling unto Deep (mytical examination
          of prayer and repentence), Chassidic Dimensions (Lubavitch
          Chassidism application of mysticism).]
          
   [Spe33]
          Sperling Harry, and Simon, Maruice, trans. The Zohar. Soncino,
          London. 1933 [Difficult to read without Hebrew text]
          
   [Wei69]
          Weiner, Herbert. 9 1/2 Mystics, The Kabbala Today. Holt
          Rinehard and Winston, New York. 1969.
          

------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Spirituality

   [Hof85]
          The Heavenly Ladder, The Jewish Guide To Inner Growth. Harper
          and Row Publishers, San Francisco, 1985. [A practical guide to
          Jewish self-transformation, for beginners. Includes a brief
          historical section that discusses the transformational process
          in Jewish history, a section on theoretical and philosophical
          constructs, and one that includes a series of exercises and
          guided meditations, in the Jewish, mystical tradition.]
          
   [Kus77]
          Kushner, Lawrence. Honey From The Rock: Visions Of Jewish
          Mystical Renewal. San Francisco : Harper & Row, c1977.
          
   [Kus81]
          Kushner, Lawrence. The River Of Light: Spirituality, Judaism,
          And The Evolution Of Consciousness. San Francisco : Harper &
          Row, c1981.
          
   [Kus87]
          Kushner, Lawrence. The Book Of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide
          To Jewish Spiritual Awareness: For Parents To Read To Their
          Children, For Children To Read To Their Parents. New York, N.Y.
          : UAHC Press, c1987.
          
   [Kus91]
          Kushner, Lawrence. God Was In This Place And I, I Did Not Know:
          Finding Self, Spirituality And Ultimate Meaning. Woodstock, Vt.
          : Jewish Lights Pub., c1991.
          
   [Kus93]
          Kushner, Lawrence. Book Of Words: Doing & Hearing Jewish
          Spirituality Again. Woodstock, Vt. : Jewish Lights, 1993.
          
   [Win92]
          Winkler, Gershon. The Soul of the Matter; A Jewish Kabbalistic
          Perspective on the Human Soul Before, During and After "Life".
          ISBN 0-910818-49-5, Judaica Press, New York, 1992. 
          
   There is some objection to the following book, as it uses a non-Jewish
   approach to address Jewish spirituality:
   
   [Bla91]
          Blank, William. Torah, Tarot & Tantra: a Guide to Jewish
          Spiritual Growth. Sigo Press, 1991.
          

------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: The Messiah

   [Bot93]
          Boteach, Shmuel. The Wolf Shall Lie Down With the Lamb. Jacob
          Aronson Press, 1993. [An examination of the issues and concepts
          of Moshiach, as presented in the Talmud, Maimonides and other
          classic sources, including the public discourses of the
          Lubavitcher Rebbe.]
          
   [Grexx]
          Greenstone, Julius Hillel. The Messiah Idea in Jewish History.
          Greenwood Press Reprint. (Philadelphia 1906) 347 pages. LC
          70-9728. ISBN 0-8371-2606-1. GRMI $52.50 Greenwood Press
          Reprint
          
   [Kun??]
          Kun, T. PROJECT MIND - The Conscious Conquest of Man & Matter
          Through Accelerated Thought. Zinor Press. ISBN 1-880646-02-1,
          softcover, 304 pages including appendix, glossary, question and
          answer section, index and references, $17.45, postpaid, foreign
          $19.45. Mail order: PM, 14 Lattimer St., Belleville, Ontario,
          Canada K8N 1H1 (tel: 613 968-8674/ email: jansheph@telos.ca).
          Credit card orders can be phoned from the U.S. & Canada to:
          800/842-8338. Worldwide fax: 810/987-3562. Please supply all
          necessary details including your address, card type, number and
          expiration date.
          
   [Pat79]
          Patai, Raphael; The Messiah Texts; Wayne State University
          Press, Detroit; 1979.
          
   [Ros82]
          Rosner, Fred, trans.; Maimonides, Moses. Treatise on
          Resurrection. Ktav, New York. 1982.
          
   [Sapxx]
          Saperstein, Marc. (ed.). Essential Papers on Messianic
          Movements and Personalities in Jewish History. NYU Press.
          
   [SchM91b]
          Schneersohn, Menachem M. I Await His Coming Every Day. Sichos
          In English, Brooklyn NY. 1991. [Collection of public addresses]
          
   [Sho91]
          Shochet, J.I., MASHIACH, Sichos in English, Brooklyn, NY. 1991
          [This is an analysis of sources]
          
   [Sil59]
          Silver, Abba Hillel; A History of Messianic Speculation in
          Israel; Beacon Press, Boston; 1927, 1959.
          
   [Sto91]
          Stone, Abraham. Highlights of Moshiach, Sichos In English,
          Brooklyn NY. 1991. [A collection of Midrashic and Talmudic
          sources]
          

------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Chassidic Approaches To Spirituality

   Note: These are not all descriptions of these approaches from the
   point of view of Chassidism. Some are from the point of view of
   scholars looking at Chassidsim. The Chassidic point of view is best
   found in the Chassidism portion of the reading list.
   
   [Bub58]
          Buber, Martin. Hasidism and Modern Man. Horizon, New York.
          1958.
          
   [Bub60]
          Buber, Martin. Origin and Meaning of Hasidism. Horizon, New
          York. 1960.
          
   [Bub61]
          Buber, Martin. Tales of the Hasidim. 2 Vols. Schocken, New
          York. 1961. (Vol 1: The Early Masters; Vol 2: The Later
          Masters)
          
   [Hun91]
          Hundert, Gershon D. (ed.). Essential Papers on Hasidism:
          Origins to Present. New York : New York University Press,
          c1991.
          
   [Jac66]
          Jacobs, Louis. The Seeker of Unity: The Life and Works of Aaron
          of Starosselje. Basic Books, New York. 1966.
          
   [Kan90]
          Kantor, Mattis. Chassidic Insights: A Guide for the Entangled.
          Naran Chai Publications, Suite 272 119 Rockland Center, Nahuet
          NY, 10954. 1990.
          
   [Kap84]
          Kaplan, Aryeh. Chassidic Masters. Moznaim, NY. 1984. [Short
          biographies and excerpts from works of leading Chassidic rebbes
          of the 1st and 2nd generation]
          
   [Kap81]
          Kaplan, Aryeh. The Light Beyond: Adventures in Hassidic
          Thought. Moznaim, NY. 1981. [Collection of Chassidic sayings]
          
   [Min70]
          Mintz, Jerome R. and Ben Amos, Dan. In Praise of the Baal Shem
          Tov (Shivhei ha-Besht): The Earlies Collections of Legends
          about the Founder of Hasidism. Indiana University, Bloomington
          IN. 1970.
          
   [SchJ61]
          Schneersohn, Joseph I. Some Aspects of Chabad Chassidim. Machne
          Israel, 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn NY. 1961.
          
   [Ver92]
          Ver theim, Aaron. Law and Custom in Hasidism. K'tav, Hoboken
          NJ. ISBN 0-88125-401-0. 1992. [Trans. by S. Himelstein]
          
   [Zev80]
          Zevin, A. Treasury of Chassidic Tales. Mesorah. 1980. [Complete
          on the Torah and holidays]
          

------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Archival and Credits

  Anonymous FTP:
  
   All portions of the FAQ and of the reading lists are archived on
   shamash.org [192.77.173.13] and on rtfm.mit.edu, and are available
   for anonymous FTP. On shamash.org, the parts of the FAQ are stored in
   the israel/lists/scj-faq/FAQ directory. On rtfm.mit.edu, these FAQs
   are stored in the pub/usenet/news.answers/judaism/FAQ directory. Note
   that the archived versions of the FAQ are the posted versions; that
   is, they are each one large ASCII file.
   
   The following is the mapping of reading lists to files:
   
   general
          Introduction and General. Includes book sources, starting
          points for beginners, starting points for non-Jewish readers,
          General Judaism, General Jewish Thought, General Jewish
          History, Noachide Laws, Torah and Talmud, Mishnah and Talmud,
          Torah and Talmudic Commentary, Midrash, Halachic Codes,
          Becoming An Observant Jew, Women and Judaism, and Science and
          Judaism.
          
   traditional
          Traditional Liturgy, Practice, Lifestyle, Holidays. Includes
          Traditional Liturgy; Traditional Philosophy and Ethics; Prayer;
          Traditional Practice; The Household; Life, Death, and
          In-Between; and The Cycle Of Holidays.
          
   mysticism
          Kabbalah, Mysticism, and Messianism. Includes Academic and
          Religious treatments of Kabbalah, Sprituality, and the Jewish
          notion of the Messiah.
          
   reform
          Reform/Progressive Judaism
          
   conservative
          Conservative Judaism
          
   reconstructionist
          Reconstructionist Judaism
          
   humanistic
          Humanistic Judaism (Society for Humanistic Judaism)
          
   chasidism
          Chassidism. Includes general information on historical
          chassidism, as well as specific information on Lubavitch
          (Chabad), Satmar, Breslaw (Breslov), and other approaches.
          
   zionism
          Zionism. Includes Zionism and The Development Of Israel, The
          Founders, Zionistic Movements, and Judaism in Israel.
          
   antisemitism
          Antisemitism. Includes sections on Antisemitism, What Led to
          The Holocaust, Medieval Oppression, Antisemitism Today
          (Including Dealing with Hate Groups), Judaism and Christianity,
          and Judaism, Freemasonry and other rumors.
          
   intermarriage
          Intermarriage. Includes sections on "So You're Considering
          Intermarriage?", The Traditional Viewpoint, Conversion, and
          Coping With Life As An Intermarried.
          
   periodicals
          Periodicals. Includes Topical General Interest Periodicals,
          General Interest Periodicals focused on Tradition and Home,
          General Interest Periodicals focused on Jewish Scholarship,
          Other General Interest Periodicals, Publications Targeted For
          Specific Movements, Rabbinic Journals, and Local Publications.
          
   childrens
          Books for Jewish Children. Includes.
          
   The following is the mapping of sections of the Frequently Asked
   Questions to files:
   
   01-FAQ-intro
          Section 1: Network and Soc.Culture.Jewish Information
          
   02-Who-We-Are 
          Section 2: Who We Are
          
   03-Torah-Halacha 
          Section 3: Torah
          Section 4: Halachic Authority
          
   04-Observance 
          Section 5: Jewish Holidays
          Section 6: Jewish Dietary Law and Kashrut
          Section 7: Sabbath and Holiday Observance
          Section 8: Woman and Marriage
          
   05-Worship 
          Section 9: Jewish Worship
          Section 10: Conversion, Intermarriage, and "Who is a Jew?
          Section 11: Miscellaneous Practice Questions
          
   06-Jewish-Thought 
          Section 12: Jewish Thought
          
   07-Jews-As-Nation 
          Section 13: Jews as a Nation
          
   08-Israel 
          Section 14: Jews and Israel
          
   09-Antisemitism 
          Section 15: Churban Europa (The Holocaust)
          Section 16: Antisemitism and Rumors about Jews
          Section 17: Countering Missionaries
          
   10-Reform 
          Section 18: Reform/Progressive Judaism
          
   11-Miscellaneous 
          Section 19: Miscellaneous
          Section 20: References and Getting Connected
          
   12-Kids
          Section 21: Jewish Childrearing Related Questions
          
   mail-order
          Mail Order Judaica
          
   On shamash.org, the parts of the reading lists are stored in the
   israel/lists/scj-faq/reading-lists directory. On rtfm.mit.edu, the
   reading lists are stored in the
   pub/usenet/news.answers/judaism/reading-lists directory. Note that the
   archived versions of the reading lists are the posted versions; that
   is, they are each one large ASCII file.
   
  Mail:
  
   The files may also be obtained via Email by sending a message to
   faigin@shamash.org with any number of the following commands in the
   body of the mail message:
   
   send faq _portionnames_
   send rl _portionnames_
   
   The "send faq" version is used to obtain portions of the FAQ; the
   "send rl" version is used to obtain portions of the reading list.
   "_portionnames_" should be replaced by the names of the files to be
   retrieved, separated by spaces. The special file name "list" will
   retrieve a list of all files that make up the FAQ or reading list; the
   special file name "all" will retrieve all files on the appropriate
   list.
   
   Examples:
   send faq all
   send faq list
   send faq 01-FAQ-intro
   send rl all
   send rl general
   
   Alternatively, you may send a message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with
   the following line in the body of the message:
   
   send usenet/news.answers/judaism/(portionname)
   
   Where (portionname) is replaced by the appropriate subdirectory and
   filenames; for example, to get the first part of the reading list, one
   would say:

        send usenet/news.answers/judaism/reading-lists/general

  WWW:
  
   The FAQ and reading lists are available as a full hypertext tree on
   shamash.org. The URL is:
   
   http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/index.html

------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Credits

   This list is based on an original list developed by Rob Levine, which
   was last posted to the net in February of 1991. Rob's list was culled
   from s.c.j. postings as well as the bibliographies of some of the
   books on this list. This original list has been augmented based on
   bibliographic research done by D. Faigin at the University of Judaism
   in Los Angeles, as well as contributions from readers of s.c.j,
   mail.jewish, and mail.liberal-judaism. It is also based on suggestions
   found in the excellent Jewish Catalog series, which would serve anyone
   well as a sourcebook on Judaism. Contributions to the list have also
   been made by: A. Engler Anderson, David Kaufmann, David A Guberman,
   Rabbi Mark Glickman, Len Moskowitz, Kay Tavill, and Yechezkal
   Gutfreund. As usual, suggestions for additions or deletions are
   welcome, as are brief annotations for any entry.

------------------------------------------------------------
--
Please mail additions or corrections to me at faigin@pacificnet.net.


End of Judaism Reading List Part III (Mysticism) Digest
**************************
-------

-- 
faigin@pacificnet.net   Moderator, Mail.Liberal-Judaism (mlj@shamash.org)
   |  @shamash.org      Maintainer, S.C.J FAQ/Reading List * Advisor S.C.J.P
   |  @aero.org         Daddy, Erin Shoshana  misc.kids Albums 95pg48 96pg27
   v  @acm.org          Home Page: http://www.pacificnet.net/~faigin/
