The Wisdom of the Jewish Mystics

Summary

The Wisdom of the Jewish Mystics is a selection of the most important writings, commentary, and ideas of the Jewish mystical tradition through the ages. The sayings are drawn primarily from the great Hasidic writers, who produced a new genre of mystical literature for laypeople. In his introduction, Dr. Unterman explains the background of kabbalistic thought and distills the quintessence of the mystics’ wisdom. “Reality is the clothing of . . . the Godhead itself,” he writes. “The mystic breaks through [the] perceptions which only tell us about the clothing, not about that which is clothed.”

About the Author

Alan Unterman was born and raised in London. He studied philosophy and comparative religion at Oxford, then traveled to India to study Hindu mysticism (particularly as it relates to Judaism), for which he received his doctorate. Dr. Unterman is the author of numerous other books, including Jews: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (1976); Judaism and Art (1980); and A Dictionary of Jewish Lore and Legend (1993). He lives in Cheshire, England, where he serves as the rabbi of an Orthodox synagogue.