The Heart and the Fountain: An Anthology of Jewish Mystical Experiences

by Joseph Dan

Overview

Joseph Dan is one of the world's leading authorities on Jewish mysticism. In this superb anthology, Dan not only presents illuminating excerpts from the most important mystical texts, but also delves into the very meaning of mysticism itself. Dan takes readers through the historical development of Jewish mysticism, from late antiquity to the modern period. He explores the Kabbalah, the esoteric tradition that delves into the secrets delivered by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, the emergence of Hasidism, and much more. He presents the great texts, from Hekhalot Rabbati, "The Greater Book of Divine Palaces," set in the temple in Jerusalem; to the apocalyptic vision of Abraham Abulafia in the thirteenth century; to the Zohar, perhaps the best-known volume of all. For each piece, he offers an extended introduction that deftly places the work in the context of its time and its antecedents.
"Mysticism is that which cannot be expressed in words, period," Dan writes. In this remarkable volume, he guides us through that seemingly impenetrable barrier to show how the inexpressible has been expressed in some of the most profound and challenging writing in existence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195139792
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/30/2003
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.22(h) x 0.87(d)

About the Author

Joseph Dan is the Gershom Scholem Professor of Kabbalah at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A winner of the Israel Prize in 1997, he is recognized as one of the most influential scholars of Jewish mysticism in the world today.

Table of Contents

PrefaceIntroductionI.. "Religion, Mysticism, and Language"II.. "Jewish Mysticism"III.. "Jewish Concept of Language: The Midrash"IV.. "Historical Outlines: Late Antiquity"V.. "Historical Outlines: The Middle Ages"VI.. "Historical Outlines: The Modern Period"VII.. "The Christian Kabbalah"1. The Revelation of the Secret of the World2. Visions of Rabbi Akibah and Rabbi Ishmael3. The Deification of Enoch4. Rabbi Bahya Ibn Paquda: To See Without Eyes, To Hear Without Ears5. Gabirol: God and the Universe6. Addressing an Emanated Godhead7. The Voice of God Over the Water: The Worship of the Holy Name8. The Rokeah: The Devotion in Prayer9. Divine Will Clothed in Human Will: The Intention of Prayer in Early Kabbalah10. Abraham Abulafia: An Apocalyptic Vision11. The Mystical Immersion in Names and Letters: Shaarey Zedek12. Zohar: The Beginning13. Rabbi Simeon Bar Yohai and his Society of Mystics14. The Zohar: The Wondrous Child15. To Write Without Pen and Ink16. Joseph Della Reina: From Experience to Legend17. Walking with the Shekhinah: The Palm Tree of Devorah18. The Messianic Dreams of Rabbi Hayyim Vital19. A Prophetic Vision by Nathan of Gaza20. Nathan of Gaza Facing the Monsters of Evil: The Myth of the Doenmeh21. Luzzatto: Messianism and Sanctity22. The Mystical Prayer of Rabbi Israel Ba'al Shem Tov23. Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav: A Vision and a Dream24. Bialik: Mystical Poetry and Mystical Language25. The Sweet Voice of the Lord: Four Contemporary Israeli PoetsNotesPermissionsIndex

Editorial Reviews

"Dan...carefully explodes several misconceptions. More than 25 selections reflect the remarkable scope of Jewish mysticism, from the visions of Rabbi Akiba and Rabbi Ishmael to the secrets of the Zohar; from the apocalyptic, messianic, and magical texts to the vibrant writing of four contemporary Israeli poets-an unconventional inclusion."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Dan's writing is lucid and engaging, bringing an expert's view to a subject that has, unfortunately, been subsumed into popular culture."—Library Journal

"Author of more than fifty books and winner of the 1997 Israel Prize, Joseph Dan is one of the world's leading authorities on Jewish mysticism. In this anthology, Dan not only presents illuminating excerpts from the most important mystical texts but also delves into the very meaning of mysticism itself."—Gadfly Online

From the Publisher

From its very first page, it's obvious that this lucid, authentically Jewish and scholarly work is different from the numerous recent titles that have jumped on the kabbalistic bandwagon. Dan, an expert on Jewish mysticism and winner of the 1997 Israel Prize, carefully explodes several misconceptions. He begins by separating religion from mysticism. In current usage, he says, "someone who prays is religious; someone who really means it is a mystic." But the basic attitudes of mysticism often contradict those of established religion: the mystic distrusts language, logic and thought, certain that those vehicles cannot lead to the revelation of God's nature. "Mysticism is that which cannot be expressed in words, period," states Dan succinctly. He further distinguishes between mysticism and Kabbalah, noting that though many mystics were Kabbalists, Jewish mysticism began a thousand years before Kabbalah. Mysticism, he stresses, is a Christian term that has no parallel in Judaism; Jewish mysticism is the "invention of contemporary scholars dealing with comparative study of religion." A comprehensive introduction explains the historical development of mysticism from antiquity to modern times, and delineates its leaders, texts and theology. Over 25 selections reflect the remarkable scope of Jewish mysticism, from the visions of Rabbi Akiba and Rabbi Ishmael to the secrets of the Zohar; from apocalyptic, messianic and magical texts to the vibrant writing of four contemporary Israeli poets an unconventional inclusion. This volume will appeal to any serious reader of mysticism. (Jan.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Dan is the Gershom Scholem Professor of Kabbalah at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, winner of the Israel Prize in 1997, a leading authority on Jewish mysticism, and the author of more than 50 books. With such credentials, he makes a fitting editor of a collection intended as an introduction to Kabbalah, an esoteric tradition in Judaism concerning the divine that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai and transmitted secretly through the generations. After an excellent introduction that discusses Jewish mysticism as a whole and then contrasts it with Christian mysticism, Dan presents 25 meaningful excerpts, some from classic texts like the Palm Tree of Devorah, the Zohar, and the mystical prayer of Rabbi Israel Ba'al Shem Tov, others from contemporary poetry. Each entry is prefaced with a helpful introduction that puts it in historical context. The book is annotated, but it lacks a bibliography a major flaw in a work meant as an entre . Still, Dan's writing is lucid and engaging, bringing an expert's view to a subject that has, unfortunately, been subsumed into popular culture. Highly recommended for large public libraries or where there is an interest in spirituality. Idelle Rudman, Touro Coll. Lib., NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal