Customer Reviews
Clarity, simplicity, beautifully written - By: , 26 May 2002 
I am amazed by the ability of Rabbi Kaplan to teach the Mystical principles of Judaism with such clarity. When I pick this commentary up I want to read it throughin one go but always find myself meditating on a small section. His teachings indeed fit the principle that 'what is to be revealed is at first hidden'.
The best of the scientific and spiritual teachings - By: , 25 Jul 1999 Rabbi Kaplan, Z"L, makes a great insight on this short, but extremely deep book. He uses his knowledgein physics to make us approach to such a very ancient textin today's language. Basically a meditative text, Kaplan suggests its basic applications as well as an insight on how to make a Golem. Anyway, as he states elsewherein this, & his other titles, all these practices should be treated with maturity & some respect (if you don't believein this stuff's truth, just skip that), for you can get psychologically or spiritually damaged. Absolutely recommendable.
The most important commentary about the Sefer Yetzirah - By: , 25 Sep 1998 Like all books written by Aryeh Kaplan this one is wonderful and, perhaps , the best. Sepher Yetzirah is of difficult interpretation & he made it easier & comprehensible.
Amazing, accessible text, explanation and teachings - By: , 19 Aug 1998 I began with Path of the Kabbalah by David Sheinkin, M.D. & was led to this book through that text. I knew absolutely nothing about Judaisn & the Kaballah & Sheinkin's book was the first place to start. I immediately had to get my hands on the real books of mystical Kabbalah. Kaplan's writing is outstanding. The repetition of information while new pieces are layered, more repetition, more layers is very effective. Then move on to Meditations & the Bible and/or Meditations & the Kabbalah, & the Zohar. Sheinkin's book mentions key writers such as Kaplan & Scholem, though the later is very critical & academic rather than accessible & ready to put into practice.
Best scholarly work to date of a key mystical Jewish text. - By: , 19 Aug 1997 There are many books on the qabbala, kaballah, or cabala. As far as current scholarship on the key text of qabbala within the contemporary Jewish tradition (post Lurianic) this work is the best & simplest serious study of the texts themselves. Kaplan discusses all the known texts, gives voice to all major scholarsin the field as to the date of this text, then carefully analyzes this mystical text line by line. There are many great works out there Kaplan refers us to (Scholem of course), & alternative directions (Lullian & hermetic), but for a very comprehensive yet straightforward look at the major qabalistic text from a traditional Jewish view of today, you can't go wrong with Kaplan.
