Heavenly Powers: Unraveling the Secret of the Kabbalah

by Neil Asher Silberman

Book Overview

Heavenly Powers: Unraveling the Secret History of the Kabbalah gives a political history of Jewish mysticism. Neil Asher Silberman says the goal of his book is to describe "how kabbalistic rituals--at... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0785813241
• ISBN13: 9780785813248
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Booksales
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Great book with a different perspective, a recommended read

In recent years it seems that most books on the Kabbalah seem to concentrate on the mystical aspects. Especially with it's growing popularity with various New Age movements. Silberman takes a different direction and concentrates on the historical and political factors that influenced the development of the Kabbalah and it's rituals. He takes the reader back to the beginnings or many of the rituals and discussed the political and historical influences of that time and how they worked together to weave a rich tapestry of religious tradition. He has a remarkable ability to take a complex subject and put it into a readable style as he takes the reader on a journey from the Babylonian empire through the Roman and Byzantine empires, through Europe and to Israel. For the new age reader who is more interested in the rituals and methods of the Kabbalah this will probably not be their favorite book, but for those desiring an understanding of the roots of the religious tradition this is an excellent book with a perspective that others do not offer. A recommended read for any student of history, religion, or political sciences or others who just want to understand such things.