| Safed Spirituality: Rules of Mystical Piety, the Beginning of Wisdom Revised Edition Contributor(s): Fine, Lawrence (Translator), Jacobs, Louis (Preface by) |
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ISBN: 0809126125 ISBN-13: 9780809126125 Publisher: Paulist Press OUR PRICE: $20.66 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: January 1984 Annotation: The most in-depth and scholarly panorama of Western spirituality ever attempted! In one series, the original writings of the universally acknowledged teachers of the Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Islamic and Native American traditions have been critically selected, translated and introduced by internationally recognized scholars and spiritual leaders. The texts are first-rate, and the introductions are informative and reliable. The books will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of every literate religious persons". -- The Christian Century |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Judaism - History |
| Dewey: 296.833 |
| LCCN: 84060735 |
| Lexile Measure: 1360 |
| Series: Classics of Western Spirituality (Paperback) |
| Physical Information: 0.61" H x 6.05" W x 9.06" (0.67 lbs) 224 pages |
| Themes: - Theometrics - Catholic - Religious Orientation - Jewish |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: ...an undertaking of signal importance. Jacob Needleman Professor of Philosophy, San Francisco State University Safed Spirituality: Rules of Mystical Piety, The Beginning of Wisdom translated and introduced by Lawrence Fine preface by Louis Jacobs Prepare the meal of the King. This is the meal of the Holy Ancient One, And the Impatient and the Field of holy apples. Behold, they come to share the meal with him. Isaac Luria (1534-1572) The renaissance of Jewish mystical life which took place in the Galilean city of Safed in the sixteenth century is one of the most significant and remarkable chapters in the history of Judaism. The ideas which developed there, the rich literature which was produced, the stunning array of teachers which it nurtured, established Safed as one of the great centers of Jewish creativity. So writes Professor Lawrence Fine in the foreword of this volume. Collected here are the Hanhagot of Moses Cordovero, Abraham Galante, Abraham be Eliezer ha-Levi Berukhim, Joseph Karo, and Isaac Luria, plus the mystical-ethical treatise, Reshit Hokhmah (The Beginning of Wisdom) by Elijah de Vidas. In these writings the unique blend of kabbalistic tradition and messianic enthusiasm, which is characteristic of Safed spirituality, comes alive. The importance of the Safed tradition for today is perhaps best summed up by Louis Jacobs' description of the Safed mystics as mighty God seekers; at times perhaps, over-credulous and superstitious from the contemporary point of view, but daring stormers of the heavens. Their intense devotional piety, their efforts to imbue even the most mundane event with religious meaning and their insistence on the cosmic significance of all human action make their thought a relevant, stimulating source of spiritual insight for our age. |