Traditional Foundation

Books to begin with to acquire a Traditional Foundation in Jewish Mysticism

The Complete Artscroll Siddur -- a complete prayer book in Hebrew and English with some explanations of ritual and custom. Many traditional prayers were contributed to this liturgy by the greatest of the Kabalists of all time. What they knew is here for you to decode if you can.

The Artscroll Machzorim would be integral to this study as well. Artscroll is my favorite publisher of these kinds of books. They don't fall apart.

I'm searching for a currently available reference work on the liturgy which would give you insight into the construction of these works. Meanwhile, check out

The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet : The Sacred Letters As a Guide to Jewish Deed and Thought (The/Artscroll Mesorah)
by Michael L. Munk

Zohar (5 Volume set) -- this is the hardcover. I have the paperbacks, but they're falling apart. (bad glue)

The Bahir (Illumination) Attributed to Rabbi Nehunia ben haKana, master of the first century esoteric school, Translation, Introduction and Commentary by Aryeh Kaplan, published by Samuel Weiser Inc., 1979

An Introduction to the Cabala, Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi, published by Samuel Weiser, Inc. 1975

Yedid Nefesh, Introduction to Kabbalah by Rabbi Y. Bar-Lev Ph.D. published in Petach Tikva 5748

Sepharial -- Kabalistic Astrology Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc. North Hollywood, CA 1981

Some of these volumes are now very hard to find. If I find a source, I'll post it here. Meanwhile, you might try a query to Rathor-L -- the esoteric list here.

Ancillary reading -- try The Jew In The Lotus by Rodger Kamenetz -- Harper Collins pb 1995.

And "The Biblical Tarot - Never Cross A Palm With Silver" by Jacqueline Lichtenberg.

Send books for review in this column to: Jacqueline Lichtenberg,