From Madonna's music videos to the glossy pages of celebrity magazines and back to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Jewish mysticism has stepped into the modern consciousness like never before. In this classic work, world-renowned scholar Adin Steinsaltz answers the major questions asked by modern Jews about the nature of existence in God's universe. The title The Thirteen Petalled Rose is taken from the opening of the classic Jewish text on mysticism, the Zohar, and refers to the "collective souls of the Jewish people," which scholars have likened to the fullness of a rose and its thirteen petals. Along with a new preface by the author, this edition contains a new chapter on prayer that provides the most up-to-date account of the Kabbalistic view of devotion. Another new chapter recounts and interprets the prophet Elijah's Introduction to the Zohar. "Steinsaltz possesses a mind of the quality that occurs perhaps once or twice in a generation, or several generations.... In [The Thirteen Petalled Rose] one can encounter the classical Jewish mystical view of reality, delineated lucidly, concisely, profoundly and, what is so rare, believingly. It is an utterly authentic expression of Judaism yet so unknown even among the well-informed and therefore so necessary, so welcome." (Herbert Weiner, Oxford University)
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
You need this book.:
Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz was and still a source of inspiration to me, to my family and to my friends.
Do not look upon him as simply a Jewish scholar, because he is much much more than that. He is a man for all seasons; a man of goodness, intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom. A philosopher, a teacher, a mentor and a pillar of our civilized world. His wisdom, and his teachings enriched our hearts and minds. This book reveals the multiple aspects and facets of this great man. The Rabbi's books are... more info
Difficult read revealing fascinating patterns:
The introductory chapter Worlds speaks about the vast system of worlds that interacts with ours, explaining that every aspect of human existence consists of both matter and spirit. The world of action is one in a general system of four dimensions called emanation, creation, formation and action. The nature and missions of angels are examined, those who have existed from the beginning and those that are created through mitzvot. Chapter 2, Divine Manifestation, deals with continuous creation through the... more info
authentic and understandable - a rare gem in the sand:
spirituality is hard to expose in the physical word, but it is there and Rabbi Steinzaltz has been able to translate his experience and complex knowledge into a language that is within reach. OK some of the material would be out of reach for the beginner but there is something here for everyone.
astonishingly insightful !:
Allow me to spark your curiosity as to
how truly insightful and provocative this book is: First paragraph of the first page: "The physical world in which we live.
the objective observed universe around us,
is only a part of an inconceivably vast system of worlds. Most of these worlds are spiritual in their essence;
they are of a different order from our know world. Which does not necessarily mean that they exist somewhere else,
but means rather that they... more info
