Rabbi Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah (Or Ne'erav)

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First published in 1587, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s now classic introduction to Kabbalah, Or Ne’erav, was intended to serve several purposes. It was meant both to provide a justification for the study of Kabbalah and to encourage that study by providing detailed instructions for interested laymen on how to go about that study. Taken as a whole, Or Ne'erav was clearly meant to serve as an elementary text for beginners in Kabbalah.

In many ways, Rabbi Cordovero was ideally suited to compose such a work. His teacher of rabbinics was no other than Rabbi Yosef Caro, author of the Shulchan Aruch, which rapidly became the halakhic code par excellence. His master in Kabbalah was Rabbi Shlomo ha-Levi Alkabetz, whose sister he subsequently married. The result of his studies with both was no less than a kabbalistic “code,” a systematic kabbalistic theology of the Zohar, a basic text of Jewish mysticism (Pardes Rimonim). But this work was too large, and too complex to be easily mastered. Moreover, it assumed too much previous knowledge to serve as an introduction to the subject; hence the need for Or Ne’erav. Or Ne’erav succeeded in fulfilling all these purposes, and has remained a classic introduction to the study of Kabbalah-and is used as such to this day.

Dr. Ira Robinson’s accurate but readable translation is the first English rendition of this essential work.

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Weight 1.2 lbs
Sku: 183733

Price $ 39.95