On The Kabbalah And Its Symbolism

Gershom Scholem guides the reader through central themes in the intricate history of the Kabbalah. He clarifies the relations between mysticism and established religious authority; the mystics' interpretation of the Torah and their attempts to discover the hidden meaning underlying Scripture; the tension between the philosophical and the mystical concept of God; and the symbolism employed in mystical religion. He conveys his immense erudition with a lucidity that has earned him the admiration of the scholarly world and the appreciation of lay readers. --