The Essential Zohar

Customer Reviews

• An Excellent Source Of Information  Apr 11, 2003 (35 of 37 found this helpful)

  If I could rate this title with 10 stars I would. This book is amazing. I've never felt the need to write a review before but I believe that this title is deserving of my first.

  The explanation of the tree of life alone, is reason enough to purchase this title. I own many different Kaballahs and I understand the material within them, but some of the concepts always seemed rather vauge until I read this book. This book has explained the material to me in a way that I didn't think was possible. It was as if the author took the time to hold the readers hand. Everything is explained in a clear and consise manner. This title is definatly worth a look.

• Terrible translation, incorrect commentary.  May 15, 2005 (90 of 104 found this helpful)

  I don't understand all the positive reviews for this book; they must have been written by people who are literally ignorant of this topic. Frankly, all of Berg's books on Kabbalah are full of terrible translations, censored and edited texts, and horrible commentary. His "explanations" are rejected by all Jewish authorities, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, religious and academic. Berg is attempting to create a non-Jewish and for-profit version of Kabbalah, and it is just embarassing. Instead of reading his nonsense, please check out books on this subject by real authorities and good writers:
  
  Read, for instance, "The Jewish Mystical Tradition", by Ben Zion Bokser; "Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism", by Gershom Scholem; "Zohar: Annotated & Explained" by Daniel Chanan Matt and Andrew Harvey
  
  I would also suggest "The Wisdom of The Zohar: An Anthology of Texts", Ed. Isaiah Tishby, and translated from the Hebrew by David Goldstein.
  

• The most impactful book on kabbalah  Apr 15, 2002 (18 of 20 found this helpful)

  This is the most clear and consise book that I have ever read on the Zohar. It is now very clear to me how and why to use the Zohar to better my life. I loved reading this book. I feel that it has changed my life in such a profound way. Something that I have been looking for for such a long time is now accessible. The invaluable wisdom of this book has already helped me to remove a lot of the chaos I have been experiencing until now. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who has any questions about life.

• The Best  Oct 2, 2002 (14 of 15 found this helpful)

  Rav Berg is the best teacher of spiritual concepts in a day to day language, and this book is the best simple explanation of passages of the Zohar yet. If one wants to really know what Kabbalah is about, this is a MUST.

• Best ever  Apr 15, 2002 (14 of 15 found this helpful)

  this book is the most amazing one i ever read ,after reading so many books about kabbalah and spirituality its the first time that i was able to understand in such simple and deep way the essense of kabbalah.It clarified the mysteries around kabbalah and the zohar in the most comprihended way possible.Rabbi berg wrote a book that can change the face of earth,if just everyone will read it.thank you for an unbelievable and vaulable book.