The Art of Mystical Narrative

Reviews / Votes

Fishbane is a fearlessly strong reader, so his scope is at once broad and deep, synchronic, and diachronic. * Aubrey L. Glazer, Religious Studies Review * Eitan P. Fishbane's robust volume, The Art of Mystical Narrative, takes a refreshing approach to the enigmatic, multiauthored, Sefer ha-Zohar (The Book of Splendor). The Art of Mystical Narrative is a monumental achievement. It is the first volume to regard the Zohar's main body as a work of literature, rather than a source for tracing theological and cultural concepts. The book will be helpful to those interested in Jewish mysticism, medieval religion and literature, thirteenth- and fourteenth century Iberia, and literary criticism. * Ellen Haskell, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, The Journal of Religion * Fishbane offers a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective on the Zohar and on the intersections of literary and religious studies. [a] monumental piece of scholarship... this book invites the reader not only into the colourful world of the Zohar but also into the complex and interesting world of kabbalistic scholarship about the Zohar and related subjects. Fishbane makes [an] extraordinary contribution to the study of Jewish mysticism, comparative literature, medieval history, and Jewish ethics... he teaches his readers how to experience the Zohar's religious and literary splendor... the ways in which exegetical practices as distinct forms of mythmaking enable those living in different times and places to encounter the reality of God. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a truly magnificent book, one that will be valuable far beyond the circles of ohar scholarship, to layperson and scholar alike. * Thea Gomelauri, Reviews in Religion and Theology * Fishbane's approach opens up a variety of invaluable ways to read the Zohar... The Art of the Mystical Narrative... offers such substantial insights into what makes the Zohar an enduring masterpiece of world literature as well as the keystone text of Jewish mysticism. * Norman Weinstein, Independent Scholar, Reading Religion * Fishbane's study of the interplay between fictional discourse and mystical exegesis combines the Kabbalah scholar's mastery of Jewish intellectual history with the literary critic's sensitivity to language and form. Through engagement with modern frameworks of criticism-characterization, dramatic speech, degrees of fictionality, structural framing-Fishbane draws the reader deep into the literary world of the Zohar's Iberian Jewish author(s) and readers and its unique vision of reality. The book is pioneering in that it truly appreciates the Zohar for what it was-a work. * Jonathan Decter, Edmond J. Safra Professor of Sephardic Studies, Brandeis University * In this groundbreaking and brilliant study, Fishbane explores the poetic artistry of the Zohar, enabling us to appreciate the masterpiece of Kabbalah in radically new ways. He highlights the theatrical/performative dimension of zoharic narrative and its magical realism. Significantly, he locates the Zohar in the context of medieval Spanish literature, both Jewish and Christian. Fishbane's erudite and fascinating book demonstrates how the Zohar is simultaneously a bold mystical interpretation of the Torah and an experiment in medieval fiction. * Daniel Matt, author of the multi-volume annotated translation The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, and The Essential Kabbalah * A work of dazzling literary scholarship. This penetrating analysis of a Judaic classic employs the full range of tools and insights available to the contemporary reader. The Zohar is a profound and mysterious work that has long attracted scholars who seek to swim in its depths. In Fishbane, it has found one who happens to write in English and knows the whole Western literary canon. That in itself is a miracle worthy of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai. If you have the Zohar in your heart, you must have Fishbane on your shelf. * Arthur Green, Rector and Irving Brudnick Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Religion, Hebrew College * In his exquisite and wonderful book, Eitan Fishbane illuminates the ways in which the literary aspects of the Zohar are intimately woven to the core of the Zohar's mystical and interpretive insights. From Fishbane's masterful presentation we learn that the poetic and dramatic dimensions of the Zohar do not serve merely as a narrative frame to its content, but rather they embody, enact and perform the calling of the master of the mystical circle and his disciples. Fishbane's careful and brilliant readings add another dimension of depth and wonder to our encounter with the Zohar and his work is a major contribution to the ongoing exploration of one of the greatest literary and religious achievements of the Jewish tradition. * Moshe Halbertal, Gruss Professor of Law at New York University, and John and Golda Cohen Professor of Jewish Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem * Fishbane's study of the interplay between fictional discourse and mystical exegesis combines the Kabbalah scholar's mastery of Jewish intellectual history with the literary critic's sensitivity to language and form. Through engagement with modern frameworks of criticism-characterization, dramatic speech, degrees of fictionality, structural framing-Fishbane draws the reader deep into the literary world of the Zohar's Iberian Jewish author(s) and readers and its unique vision of reality. The book is pioneering in that it truly appreciates the Zohar for what it was-a work. * Jonathan Decter, Edmond J. Safra Professor of Sephardic Studies, Brandeis University * In this groundbreaking and brilliant study, Fishbane explores the poetic artistry of the Zohar, enabling us to appreciate the masterpiece of Kabbalah in radically new ways. He highlights the theatrical/performative dimension of zoharic narrative and its magical realism. Significantly, he locates the Zohar in the context of medieval Spanish literature, both Jewish and Christian. Fishbane's erudite and fascinating book demonstrates how the Zohar is simultaneously a bold mystical interpretation of the Torah and an experiment in medieval fiction. * Daniel Matt, author of the multi-volume annotated translation The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, and The Essential Kabbalah * A work of dazzling literary scholarship. This penetrating analysis of a Judaic classic employs the full range of tools and insights available to the contemporary reader. The Zohar is a profound and mysterious work that has long attracted scholars who seek to swim in its depths. In Fishbane, it has found one who happens to write in English and knows the whole Western literary canon. That in itself is a miracle worthy of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai. If you have the Zohar in your heart, you must have Fishbane on your shelf. * Arthur Green, Rector and Irving Brudnick Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Religion, Hebrew College * In his exquisite and wonderful book, Eitan Fishbane illuminates the ways in which the literary aspects of the Zohar are intimately woven to the core of the Zohar's mystical and interpretive insights. From Fishbane's masterful presentation we learn that the poetic and dramatic dimensions of the Zohar do not serve merely as a narrative frame to its content, but rather they embody, enact and perform the calling of the master of the mystical circle and his disciples. Fishbane's careful and brilliant readings add another dimension of depth and wonder to our encounter with the Zohar and his work is a major contribution to the ongoing exploration of one of the greatest literary and religious achievements of the Jewish tradition. * Moshe Halbertal, Gruss Professor of Law at New York University, and John and Golda Cohen Professor of Jewish Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem *