Conference hydra::dejavu

    (re.0)
    
    
                Marcia,
                       I've read only two books related to the study of the
    Qabala. The first one was "A Garden of Pomegranates" by Israel Regarde;
    the second one was a collection of essays by Alister Crowley entitled
    "777 and Other Qabalistic Writings of Alister Crowley". Another book 
    which makes reference to the Qabala but is not too detailed is "Foun-
    dations of Practial Magic" also written by Israel Regarde. "A garden 
    of Pomegranets" gives a beginer a solid over-view of the system with 
    some reference to letters and numbers. "777....." gives a more detailed
    explination of Qabala including all (I think) the letters and numbers.
          Israel Regarde was secretary to Alister Crowley for a while but
    is very learned in the field himself. See previous base note for the 
    scoop on Crowley, but don't let the bad reports (however true) to 
    tarnish the wealth of information available from his book (ISBN 0-
    87728-670 published by Samuel Weiser Inc.). I don't have either of 
    Regardes books to reference at the moment so I can't give the ISBN.
    Both, I think, are printed by Lewellen Press Inc. 
    
    
                         Hope this has helped,
                                Mark
    
    P.S.   contact me directly if I can give specific references. I have
    the Crowley book with me now.
    
    

    Re .0 (Marcia):
    
>My son has to write a paper on Kabbalism (?) as a requirement for his 
>confirmation class at Sunday School.     
 
    Wow!  Whatta Sunday School!
    
    Anyway, there are two thoughts.  You might try Chapter Three of
    Richard Cavendish's _Tghe Black Arts_, which gives a reasonable
    overview.  If he wants to dig (I don't know the deadline), you might
    opt for a course in Qabbahlistic symbolism written by Gareth Knight
    (the title, I think, is _A Practical Course in Qabbahlastic Symbolism_,
    originally a two-volume set, though reissued as a single-volume
    thick book).       
    
    Good hunting!
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    I would suggest "A Garden of Pomegranets" (pardon the spelling)
    mentioned in .1
    
    It is just a general overview and may be enough for a short paper.
    
    If you want ISBN # and Llewellyn Adress...contact me directly (I
    have the book at home)...I'll even lend it out to you if you are
    in my area (central MA).
    
    joe p
    

    A.E. Waite has a most thorough scholarly book on the Kabballa.  Unlike
    most of the others mentioned (excellent though they be) it is not a
    guide to how the Kaballa "fits into" his occult philosophy, but rather
    an examination of the traditional sets of beliefs known as the
    Kabballa.  The book (whose title escapes me) is long, detailed, dry,
    at times pompous, but otherwise well-written and quite fascinating.
    The edition I have suffers from a printer with an exagerated need
    to use ligatures -- which makes it a bit hard to read until you get
    used to it.
    
    Of course Waite has his biases and personal interpretations too, some
    of which he is conscious enough of to state as such and some of which
    he isn't.  But the biases are a scholar's biasses rather than an
    interpretters.  I would recommend this above the others of those
    suggested (at least those that I've read, which I *think* is all of
    them -- I went through a period of interest in Kabballa about 20 years
    ago), for this purpose.  It's not the "best" or most interesting
    book on the subject, but unless the topic is "Regardie's version of
    the Kabballa" I think it should be preferred.
    
    Contact me by mail if you would like to borrow my copy.
    
    					Topher

Thanks everyone for the help. I was at the N.H. Mall over the weekend 
and found a book that should help. Also, went to "Insights" in Acton...
fascinating bookshop and an extrememly helpful owner. 

The more information I get and "peruse" for my son the more I think he
might be in over his head for a sixteen year old. The topic is extensive 
and involved...thought he might concentrate now on the Tree of Life, 
although books could be written on just that subject alone.  

It looks like the paper will be extrememly superficial in nature due to 
the vast information and interpretations...

Any info on the Tree of Life subject...in a nutshell?

Thanks,
Marcia

    As Steve said, What a Sunday School!
    
    Did your son pick this topic, or was it assigned to him?
    
    What Sunday School is this?
    
    Earl Wajenberg

We are members of a reform temple (Congregation Shalom) in Chelmsford.
As part of the requirement for Sunday School confirmation, the kids have
to pick a relevant topic and write a research paper. There has been 
several discussions and references to Kabbahla in class and the 
"mystics" around the topic intrigued him.  I really don't think he 
realized how complicated this topic is.  We have been desparately 
helping him to pick a more "cut and dry" topic area...but as I said in a 
previous note...nothing is "cut and dry" when discussing or writing 
about Kabbahla.  To be perfectly honest, I'm finding this topic 
intriguing myself.  He needs to put together and pass in a paper outline 
in two weeks and right now he is in a bit of a panic mode.  This is why 
I have been trying to elicit help and direction from the notesfile. 
Hoping that someone with more experience and knowledge in this area can 
make suggestions.

Keep the ideas flowing and thanks for all the direction so far.
Marcia			

RE: .7
    
    OK.  Let me even more strongly recommend *against* most of the sources
    that have been cited so far.  All are about *non-Jewish* Kabbahlaism;
    i.e., the Kabbahlah has interpretted by non-Jews to fit their own
    mystic philosophies, which are in turn heavily influenced specifically
    by Christian theology (whether by acceptance or direct rejection of
    some specific aspect).  Waite would still be a good source (though
    his own Christian and Post-Christian biases should be considered) *BUT*
    he is *very* slow going.
    
    What I recommend is an afternoon at the largest accessible library,
    or several libraries, reading things like the appropriate entries in
    Jewish and general Religious Encyclopedias.  Don't try to find a single
    authoritative source, but to find many different summaries having
    different perspectives on the same complex phenomenon.
    
    In addition to learning something about one of the two major
    contrasting threads of Jewish thought (strongly underemphasized in most
    Reformed, many Conservative and even some Orthodox systems of
    education) another valuable lesson might be learned -- how to do
    research.  Encourage him to be creative.  Have him write down lists
    of topics to cross reference (not just the marked see also phrases
    in an encyclopedia but what might be in *another* encyclopedia or
    the index of a book).  What subjects might conceivably have some
    bearing and therefore some reference to the Kabballah?  (Judaica
    obviously, but also comparative religion, occultism, folklore,
    medival history, modern history -- even things like film (i.e., the
    classic of Yiddish stage and film, The Gollem)).  How reliable is each
    source?  What are their biases?  What contradictions can he find
    between them?  How likely is one source to be simply "borrowing"
    from another, or both from the same third source, and therefore not
    providing independent confirmation of a specific claim at all?
    
    Make this a mother/son project if you can and you can help him learn
    to explore and perhaps learn stuff yourself.  There are few lessons
    as valuable (nor as "Jewish") as how to do library research effectively
    and creativly?
    
    						Topher

    T.C. is right...
    
    The books mentioned above may be influenced by other than jewish
    philosophy.  It could be creative to mention briefly in the paper
    how the Qabblah (hey, who's got the spelling right!!???) has found
    its way into other areas of spirituality.
    
    I would suggest (like TC) an encyclopedia or other kind of book
    that gives generalities on the jewish version of Kabala.  
    
    How about looking into jewish scripture and finding where it's
    mentioned, how, who mentions it...etc  This would surely impress
    the instructor of the class...using that source as a basis for the
    general gist of the paper...
    
    sounds like alot of work - - but it'd be quite a learning experience
    for mom and son!
    
    best of luck...
    
    joe p

    The correct spelling is, of course, only in Hebrew -- and for the
    Kabbalah, that is *very* important.  Webster's Unabridged lists the
    following variant transliterations, but I wouldn't assume this is
    complete:
    
    		cabala, cabbala, cabbalah,
    		kabala, kabbala, kabbalah,
    			qabbala, qabbalah
    
    						Topher

        (addendum to .1)
            
              For what it is worth "A Garden of Pomegranates" by Israel
    Regardie printed by Llewellyn Publications St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-
    0383. I.S.B.N.0-87542-690-5.
    
    
          Later,
           Mark

    
    re:  Tree of Life
    
    _Alchemical Studies_ by C.G.Jung has a section on this.  If it's
    like the other sections of the book (the ones I've read) it will
    be *packed* with info.  I'm not sure how he arranged this section,
    but you may not care for it if it has too much of a psychological
    perspective.  (Other sections just presented the facts and then
    a psychological summary was made at the end explaining that perspect-
    ive).                                                          
    
    FWIW,
    
    guy

    I came across a title called "Kabbalah: New Perspectives" Written
    by Moshe Idel who is Associate Proffessor of Jewish thought at Hebrew
    University in Jerusalem.  The book was published by Vail-Ballou
    Press in Binghamton, NY. I found it in a small bookstore across
    from the Wordsworth bookstore in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Ma. It
    was located in the philosophy-religion section.
    
    Ernie
    

    I just found a copy of:
    
    Kabbalah for the Layman
     (A Guide to Cosmic Consciousness)
    
      by Dr. Philip S. Berg
    
    also subtitled (An Opening to the Portals of Jewish Mysticism)
    
    published by Research Centre of Kabbalah,
      Old City, Jerusalem

    I just picked up a readable book on the subject called simply
    "The Kabbalah", by Adolphe Franck.  It was written in the first half of
    the 19th century and takes a scholarly approach.  It has three
    sections, the first focuses on establishing the historical sources of the
    philosophy by attempting to determine the sources of the two books that
    form its basis (mumble-mumble and the Zohar), the second focuses on the
    philosophy itself, and the third compares the philosophy other
    philosophies such as Platonism and Christianity.
    
    I found a copy in paperback in a used book store.  The publisher is
    Citadel, and it was printed in the early 1970s.
    
    - Dave