This new approach introduces Kabbalah as a spiritual Jewish way of living, a practical wisdom for living, creativity and well being, and not merely a religious phenomenon or esoteric theology. Professor Shokek suggests that the Kabbalistic theme of Creation is the central ingredient in the spiritual teachings of Jewish mysticism. He skilfully reveals the core questions that emerge from the wisdom of the Jewish sages, opening up a lively avenue of debate in this increasingly popular area of study.

Reuchlin?s keen interest in Jewish mysticism resulted in the original publication of this work in 1517. The first part of this dialogue reflects on messianism, the second part on the relation of the Pythagorean system to the Kabbalah, and the third on the "practical Kabbalah." ø The German humanist Johann Reuchlin (1455-1522) defended the value of Jewish scholarship and literature when it was unwise and unpopular to do so. As G. Lloyd Jones points out, "A marked mistrust of the Jews had developed among Christian scholars during the later Middle Ages. It was claimed that the rabbis had purposely falsified the text of the Old Testament and given erroneous explanations of passages which were capable of a christological interpretation." Christian scholars most certainly did not advocate learning the Hebrew language. ø Reuchlin was exceptional in pursuing and promoting Hebrew studies, believing that a working knowledge of that language was essential for a true appreciation of the Bible and rabbinic literature. Refusing to join Christian contemporaries who wished to destroy the Kabbalah and the Talmud, he spoke out against ignorance. Christians could have a useful dialogue with Jews if they gained a thorough knowledge of the writings of Jewish exegetes and philosophers. Toward that end he proposed university endowments that aroused the fury of opponents and led to the famous "battle of the books." ø Reuchlin's keen interest in Jewish mysticism resulted in the publication of De arte cabalistica in 1517. The first part of this dialogue reflects on messianism, the second part on the relation of the Pythagorean system to the Kabbalah, and tdhe third on the "practical Kabbalah." According to Jones, "Reuchlin demonstrates how Christians can make profitable use of Jewish mystical writings, and therefore shares with the reader his understanding of the art of the Kabbalah." That art will reach more readers in this modern English-language translation by Martin and Sarah Goodman. It reinforces the historical importance of the man who prevented the destruction of Jewish books and anticipated the more liberal climate of the Reformation.

Told as a series of reflections, this study traces links between cultures as diverse as pre-Vedic India and late 19th-century France. An array of unrelated artists are all in fact linked by the Kabbalah and the correlation between art and this mystic Jewish thought.

A text supplemented by more than a hundred illustrations of letters, art, and sculpture covers such topics as the four divine names and the five modalities of being, the life of infinity, and the significance of each of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Where there is still life: sketching the life of Samuel Bak / Bernard H. Pucker -- What, how, and when: on my art and myself -- Samuel Bak -- Myth, midrash and mysticism: the painting of Samuel Bak / Michael Fishbane -- Skeptical visions and scriptural truths: Bak's Genesis paintings / Lawrence L. Langer -- Bak's dreams: painting as midrash / Alicia Ostriker -- Seeing words, reading images: allegory and interpretation in Bak and Benjamin / S. Brent Rodriguez Plate -- Genesis, genocide, and the art of Samuel Bak: "unseamly" reading after the Holocaust / Danna Nolan Fewell and Gary A. Phillips -- Bak's impossible memorials: giving face to the children / Danna Nolan Fewell and Gary A. Phillips -- Iconoclash and akedah / Yvonne Sherwood -- Images of disaster: survival and the impossible in the artwork of Samuel Bak and the Book of Job / Dan Mathewson -- The end of time: Bak's art, Messiaen's music, and Levinas's ethics / Charles Rix -- Labyrinths: a response / Samuel Bak.

Rather than treating the Jewish Kabbalah as merely one heretical doctrine among others in Fuente's novel Tera nostra, Penn (Spanish, U. of Leicester) argues that examining its presence is vital for understanding both the theme and style. He draws on 20th-century scholarship showing links between Jewish mysticism and theories of history and textuality, and literary implementations of the Kabbalah by writers who significantly influenced Fuentes such as Alego Carpentier and Jorge Luis Borges. His discusses the Kabbalistic concept of language and its operation in the novel, Celestina as metaphysical woman, Kabbalistic time, and a novelistic historiography. The text is double spaced. Annotation 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

The Art of Being Human, 6/e, introduces students to the ways in which the humanities can broaden their perspective, enhance their ability to think clearly and objectively, and enrich their lives. This well-respected text has been lauded for its scope of topics, its accessible level, and its writing style. Chapter topics include not only the usual genres-art, music, literature, cinema, and philosophy-but also myth, love, happiness, death attitudes and life affirmation, and nature.