100 books like The Thirteen Petalled Rose

By Adin Steinsaltz,

Here are 100 books that The Thirteen Petalled Rose fans have personally recommended if you like The Thirteen Petalled Rose. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Zohar: Pritzker Edition

Daniel C. Matt Author Of God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science and Spirituality

From my list on Jewish spirituality.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a scholar of Kabbalah. My father was a rabbi and I grew up studying Torah with him. He was deeply spiritual, and that drew me to exploring the mystical Judaism. After completing my Ph.D. in Jewish studies, I traveled to India, meditated in the Himalayas, and discovered how mystical teachings East and West are remarkably similar. I taught Jewish spirituality for 20 years at a graduate school in Berkeley. Then a wealthy family approached me and commissioned me to translate the Zohar, the masterpiece of Kabbalah. This took me 18 years and the translation was published in 9 volumes by Stanford University. Now I teach Zohar online.

Daniel's book list on Jewish spirituality

Daniel C. Matt Why did Daniel love this book?

The Zohar is the masterpiece of Kabbalah, a vast mystical commentary on the Bible, composed in 13th-century Spain.

Over the course of 18 years, I translated this dense, cryptic Aramaic text into English, adding an extensive commentary to explain the mystical symbolism. For the Zohar, God is equally male and female, and it is up to us humans to unite the divine couple by living ethically and spiritually. God needs us, in order to be actualized in the world.

This is the first English edition of the Zohar to be based on the original manuscripts. It has been hailed as “a monumental contribution to the history of Jewish thought.”

By Daniel C. Matt,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Zohar as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The first two volumes of The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, translated with commentary by Daniel C. Matt, cover more than half of the Zohar's commentary on the Book of Genesis (through Genesis 32:3). This is the first translation ever made from a critical Aramaic text of the Zohar, which has been established by Professor Matt based on a wide range of original manuscripts. The extensive commentary, appearing at the bottom of each page, clarifies the kabbalistic symbolism and terminology, and cites sources and parallels from biblical, rabbinic, and kabbalistic texts. The translator's introduction is accompanied by a second introduction written by…


Book cover of Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation

Dovid Krafchow Author Of Zohar: Beyond the BlackWhole

From my list on the Zohar and uncovering the secrets of creation.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been studying Zohar in the original ancient language for fifty years and have written a number of books about how Zohar informs the future of the Earth. For my whole life, I have pursued Truth. Zohar has been my guide through the darkness of life riddled with lies. The words of Zohar promise to become relevant at the End of Days, before the six thousand year calendar runs out in 220 years with the advent of the Thousand Years of Woman and Peace. After fifty years of study, I have deciphered the past and written a book for the ages.

Dovid's book list on the Zohar and uncovering the secrets of creation

Dovid Krafchow Why did Dovid love this book?

Though the Zohar is ancient having been written two thousand years ago, the Sefer Yetizra/Book of Form was written four thousand years ago presenting the fundamental aspects to the Tree of Life known also and the Ten Luminaries. The original Patriarch Avraham is commonly accepted as the author of Sefer Yetizra. Having this primal knowledge of the Cabala will allow entrance into later texts and subsequent cabalistic ideas. Aryeh Kaplan is a trusted authority.

By Aryeh Kaplan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sefer Yetzirah as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Sefer Yetzirah is perhaps the oldest and most mysterious of all kabbalistic texts. In this landmark work of mystical studies, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan brings the text’s theoretical, meditative, and magical implications to light.

The book explores the dynamics of the spiritual domain, the worlds of the sefirot, souls and angels. Rabbi Kaplan explains that when properly understood the Sefer Yetzirah becomes an instruction manual for a very special type of meditation meant to strengthen concentration and to aid in the development of telekinetic and telepathic powers. Through the use of various signs, incantations, and divine names, initiates could also…


Book cover of The Sacred Zohar

Dovid Krafchow Author Of Zohar: Beyond the BlackWhole

From my list on the Zohar and uncovering the secrets of creation.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been studying Zohar in the original ancient language for fifty years and have written a number of books about how Zohar informs the future of the Earth. For my whole life, I have pursued Truth. Zohar has been my guide through the darkness of life riddled with lies. The words of Zohar promise to become relevant at the End of Days, before the six thousand year calendar runs out in 220 years with the advent of the Thousand Years of Woman and Peace. After fifty years of study, I have deciphered the past and written a book for the ages.

Dovid's book list on the Zohar and uncovering the secrets of creation

Dovid Krafchow Why did Dovid love this book?

There are 1835 pages in the book. If you read five pages a day or even just look at these holy words, you will finish the Zohar in a year. Just to have this beautiful sacred book in your library can only bring blessings into a person’s life. Each word in the Zohar is a window to Heaven; each letter is holy—indeed, each word is a Name of God. Treat this book with respect, put no other book above this book, and your actions will be noted in Heaven.

By Rabbi Simon Bar Yochai,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Sacred Zohar as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Sacred Zohar is considered by many to be a Book of Healing & Protection

This book is traditionally known as the world’s most esoteric sources of spiritual knowledge, of Holy Bible and shows the spiritual narrative and wisdom available to people of all faiths so that we may use its principles to live each day. It is the central work in the literature of the Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition, by the greatest authority on Jewish mysticism, offers a sampling of its unique vision of the esoteric wonders of creation.

Please note: the first 30 pages introduction are in…


Book cover of Zohar - Vol 1-23 Hebrew

Dovid Krafchow Author Of Zohar: Beyond the BlackWhole

From my list on the Zohar and uncovering the secrets of creation.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been studying Zohar in the original ancient language for fifty years and have written a number of books about how Zohar informs the future of the Earth. For my whole life, I have pursued Truth. Zohar has been my guide through the darkness of life riddled with lies. The words of Zohar promise to become relevant at the End of Days, before the six thousand year calendar runs out in 220 years with the advent of the Thousand Years of Woman and Peace. After fifty years of study, I have deciphered the past and written a book for the ages.

Dovid's book list on the Zohar and uncovering the secrets of creation

Dovid Krafchow Why did Dovid love this book?

Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag (1885–1954) also known as the Baal Ha-Sulam was the first to translate the entire Zohar into Hebrew a hundred years ago. For those who have a skill in Hebrew and are interested in learning Zohar in the original language of Aramaic will find these 23 volumes indispensable. Though his explanations are not generally accepted by other scholars, his ability with language is laudable and his insights are valuable to anyone trying to break through into the actual text of the Zohar.

By Rabbi Simon Bar Yochai,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Zohar - Vol 1-23 Hebrew as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Zohar is a Hebrew word that means splendor. In its simplest form, the Zohar is a commentary on the Bible. Although the wisdom available in its pages is older than Creation itself, the text of the Zohar was composed approximately 2000 years ago. In the centuries that followed, the Zohar was often suppressed by religious and secular authorities who feared its power to transform the lives of those who gained access to the sacred writings. The sages of Kabbalah also realized that the Zohar must wait until humankind was ready to receive it.


Book cover of Essential Papers on Kabbalah

Daniel C. Matt Author Of God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science and Spirituality

From my list on Jewish spirituality.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a scholar of Kabbalah. My father was a rabbi and I grew up studying Torah with him. He was deeply spiritual, and that drew me to exploring the mystical Judaism. After completing my Ph.D. in Jewish studies, I traveled to India, meditated in the Himalayas, and discovered how mystical teachings East and West are remarkably similar. I taught Jewish spirituality for 20 years at a graduate school in Berkeley. Then a wealthy family approached me and commissioned me to translate the Zohar, the masterpiece of Kabbalah. This took me 18 years and the translation was published in 9 volumes by Stanford University. Now I teach Zohar online.

Daniel's book list on Jewish spirituality

Daniel C. Matt Why did Daniel love this book?

This is a great collection of essays by some of the leading scholars of Jewish mysticism.

Each chapter is authoritative yet very readable and stimulating. Among the topics are: the nature of the Zohar, the meaning of Torah in Kabbalah, transmigration of souls, the figure of the Tsaddiq (the righteous hero), mystical prayer, a mystical approach to the Sabbath, mystical techniques, and the concept of “nothingness” in Jewish mysticism.

By Lawrence Fine (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Essential Papers on Kabbalah as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An essential volume of 12th to 17th century papers on the Jewish mysticism of Kabbalah
As recently as 1915, when the legendary scholar of Jewish mysticism Gershom Scholem sought to find someone-anyone-to teach him Kabbalah, the study of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah was largely neglected and treated with disdain. Today, this field has ripened to the point that it occupies a central place in the agenda of contemporary Judaic studies.
While there are many definitions of Kabbalah, this volume focuses on the discrete body of literature which developed between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries. The basis for most of this…


Book cover of On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead: Basic Concepts in the Kabbalah

Daniel C. Matt Author Of God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science and Spirituality

From my list on Jewish spirituality.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a scholar of Kabbalah. My father was a rabbi and I grew up studying Torah with him. He was deeply spiritual, and that drew me to exploring the mystical Judaism. After completing my Ph.D. in Jewish studies, I traveled to India, meditated in the Himalayas, and discovered how mystical teachings East and West are remarkably similar. I taught Jewish spirituality for 20 years at a graduate school in Berkeley. Then a wealthy family approached me and commissioned me to translate the Zohar, the masterpiece of Kabbalah. This took me 18 years and the translation was published in 9 volumes by Stanford University. Now I teach Zohar online.

Daniel's book list on Jewish spirituality

Daniel C. Matt Why did Daniel love this book?

Gershom Scholem was the greatest scholar of Jewish mysticism in the 20th century.

He basically created this entire field of study. This book collects some of his greatest essays, and each one is a gem. Among the topics he explores are: good and evil, the Shekhinah (the feminine aspect of God), transmigration of souls, and the astral body.

You’ll learn from this book not only some of the key teachings of Jewish spirituality, but also how a religious tradition is transformed and rejuvenated by mystical teaching.

By Gershom Scholem,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In clear and easy-to-understand prose, the pioneer of the modern study of Jewish mysticism explains the basic concepts of the Kabbalah.

"A major contribution to our understanding of the Kabbalah." —Arthur Green, Professor of Jewish Thought, Brandeis University

In the Zohar and other writings of the Kabbalah, Jewish mystics developed concepts and symbols to help them penetrate secrets of the cosmos that cannot be understood through reason or intellect. These ideas about God, human beings, and creation continue to fascinate and influence spiritual seekers of all persuasions today.

For anyone seeking to taste the mysteries of the Kabbalah, this is…


Book cover of Tarot and the Gates of Light: A Kabbalistic Path to Liberation

Angelo Nasios Author Of Tarot Tracker: A Year-Long Journey

From my list on tarot books to own.

Why am I passionate about this?

I found the tarot at the age of fourteen. Like many teenagers exploring the spirit world, I was curious about witchcraft, prophecies, numerology, astrology – it was a matter of time until I found the Tarot and fell in love with the cards. From studying Tarot, I branched out into Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and finally coming home to my culture’s Hellenic Tradition (Hellenism). I went on to college to receive a B.A. in Religion and later a M.A. in Ancient History.  I give the Tarot large credit to all my later achievements in life. Those 78 cards opened my eyes to a whole world of mysteries to be unlocked.  

Angelo's book list on tarot books to own

Angelo Nasios Why did Angelo love this book?

What I love about this book is that it proves the old saying that there is nothing new under the sun to be wrong. Mark Horn’s Tarot and the Gates of Light blends together two traditions already closely linked; Tarot and Kabbalah. While it is Hermetic Qabalah that is mostly applied to Tarot, Mark Horn introduces a unique way to use the Tarot to practice Counting the Omer. This will be the most unique tarot book to have on the shelf as it offers you a rare transformative practice. 

By Mark Horn,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tarot and the Gates of Light as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An innovative, spiritual workbook that integrates the Tarot and the Kabbalistic tradition of Counting the Omer

* Explores the origins and meaning of the 49-day Kabbalistic meditative practice of Counting the Omer and how it can lead to spiritual revelation, personal insight, and connection with the Divine

* Reveals the correspondence of the Tarot's minor arcana with the Sephirot of the Tree of Life and explains how both relate to the Omer meditation

* Provides a daily practice workbook that explores the related Sephirot and Tarot cards for each day, examines their Kabbalistic and spiritual meanings, and provides questions for…


Book cover of Meditation and Kabbalah

Daniel C. Matt Author Of God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science and Spirituality

From my list on Jewish spirituality.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a scholar of Kabbalah. My father was a rabbi and I grew up studying Torah with him. He was deeply spiritual, and that drew me to exploring the mystical Judaism. After completing my Ph.D. in Jewish studies, I traveled to India, meditated in the Himalayas, and discovered how mystical teachings East and West are remarkably similar. I taught Jewish spirituality for 20 years at a graduate school in Berkeley. Then a wealthy family approached me and commissioned me to translate the Zohar, the masterpiece of Kabbalah. This took me 18 years and the translation was published in 9 volumes by Stanford University. Now I teach Zohar online.

Daniel's book list on Jewish spirituality

Daniel C. Matt Why did Daniel love this book?

This book concentrates on the experiential side of Kabbalah (the Jewish mystical tradition).

Kaplan describes many techniques of meditation, based on original sources that he translates from Hebrew and Aramaic. He includes teachings from the Talmud, early Jewish mystical texts, the Zohar, Abraham Abulfia, Isaac Luria, and Ḥasidic masters.

This is a very rich collection, which will introduce you to a many profound and inspiring teachings. Kaplan is able to explain complex ideas clearly.

By Aryeh Kaplan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Meditation and Kabbalah as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Kabbalah is divided into three branches-the theoretical, the meditative, and the practical. While many books, both in Hebrew and English, have explored the theoretical Kabbalah, virtually nothing has been published regarding the meditative methods of these schools. This is the first book published in any language that reveals the methodology of the Kabbalists and stresses the meditative techniques that were essential to their discipline. Kaplan offers a lucid presentation of the mantras, mandalas, and other devices used by these schools, as well as a penetrating interpretation of their significance in light of contemporary meditative research. In addition, Meditation and…


Book cover of The Last Kabbalist in Lisbon

Louise Ross Author Of Women Who Walk: How 20 Women From 16 Countries Came To Live In Portugal

From my list on historically accurate books about Portugal.

Why am I passionate about this?

Louise Ross is a non-fiction and fiction writer, speaker, and podcaster. Originally from Australia, she moved abroad in the mid-'80s, living in the UK, France, the US, and since 2014, Portugal. Her book, Women Who Walk: How 20 women from 16 countries came to live in Portugal, (2019), is a collection of mini-memoirs. In 2020, she released the sequel and comparative read, The Winding Road to Portugal: 20 Men from 11 Countries Share Their Stories. Louise lives on the Estoril coastline where she continues to interview women living in Portugal, and around the world, for her podcast, Women Who Walk

Louise's book list on historically accurate books about Portugal

Louise Ross Why did Louise love this book?

Zimler is an award-winning American writer who has lived in Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, since 1990. I admire Zimler’s historical fiction for its fact-based accuracy, and The Last Kabbalist is a beauty for that reason. His acclaimed novel details the Portuguese inquisition and the massacre of its Jews in 1506. Via his incisive research and great storytelling, Zimler sheds light on this period of history unknown to many Portuguese; as a result, there is now a Jewish Memorial Plaque in Rossio Square in Lisbon’s city center, honouring the two to five thousand Jews who were massacred. 

By Richard Zimler,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Last Kabbalist in Lisbon as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Berekiah Zarco, a young manuscript illustrator, searches for the killer of his uncle Abraham, a renowned kabbalist discovered murdered in a secret synagogue, in a historical mystery set in sixteenthcentury Lisbon, Portugal. Reprint.


Book cover of The Zohar: Pritzker Edition
Book cover of Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation
Book cover of The Sacred Zohar

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Interested in the Kabbalah, Judaism, and the Zohar?

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