- Bar Zadok, R. Ariel, "Yikrah B'Shmi (Call Upon My Name)", Yeshivat Benei N'vi'im,1992
[Merkabah practices]
- Bischoff, Erich, "Kabbala", Weiser
[An interesting and generally well-informed little book written as an extended FAQ. Refers only to traditional Jewish material. Originally published in German c. 1910]
- Brown, Francis, "The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew and English Lexicon", Hendrickson 1979
[The last word in Biblical Hebrew. Amaze and astound your friends with each and every usage of every word in the Bible. Hold an audience entranced with your knowledge of Arabic, Aramaic, Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Persian, and Greek referents]
- Crowley, Aleister, "777", Metaphysical Research Group 1977
[Tables of Kabbalistic correspondences, some from the Golden Dawn, some from Crowley, many traditional]
- Epstein, Perle, "Kabbalah", Shambhala 1978
[Information on traditional Jewish Kabbalah by a student of Aryeh Kaplan. It contains many biographical details, and useful information on practical techniques.]
- Fortune, Dion, "The Mystical Qabalah", Ernest Benn Ltd, 1979
[One of the first books to relate the Sephirothic Tree to everyday experience, and for this reason a useful beginners' book. It contains many digressions on matters circa 1930 which now appear extremely dated. Dion Fortune was strongly influenced by Theosophy and Esoteric Christianity as well as Kabbalah, and it shows.]
- Gikatilla, R. Joseph, "Sha'are Orah", Harper Collins, 1994
[The Gates of Light by Joseph of Castille is one of the great expositions of Kabbalah, written in the thirteenth century by a pupil of Abraham Abulafia. Because of its early translation into Latin it is also one of a small number of texts to exert a strong influence on Christian Kabbalah. It provides an exposition on the divine names through the 10 sephiroth and is exceedingly heavy going. This translation lacks a commentary.]
- haLevi, Ze'v ben Shimon, "Kabbalah & Exodus", "Work of the Kabbalist", "School of Kabbalah",Weiser ???
[Good non-technical material - though he has an aversion to magick. A sort of inbetweener - Wesoteric and Jewish. Very practical material for the sincere beginner.]
- Locks, Gutman G., "Gematria, Spice of Torah",Judaica Press,??
[Gematria values for the Torah - the real thing]
- Idel, Moshe, "Kabbalah: New Directions", Yale University Press 1988
[Outstanding scholarship - a MUST read for theoretical background, and to put Scholem into perspective.]
- Idel, Moshe, "Ecstatic Kabbalah", Yale, ???
[Outstanding scholarship - a MUST read for understanding the work of Abraham Abulafia.]
- Jacobs, Louis, "The Jewish Mystics", Kyle Cathie Ltd. 1990 (also published in the US as "Jewish Mystical Testimonies"
[A fascinating compilation of texts spanning the history of Kabbalah from the earliest times, an eclectic mixture which includes extracts from the Talmud and Zohar, letters, personal diaries, legend, short lectures, visions, mystical experiences etc. ]
- Kaplan, Aryeh, "The Bahir Illumination", Weiser 1989
[A key Kabbalistic source text with an extensive and informed commentary by Kaplan]
- Kaplan, Aryeh, "Meditation and Kabbalah", Weiser 1992
[Essential reading for the experienced Kabbalist. Not an introductory text. Many biographical and historical details worth reading for their own sake.]
- Kaplan, Aryeh, "The Sepher Yetzirah", Weiser 1991
[A key Kabbalistic source text with an extensive and informed commentary by Kaplan.]
- Kaplan, Aryeh, "The Living Torah", Moznaim 1981
[A key Kabbalistic source text with an informed commentary by Kaplan. Contains both Kaplan's translation and the Hebrew source text of the five books of Moses.]
- Kaplan, R. Aryeh, "Innerspace", Moznaim, 4304 12th Ave. Brooklyn, NY.11219 1-800-364-5118
[Superb Introduction]
- Kaplan, R. Aryeh, "Jewish Meditation", Weiser ???
[Introductory practices - can be used before "Meditation and Kabbalah" or "Meditation and the Bible".]
- Knight, Gareth, "A Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism", Vols 1 & 2, Helios 1972
[Volume 1 provides an introduction to the Tree of Life and the sephiroth, and follows the correspondences of the Golden Dawn and Dion Fortune. Volume 2 covers the paths on the Tree, draws on the same basic correspondences, but contains more personal meditational material. At the level of a personal commentary it provides many insights into the G.D. correspondences.]
- Levi, Eliphas, "Transcendental Magic", Rider, 1969
[A key text by an important and influential magician. Levi's factual information should not be taken at face value]
- Mathers, S. L., "The Kabbalah Unveiled", Routledge & Kegan Paul 1981
[A translation of a translation of three texts from the "Zohar", with an introduction by both Moina and Samuel Liddel Mathers, which is interesting not only for what it says about Kabbalah but also as a source of insight into two key members of the Order of the Golden Dawn.]
- Mathers, S. L., "The Key of Solomon the King", Routledge & Kegan Paul
[Classic magical grimoire with a Kabbalistic flavour.]
- Mathers, S. L., "The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage", Dover 1975
[The authenticity of this text has been questioned, but its influence on 20th. century magic and practical Kabbalah cannot be. It may be based on an authentic technique for acquiring a "Maggid" or angelic teacher, something widely employed by Jewish Kabbalists in the past.]
- Ponce, Charles, "Kabbalah", Garnstone Press, 1974
[A straightforward and not too fanciful introduction to Kabbalah with a Jewish flavour. A good all-round introduction.]
- Regardie, I., "The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic", Falcon Press 1984
[Essential reading for anyone interested in the development of non- Jewish, "Hermetic" Kabbalah this century.]
- Schachter, R. Zalman, "Fragments of a Future Scroll" (out of print)
[Introduction to Jewish Renewal, which includes a great deal of kabbalistic underpinning.]
- Scheinkin, David, "Path of Kabbalah", Shambala ???
[Excellent introduction by another student of Kaplan's. A great one to read first]
- Scholem, Gershom G. "Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism", Schoken Books 1974
[This is the seminal work by the founder of 20th. century Kabbalah scholarship. Scholem is a writer who can transform difficult topics by writing with great clarity and beauty, and his extraordinary erudition makes him essential reading for anyone with an interest in the historical basis for Kabbalah.]
- Scholem, Gershom G., "Origins of the Kabbalah", Princton 1990
[Traces the origins of Kabbalistic thought through the book "Bahir", the Kabbalists of Provence, and the Kabbalistic circle of Gerona. Gripping stuff for the academically and historically minded]
- Scholem, Gershom G. "Kabbalah", Dorset Press 1974
[I believe this is a compilation of essays, combined with articles written for the Encylopedia Judaica. Good for its breadth and its biographical information. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in the historical basis for Kabbalah.]
- Scholem, Gershom G. "Sabbatai Tzevi, The Mystical Messiah", Princeton University Press 1973.
[A massive, minutely researched book describing the lives and heresies of Sabbatai Tzevi and Nathan of Gaza. A good source of information on Nathan's unusual and highly influential version of Lurianic Kabbalah]
- Scholem, Gershom G. "Kabbalah and its Symbolism", Schocken 1969.
[A selection of very readable essays on a wide variety of topics, including Kabbalistic ritual and the idea of the Golem]
- Scholem, Gershom G. "On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead", Schocken 1991
[More deeply researched essays on the Kabbalah, including as topics good and evil, the Shekhinah, the transmigration of souls, and the astral body.]
- Simon, Maurice & Sperling, Harry, "The Zohar", Bennet 1959 (also recently reprinted by Soncino)
[A translation a major part of a key Kabbalistic text. Oh, that Kaplan had lived long enough to translate The Zohar! You might be better with Tishby's superb anthology of Zohar texts and extensive commentaries]
- Suares, Carlos, "The Quabala Trilogy",Shambala,??
[Heavy going, but it can give you a good sense of what's going on kabbalisticly in the Torah from a gematria perspective.]
- Tishby, Isaiah, & Lachower, Yeruham Fishel, "The Wisdom of the Zohar" Oxford University Press 1989
[An anthology of texts systematically arranged and rendered into Hebrew by Fischel Lachower and Isaiah Tishby ; with extensive introductions and explanations by Isaiah Tishby; English translation by David Goldstein. An expensive three volume set which contains a definitive translation of large parts of the Zohar, the texts arranged by subject matter and greatly clarified by a voluminous commentary and extensive footnotes. An essential text.]
- Waite, A.E., "The Holy Kabbalah", Citadel
[A large volume on Kabbalah by a key member of the Golden Dawn, greatly diminished by Waite's verbose and circumlocutious writing style. Scholem thought this book was the best example of Kabbalistic commentary in the Hermetic camp, but personally I find Arthwaite's prose style about as attractive as a patent attorney's love letters.]
- Zalewski, Pat, "Golden Dawn Kabbalah", Llewellyn, 1993
[Very good exposition of additional Golden Dawn material, and some interesting thoughts]
- Jewish Mysticism by Rabbi J. Abelson. Sepher-Hermon Press, 1913
- Etz Chaim : Hebrew TextTen Luminous Emanations by Yehuda Ashlag - Paperback Vol 001 (June 1970) Kabbalah Learning Center
- Ten Luminous Emanations by Yehuda Ashlag - Paperback Vol 002 (June 1973) Kabbalah Learning Center The above are available from Amazon com. The following older editions may be the same books, or at least contain the same material:by Yehuda Ashlag' (condensed 2 Vol. Set - in Hebrew (vol.002)
- The Ten Luminous Emanations from Rabbi Isaac Luria According to Rabbi Hayim Vital: Section 1 (Hebrew & English), Rabbi Levi I. Krakovsky, Trans. Jerusalem: Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1969
- The Ten Luminous Emanations from Rabbi Isaac Luria According to Rabbi Hayim Vital: Circles and Straightness (Hebrew & English), Rabbi Levi I. Krakovsky, Trans. Jerusalem: Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1973 The Kabbalah:
- A Study of the Ten Luminous Emanations from Rabbi Isaac Luria According to Rabbi Hayim Vital: With Two Commentaries by Rabbi Yehuda L. Ashlag (Hebrew & English), Rabbi Levi I. Krakovsky, Trans. Jerusalem: Research Centre of Kabbalah, 1978 Apart from Kaplan's Meditation and Kabbalah, this is the only book in English with translations of origional Lurianic (Chaim Vital) material into English (Etz Hayyim - the "Tree f Life"). Difficult going but still highly recommended reading. Or you can get the Hebrew version The only reason i'm giving it four and not five stars is because it would be even better with less Ashlagan commentary and more original Lurianic/Vital text translated.
- An Entrance to the Tree of Life of Rabbi Isaac Luria by Yehuda Ashlag, edited by Philip S. Berg - A popularised approach to Ashlagian Lurianism. I havent read it but Berg tries to present things in a non-technical way, so I would say he is less difficult to understand that others of the Ashlag school
- Instructions in Intercourse with God by The Baal Shem Tov (Martin Buber, Trans.). Horizon Press, 1958)
- Kabbalah for the Layman by Philip S. Berg, - a non-technical approach to Kabbalah. Dr Berg is the main populariser of the Ashlag school of Lurianic Kabbalah. Compare this book with Steinsaltz Bahir by Aryeh Kaplan (Translator) Translation of the earliest true Kabbalistic text. Not as interesting as fully developed Kabbalah, but an important historical work
- The Jewish Mystical Tradition (Chapter 3), Ben Zion Bokser. The Pilgrim Press, 1981
- The Early Kabbalah (Classics of Western Spirituality), ed. by Joseph Dan and Ronald C. Kiener
- Kabbalah : The Way of the Jewish Mystic by Perle Epstein - one of the early popular books on Kabbalah (dates to the late 60s) - very easy to read, very basic, perhaps useful as a primer, but since been superseded by other, more authorative writers - also available in audio cassette - Safed Spirituality by Lawrence Fine. Paulist Press, 1984
- Kabbalah : Tradition of Hidden Knowledge (Art and Imagination) by Z'Ev Ben Shimon Halevi - this is essentially a picture book, like all the Art and Imagination series. Great for a brief overview and some really nice illustrations. But don't expect any in-depth information here
- Kabbalah : New Perspectives by Moshe Idel - the greatest Kababalistic writer around today, but very dense and technical
- Meditation and Kabbalah by Aryeh Kaplan - superb anthology of esoteric Kabbalistic texts
- The Light of Redemption by Levi Krakovsky - another book of the Ashlag school of Lurianic Kabbalah - dense and difficult to read - hence the low rating, but there is some interesting information and diagrams
- Jewish Mystical Testimonies (Chapter 11), Lewis Jacobs. Schocken Books, 1978 Likutey Moharan (Hebrew & English), Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. (Rabbi Simcha Bergman, Trans.) Jerusalem: Breslov Research Institute, 1986 General Principles of Kabbalah by Moses Luzzatto - my all-time favourite book on Lurianic Kabbalah. Would you belive it is out of priint!!!!
- Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism by Gershom Scholem, 1941 very readable overview of Jewish Mysticism
- On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism by Gershom Scholem, 1969.
- Kabbalah by Gershom Scholem - a more indepth and technical book than his Major Trends
- Sabbatai Sevi: The Mystical Messiah by Gershom Scholem, 1973
- The Messianic Idea in Judaism, by Gershom Scholem, 1971
- Path of the Kabbalah by David Sheinkin - I havent read it, but it gets some good reviews by readers at Amazon. The fact that Sheinkin's teacher was the esteemed Aryeh Kaplan is perhaps recommendation enough!
- Beyond Words ~ The Sounds of the Kabballah by Shulamit - I havent heard it, but it certainly seems interesting! Album Description: The SoulSongs "Beyond Words" CD has 10 tracks, each containing a different combination of Kabballistic Vocal Tones. Each Track has been specifically created by Shulamit to help awaken the Neshamah within.
- The Thirteen Petalled Rose by Adin Steinsaltz, transl. by Yehuda Hanegbi - Steinsalt is a maverick in Jewish religious writing, with a wonderful flowing easy to read style almost unheard of in his community. No footnotes, just a straight exposition. Essentially this would seem to be a non-technical account of the Chabad/Ashlag Lurianic position. If you want to understand what the modern orthodox Kabbalists believe, get this book!
- 9 ½ Mystics: The Kabbala Today by Herbert Weiner, et al - wonderful travelling biographic accounts of modern day Kabbalists!
- Sefer Yetzirah : The Book of Creation edited and commentary by Aryeh Kaplan
- Lessons in Tanya : The Tanya of R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi edited Yosef Vaynberg, transl. by Sholom Wineberg and Levi Wineberg - a fascinating and detailed book - very difficult to read, but full of all sorts of incredible judaic, kabbalistic, and symbolic minutae
- Zohar : The Book of Enlightenment (Classics of Western Spirituality) introduction by Daniel Chanan Matt - an anthology only - not the whole book!!!
- Zohar : The Book of Splendor : Basic Readings from the Kabbalah by Gershom Scholem (Editor)
