Kabbalah for Beginners is concise and easy to understand introduction to a little talked about path of mysticism.
I found the main text of the work to be respectful of Jewish culture and traditions while also understanding of outsider interest.
This book would serve well for those just looking into Kabbalah for the first time but May also be of interest to a pagans and mystics outside of the Kabbalahistic path who simply want to understand another view point better.

Kabbalah has become popular among celebrities.  Because of this, many more have now heard of this Jewish tradition.  For those who are interested in understanding more about Kabbalah, this book is a very good starting point.  It covers the main concepts along with providing some history and ways to practice.  The author begins the book with the personal experiences that led to exposure to Kabbalah.  From there, in a readable style much information was provided.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title.  All opinions are my own.

Reb Schachter-Brooks' fairly brief volume, Kabbalah for Beginners, takes the practice of Kabbalah out of the popular celebrity-filled new age realm and explains how it is rooted in Jewish mysticism traditions going back hundreds of years. At its best, this book sets forth some very basic concepts, such as that God is not a being, but is rather Being itself. It relates the meditative practice of Kabbalah to the early mythology of Adam and Eve being driven out of the Garden of Eden, leaving us as humans "out of place" and "out of alignment with reality," which expresses itself in the horrors humans commit against each other and the world. Thus, Schachter-Brooks explains that we are as humans striving to return to "Wholeness."

Not much time in the book is spent on the practice of numerology, of the meanings of the different letters, the sefirot (the ten lights), and such esoteric things. But, as noted before, the focus is on the spiritual aspect of Kabbalah, which says that God is the light and, as humans made in God's image, we strive to be part of the Light and Goodness. Returning again and again to the them of the exile from Eden, Schachter-Brooks explains that, without being thrust out of Eden, we could not have recognized Good and Evil as it is only with the contrast between the two that we can see both.

Every so often throughout the book, there are short meditation exercises of a general spiritual nature, not necessarily a religious nature. Nevertheless, this book is not one which teaches meditation, but rather one which expounds on the underlying philosophy of the practices.

Kabbalah is something I have been studying for some time. It is so beautiful and deep once you get started in a good way , it becomes hard to explain its profound ideas . This book by Mr Schacter explains Kabbalah in a practical way. I loved this book! I will tell you why.
First, Kabbalah is explained in a historical and spiritual way that covers its early beginnings and the way some people now find Gods love and presence. Next. it has practical activities to do daily as you read. These activities are not hard nor do you need lots of stuff to do them. You just need this book . This is a bokk that is meant to be read and done in my opinion. It is worth it. Resources for further learning and opinions are given for the student who wants to learn more.A concise and interesting book for those looking for a deeper spiritual life.

Overall 4-star book and will aim to 5 stars if was a bit longer and bit in-depth, it summaries Kabbalah at its best, certainly dividing it from pop-culture understanding and presentation of Kabbalah, giving its real, religious roots and explaining the meaning and purpose of it, clearly bringing it bak to Judaic roots and understanding that this spiritual way is conquered by deep diving into religion and understanding its core.
Unfortunately, the concept of Kabbalah is so heavily manipulated and mispresented in pop-culture, for me, the same way as the spiritual practice of yogi is not "practiced" physically left and right, without even understanding that one dives into religion and spirituality.
I appreciate any work like this, which presents thing, beliefs, and concepts as they are and I wish it was a bit more than it was, I do understand it is marketed for beginners, but I do believe there is much more that can be presented in a mass-friendly way.