Tree of Souls (Schwartz)

645 texts · Page 23 of 72

Texts from Howard Schwartz's Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism, a landmark anthology gathering myths and legends spanning the full arc of Jewish tradition, from the creation of the world to the coming of the Messiah.

Rabbi Ishmael's Ascent

Tree of Souls

The story of Rabbi Ishmael offers just such a glimpse, though it's woven with threads of immense suffering and ultimate acceptance. This story, "Rabbi Ishmael's Ascent," isn't just...

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The Entrance Of The Sixth Heavenly Palace

Tree of Souls

But according to ancient Jewish mystical traditions, this journey, often called "descending to the Merkavah" – the divine chariot – is fraught with peril. And perhaps the most dang...

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Before The Law

Tree of Souls

Kafka’s parable, "Before the Law," from his novel The Trial, speaks to that feeling in a way that few stories can. It's a tale that resonates deeply, and while it's often interpret...

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A Journey To The Stars

Tree of Souls

There's a story told about Rabbah bar Bar Hannah, a third-century Babylonian Amora (a scholar of the Talmud) renowned for his... well, let's just call them "adventures." Rabbah's t...

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A Jewish Icarus

Tree of Souls

This isn't your typical biblical story. It’s a myth, a folk tale, preserved in the Israel Folktale Archives, about a wonder child who lived during the time of the Temple in Jerusal...

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Ezekiel's Vision

Tree of Souls

The Book of Ezekiel, one of the most powerful and enigmatic texts in the Hebrew Bible, opens with just such an experience. We find Ezekiel, a priest, in exile, far from Jerusalem, ...

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Mysteries Of The Chariot

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition hints at such possibilities, particularly through the mystical exploration of the Divine Chariot, the Ma’aseh Merkavah. Let's journey back in time, with Rabbi Yoha...

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The Seven Heavens

Tree of Souls

Jewish mystical tradition takes that question head-on, describing not just one heaven, but seven! Seven distinct realms, each with its own unique purpose and wonder. Think of it li...

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The Eighth Heaven

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition, while often speaking of seven heavens, hints at something even beyond that: an eighth heaven, a realm of ultimate mystery. Now, we’re pretty familiar with the con...

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