Tree of Souls (Schwartz)

645 texts · Page 27 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.

The Angel Of Losses

Tree of Souls

And there’s even an angel assigned to help. His name is Yode'a, the Angel of Losses. Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, the great Hasidic master, seems to have conceived of this angel, thi...

AngelsAdam & EveNoah & FloodSoul

The Angel Tzadkiel

Tree of Souls

According to some accounts, Tzadkiel isn't just any celestial being. He's the one who lovingly clothes each soul arriving in Paradise with garments of incredible purity, woven by t...

AngelsHeavenMessiahPatriarchs

The Angel Of Rain

Tree of Souls

The tradition paints a rather… unusual picture. Imagine an angel resembling an ox with a split lip. Strange. But hold that image for a moment, because this angel's position is what...

CreationAngelsNoah & Flood

God Changes The Roles Of The Angels

Tree of Souls

The story goes that before disaster struck, the prophet Jeremiah pleaded with the people to turn away from their wrongdoings, to repent (do teshuva) so they could avoid exile. But ...

AngelsHeavenPatriarchsAdam & Eve

The Creation Of The Angel Of Death

Tree of Souls

Where did the Angel of Death come from? It’s a question that’s haunted humanity for millennia. Was it there from the very beginning, a shadow lurking in the nascent universe? Or di...

CreationAngelsDemonsHeaven

Rabbi Joshua Ben Levi And The Angel Of Death

Tree of Souls

When Rabbi Joshua's time on this earth was drawing to a close, God, in His infinite wisdom, instructed the Malach HaMavet – the Angel of Death – to visit him. But this wasn't just ...

AngelsAdam & EveDeath

Rabbi Loew And The Angel Of Death

Tree of Souls

But it's a concept that's woven deep into Jewish lore, appearing in various forms throughout our sacred texts and stories. One particularly compelling tale features Rabbi Loew, the...

CreationAngelsTorahPatriarchs

The Heavenly Court

Tree of Souls

But Jewish tradition paints a surprisingly collaborative picture. A picture of the Heavenly Court. It's a pretty amazing concept, isn't it? The idea that even God, in all God's glo...

CreationHeavenTorahAdam & Eve

The Windows Of Heaven

Tree of Souls

We often imagine them rising up, floating on wings of hope and sincerity. But what if something—or someone—tried to block them? That’s precisely what happened, according to a fasci...

CreationAngelsHeavenAdam & Eve