Tree of Souls (Schwartz)

645 texts · Page 35 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 Angels And The Giving Of The Torah

Tree of Souls

It’s a story filled with heavenly drama, a little bit of divine negotiation, and even a touch of angelic jealousy. The tale begins, as many of the best do, with God having a plan. ...

CreationAngelsHeavenTorah

The Quarrel Of The Mountains

Tree of Souls

You'd expect a pretty epic location. But did you know there was a whole competition to be that mountain? The story goes that when the mountains caught wind that God was planning a ...

TorahMoses

The Necklace Of Letters

Tree of Souls

The mystics imagine it as an incredibly intimate moment, a divine gift presented with love. They say that when God was ready to give the Torah to Israel, God fashioned the very let...

TorahAdam & EveHoly Land

Death And Rebirth At Mount Sinai

Tree of Souls

We often think of it as a moment of pure revelation, of divine gift-giving. But some ancient stories paint a picture far more…intense. A picture of near annihilation and miraculous...

AngelsDemonsHeavenMessiah

The Seven Voices Of The Torah

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition paints a picture far more intense and overwhelming than we might imagine. The idea that the Torah was given through a single voice? Well, that's just the beginning...

TorahMosesAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Mount Sinai Is Lifted To Heaven

Tree of Souls

Not just any mountain, but Mount Sinai itself, the very place where God met Moses. It’s a mind-bending image, isn't it? That's how some of our tradition describes the moment of rev...

HeavenTorahMosesAdam & Eve

How God Revealed Himself At Mount Sinai

Tree of Souls

We read about it every year, the giving of the Torah, a moment etched in Jewish consciousness. But what did the people see? Was it a sudden flash, a blinding light? Or something el...

CreationHeavenTorahMoses

God Offers The Torah To Israel

Tree of Souls

Some say God offered it to every nation on earth, but only Israel was willing to accept it. But there's another, even more dramatic version that I think you'll find fascinating. Im...

CreationAngelsHeavenTorah

God Tears Apart Seven Firmaments

Tree of Souls

The air crackles with anticipation, with divine energy. And then, it begins. According to the Mateh Moshe, during the revelation of the Torah, God didn't just speak. He didn't just...

DemonsHeavenTorahAdam & Eve