Tree of Souls (Schwartz)

645 texts · Page 4 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 Eyes Of God

Tree of Souls

Because the eyes of God, we're told, are everywhere. It's a powerful image, isn't it? From His throne in Heaven, God's eyes observe absolutely everything that takes place in the wo...

HeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchsAdam & Eve

The Face Of God

Tree of Souls

It’s a question that’s haunted mystics and theologians for millennia. And the answer, as we find in Jewish tradition, is both breathtakingly beautiful and terrifyingly destructive....

AngelsHeavenMosesAdam & Eve

The Size Of God

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition grapples with this question in some pretty fascinating ways, using metaphors and imagery to try and wrap our finite minds around something truly beyond comprehensi...

HeavenAdam & Eve

The Three Keys

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition speaks of such things. Specifically, it tells us about three keys. Not physical keys, of course, but metaphorical ones – representing ultimate control over the ver...

AngelsHeavenMessiahAdam & Eve

The Arms Of God

Tree of Souls

One of my favorite images is this: God carries everything beneath His arms. Think about that for a moment. Not just a gentle embrace, but a sustaining act of holding. According to ...

HeavenMessiahTorahAdam & Eve

God's Hands

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition, especially in the mystical and rabbinic realms, actually gives us some fascinating imagery about this. It suggests that God didn't just speak the world into exist...

CreationTorahMosesAdam & Eve

The Body Of God

Tree of Souls

Jewish tradition wrestles with this question in fascinating ways. We're told, for instance, that God is fire, and His throne is fire. Clouds and fog surround Him, a visual reminder...

AngelsHeavenMessiahAdam & Eve

God's Back

Tree of Souls

Moses certainly did. In the book of Exodus (33:18-23), we find Moses pleading with God, "Oh, let me behold Your presence!" It's a raw, human moment. Can you imagine the courage, th...

HeavenMosesAdam & Eve

The God Of The Fathers

Tree of Souls

The Torah actually grapples with this very question, and the answer, as you might expect, is layered and fascinating. Think about it: Moses, standing before the burning bush, is ta...

CreationAngelsDemonsTorah