Tree of Souls (Schwartz)

645 texts · Page 40 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.

Re-creating The World

Tree of Souls

It's tied to Rosh ha-Shanah, the Jewish New Year. It's more than just eating apples and honey, you know? It's about something truly profound: the renewal of creation itself. Imagin...

CreationAdam & Eve

Renewing Existence

Tree of Souls

But it's a very real fear that pulses through the heart of Jewish tradition, especially during the High Holy Days. There's this powerful idea, a myth really, that the world isn’t a...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveMysticism

The Day Of Judgment

Tree of Souls

We often think about them as a time for personal reflection, a chance to atone for our mistakes. But the tradition paints a far grander picture, one involving cosmic judgment and t...

CreationAngelsTorahAdam & Eve

The High Priest Enters The Holy Of Holies

Tree of Souls

That’s the scene we’re stepping into today, a scene that plays out once a year, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Our focus? The High Priest, his heart pounding, preparing to en...

AngelsAdam & EveMysticismTemple

The Days Of Awe

Tree of Souls

These aren't just any ordinary days. They're a bridge, a spiritual causeway connecting Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Think of them as a...

HeavenAdam & EveHoly Land

Light Is Sown For The Righteous

Tree of Souls

There's a beautiful idea that just before the solemnity of Kol Nidrei, the service that begins Yom Kippur, a tremendous light descends from the heavens. Imagine it: a cascade of pu...

AngelsSoul

Gathering Souls

Tree of Souls

There's a story about a rabbi, Rabbi Hayim ben Attar, known as the Or ha-Hayim (אור החיים), "the light of life," after his famous biblical commentary. He lived in Jerusalem and had...

HeavenMessiahAdam & EveSoul

A Scapegoat For Azazel

Tree of Souls

Specifically, the scapegoat for Azazel. The book of Leviticus (16:5-10) describes a fascinating, and frankly bizarre, ritual performed by Aaron, the High Priest, on Yom Kippur, the...

DemonsHell/GehennaTorahAdam & Eve

Sounding The Shofar

Tree of Souls

It's more than just tradition; it's a cosmic wake-up call. The most direct reason is because God Himself commanded it! "Sound a ram's horn before Me," He said, "so that I remember ...

CreationDemonsHeavenPatriarchs