Book

An erudite and lively compendium of Jewish magical beliefs, practices, texts, and individuals. Geoffrey Dennis serves up a delicious schmorgesbord of the irrational, demonstrating that Judaism has been and is not only a rational and legalistic monotheism, but also a rich storehouse of magical traditions that Jews often fail to recognize. This superb comprehensive encyclopedia belongs in every serious library.

Richard M. Golden, Professor of History and Director of the Jewish Studies Program, University of North Texas, and editor of the Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Western Tradition (2006)

How many books must one browse through to find some simple explanation of an obscure or cryptic concept or terminology while exploring the vast seas of ancient Jewish mystery wisdom? Answer: more books than years in our lives. Solution: The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism by Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis. Rabbi Dennis has performed a tremendously important service for both the scholar and the novice in composing a work of concise information about aspects of Judaism unbeknownst to most, and intriguing to all. Even if you don't know enough to know what subject or name to look up in this user-friendly encyclopedia, just flipping through the pages will bring you more on-the-spot knowledge than an hour of watching The Discovery Channel. How this modest rabbi managed to stump even me, an expert in Jewish myth and mysticism, is as magical as the book's title claims to be. I am humbled by this work and by the mere thought of what it took to write it, and by the wealth of information it contains.

Rabbi Gershon Winkler

Author of Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism

I feel like this spiritually advanced research book opened up a whole new world for me. I have been a seeker for a long time and have heard Jewish phrases and tradition along the way, but have felt very much like an outsider and you can imagine my delight when I opened the pages of this book and my thirst was finally quenched. I found myself learning and nodding all the way through.

This encyclopedia is well displayed, with meaningful descriptions and cross referencing it was easy to flip from one topic to another. I used the text in 2 basic ways and both worked beautifully. I was able to take topics and words I had heard before and found them easily and then I also had an enjoyable time starting at the beginning and reading this awesome find like it was a novel. I would recommend this impressive labor of love to seekers everywhere who are looking for a deeper understanding of Thirty-five Hundred years of accumulated hidden wisdom.

Riki Frahmann,

Mystical Liing Today e-zine

"If there is only one book you buy on Kabbalistic topics this year, make sure it's this one!"

Wiccan Rede Journal



About the Encyclopedia Judaism is one of the oldest living esoteric traditions in the world. Virtually every form of Western mysticism and spiritualism known today draws upon Jewish occult teachings - magic, prayer, angelology, alchemy, numerology, astral projection, dream interpretation, astrology, amulets, divination, altered states of consciousness, alternative healing and rituals of power, have roots in the Jewish occult. But for millennia, many of these core teachings have been unavailable to the public, concealed by barriers of language and the protective principles of Jewish Kabbalah, which have both guarded and nurtured such knowledge. The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism is the only comprehensive one-volume reference guide to Jewish lore on these disciplines, as well as the rest of the great Jewish esoteric traditions. For the first time, the reader has ready access to ancient mysteries and powerful practices. The Encyclopedia provides over a thousand A to Z entries, running from a single sentence to article length, on virtually every aspect of Jewish Kabbalah and occult lore. In addition, each entry is linked to multiple related topics elsewhere in the Encyclopedia, weaving together the many Jewish esoteric ideas, stories, and practices, in order to give the reader the fullest possible understanding of the depth of Jewish wisdom and the inter-connected nature of Judaism’s occult teachings.						The "EJMMM" Cover
Drawing on the full scope of authentic tradition, the entries include citations to Jewish sources both familiar and obscure. These citations, which encompass everything from Bible to recently discovered magical texts in the Dead Sea Scrolls, allow the reader to go further, deeper, and higher in the personal quest to understand the concealed truths of our own world and the worlds beyond. If you are interested in metaphysics, Kabbalah, spiritualism, or the Western magical tradition, the Encyclopedia of Jewish Occult Lore offers you new insights to the topics that matter to you. For the first time ever, 3500 years of accumulated secret wisdom, drawn from the wells of a great spiritual tradition, is at your fingertips. It shouldn’t be so easy.
*What makes the Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic,* and Mysticism unique?** This is the only one-volume popular work in existence that addresses the whole breath of Jewish esoteric tradition. No comparable work this comprehensive exists in English. It allows easy, multi-entry access to any topic of interest. For example, the entries “Death,” “Burial,” “Eternal Life,” “Resurrection,” “Reincarnation,” “Ghosts” and “The Soul” are cross-referenced to each other. The information is drawn from texts, manuscripts, and translations not well known outside scholarly circles: Chariot Mysticism texts, magical manuals, medieval and Chasidic tracts.						Where can I buy the EJMMM? The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism is available at major booksellers as of January 2007, but you can also purchase it online at: www.llewellyn.com www.amazon.com www.barnesandnoble.com
Praise for EJMMM An erudite and lively compendium of Jewish magical beliefs, practices, texts, and individuals. Geoffrey Dennis serves up a delicious schmorgesbord of the irrational, demonstrating that Judaism has been and is not only a rational and legalistic monotheism, but also a rich storehouse of magical traditions that Jews often fail to recognize. This superb comprehensive encyclopedia belongs in every serious library. Richard M. Golden, Professor of History and Director of the Jewish Studies Program, University of North Texas, and editor of the Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Western Tradition (2006) How many books must one browse through to find some simple explanation of an obscure or cryptic concept or terminology while exploring the vast seas of ancient Jewish mystery wisdom? Answer: more books than years in our lives. Solution: The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism by Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis. Rabbi Dennis has performed a tremendously important service for both the scholar and the novice in composing a work of concise information about aspects of Judaism unbeknownst to most, and intriguing to all. Even if you don't know enough to know what subject or name to look up in this user-friendly encyclopedia, just flipping through the pages will bring you more on-the-spot knowledge than an hour of watching The Discovery Channel. How this modest rabbi managed to stump even me, an expert in Jewish myth and mysticism, is as magical as the book's title claims to be. I am humbled by this work and by the mere thought of what it took to write it, and by the wealth of information it contains. Rabbi Gershon Winkler Author of Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism I feel like this spiritually advanced research book opened up a whole new world for me. I have been a seeker for a long time and have heard Jewish phrases and tradition along the way, but have felt very much like an outsider and you can imagine my delight when I opened the pages of this book and my thirst was finally quenched. I found myself learning and nodding all the way through. This encyclopedia is well displayed, with meaningful descriptions and cross referencing it was easy to flip from one topic to another. I used the text in 2 basic ways and both worked beautifully. I was able to take topics and words I had heard before and found them easily and then I also had an enjoyable time starting at the beginning and reading this awesome find like it was a novel. I would recommend this impressive labor of love to seekers everywhere who are looking for a deeper understanding of Thirty-five Hundred years of accumulated hidden wisdom. Riki Frahmann, Mystical Liing Today e-zine "If there is only one book you buy on Kabbalistic topics this year, make sure it's this one!" Wiccan Rede Journal Back to Top