This is the first complete translation of Vikuaḥ 'al Ḥokhmat ha-Kabbalah, a literary-philosophical dialogue composed by the great Italian Jewish scholar Samuel David Luzzatto (1800-1865), also known as Shadal. Originally published in Hebrew in 1852, the Dialogue depicts a multi-faceted and acrimonious disputation between two scholars, who debate the authority and authenticity of Jewish mystical traditions. This work subjects Kabbalah, along with its textual centerpiece the Zohar, to both a rigorous critique and an impassioned defense, thereby inviting the reader to critically examine this centuries-old debate. Shadal’s Dialogue is a classic text of the Jewish enlightenment (Haskalah), in which trends of modern scholarship and historical criticism are brought into confrontation with rabbinic tradition and Kabbalistic mysteries. This translation has been augmented by over a thousand footnotes, extensive glossaries, and a lengthy introduction outlining the place of Shadal’s Dialogue within the history of Kabbalah criticism and the rise of modern Jewish scholarship.
This is the first complete translation of Vikuaḥ 'al Ḥokhmat ha-Kabbalah, a literary-philosophical dialogue composed by the great Italian Jewish scholar Samuel David Luzzatto (1800-1865), also known as Shadal. Originally published in Hebrew in 1852, the Dialogue depicts a multi-faceted and acrimonious disputation between two scholars, who debate the authority and authenticity of Jewish mystical traditions. This work subjects Kabbalah, along with its textual centerpiece the Zohar, to both a rigorous critique and an impassioned defense, thereby inviting the reader to critically examine this centuries-old debate. Shadal’s Dialogue is a classic text of the Jewish enlightenment (Haskalah), in which trends of modern scholarship and historical criticism are brought into confrontation with rabbinic tradition and Kabbalistic mysteries. This translation has been augmented by over a thousand footnotes, extensive glossaries, and a lengthy introduction outlining the place of Shadal’s Dialogue within the history of Kabbalah criticism and the rise of modern Jewish scholarship.
Barnes & Noble is the world’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. Our Nook Digital business offers a lineup of NOOK® tablets and e-Readers and an expansive collection of digital reading content through the NOOK Store®. Barnes & Noble’s mission is to operate the best omni-channel specialty retail business in America, helping both our customers and booksellers reach their aspirations, while being a credit to the communities we serve.
