A Mystical Haggadah: Passover Meditations, Teachings, and Tales

(Paperback)

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The Passover Seder meal every spring is probably the most widely-observed ritual in the Jewish holiday calendar, and the Haggadah is the traditional text used in the ceremony. "A Mystical Haggadah" is the first book to provide a spiritual interpretation of the Seder, with an easy to read transliterated text and new translation and commentary. In a generation that has seen an explosion in popularity of books about mystical and meditative traditions, there is actually very little published about the rich and fascinating mystical traditions of the Jewish holy days. Passover, the first religious holiday of the Jewish people, particularly deserves to be reviewed from a mystical perspective."A Mystical Haggadah" takes the reader through the Passover ritual with Kabbalistic meditations and affirmations in a groundbreaking reader-friendly format. This Haggadah also includes many Hassidic teachings and stories that have never been presented to the English reading audience. "A Mystical Haggadah" is for all spiritual seekers who wish to explore this root tradition of Judaism as a ritual of cosmic importance. "A Mystical Haggadah" is also for Jewish seekers of all denominations who wish to explore the mystical, meditative, and empowering aspects of Jewish traditions as seen through the rich and meaningful Passover eve Seder ritual.

Reviews

Steeped in the tradition of Kabbalah, the mystic branch of Judaism, Kleins book sheds new light on old traditions and adds a contemplative aspect to often numbingly familiar stories; its sure to provide, if not enlightenment, then at the very least a little novelty at the traditional meal.
Kirkus Reviews

Rabbi Klein brings us deeper into the ways of tikkun according to Kabbalah and Hasidism, than any other Haggadah in English. One of the great strengths of this Haggadah is that it reflects Rabbi Kleins personal experience. He is particularly adept at weaving more abstract kabbalistic commentaries with stories and personal advice from Hasidic rebbes. A Mystical Haggadah can help teach us how to pray with activist feet, or at least rehearse the steps on Passover night.
Kennard Lipman, Tikkun magazine

Rabbi Klein has penned a fascinating Haggadah according to the mystical traditions of Kabbalah and Hassidic mastersThis is a deep and satisfying book that invites the reader to dive deeply into the Spirit behind the Seder.
Pan Spence, The Ohio Jewish Chronicle

Chassidic tales, gematria, kabbalistic meditations and the traditional Haggadah text combine in A Mystical HaggadahTheres a homey feel, its refreshing, and there are several items in it that you may wish to incorporate into your celebration.
Cynthia Ramsay, Jewish Independent

This is a complex haggadah that stops at nearly every point in the telling of the Passover story to discuss the meaning and greater mystical significance of every action undertaken during the seder, as well as including the occasional story with lessons and miracles of harder, but more pious timesfor those looking for inner meaning, they may well find it in this text.
Joel Magalnick, JTNews

This elegant haggadah is filled with wondrous commentariesmany outside the realm of standard interpretations and commentsby a variety of kabalistic and Chassidic teachers.
Stephen S. Pearce, J Weekly

[A Mystical Haggadah] stops at nearly every point in the telling of the Passover story to discuss the meaning and greater mystical significance of every action undertaken during the seder, as well as including the occasional story with lessons and miracles of harder, but more pious times.

Rabbi Klein borrows from Chassidic masters and features descriptions of his own experiences, providing meditations every step of the way while he blesses God and the shechinah....

...[T]hose looking for inner meaning may well find it in this text.
Diana Brement, JTNews

"A Mystical Haggadah: Passover Meditations, Teachings and Tales by Eliahu Klein incorporates the Kabbalah teachings into the 15-step seder ritual."
Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

Rabbi Eliahu Klein is a passionate ambassador of Kabbalah, Jewish Meditation, and Hassidism, who has taught these traditions for over thirty years throughout the United States, Great Britain, and Israel. He apprenticed under two of the greatest Jewish teachers of the post-Holocaust generation, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. In 1983 his mentor Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan ordained Eliahu Klein with a private Rabbinic ordination and authorized his student to begin transmitting Kabbalah publicly. Eliahu Klein has taught Jewish mysticism at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, an institution of the University of Oxford, Great Britain; the University of California at Berkeley; San Francisco State University; and the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California. He also lectures on Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav, Lurianic Kabbalah, and Midrash at the Academy for Jewish Religion. Rabbi Eliahu Klein currently serves as Jewish Chaplain for the State of California Department of Rehabilitation, serving Jews and their friends in need. He is working to develop an Emergency Referral Service Agency for Jews in hospitals, nursing facilities and correctional institutions in Northern California.