Mesillat Yesharim: The Path of the Upright

Mesillat Yesharim: The Path of the Upright

Mesillat Yesharim: The Path of the Upright

Mesillat Yesharim: The Path of the Upright

Hardcover(Bilingual)

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Overview

Thanks to this generous donor for making the publication of this book possible: The Lerman Family Foundation.

Connecting the wisdom of tradition with contemporary spirituality

Mesillat Yesharim is a classic of Jewish ethical literature. Written by one of the leading kabbalists of the late Middle Ages, it is also a window into the kabbalist's understanding of the connection between ethics and mystical vision. Luzzatto, one of the great Hebrew stylists of his time, is acknowledged by some as the first writer of modern Hebrew; thus Mesillat Yesharim is also important for its place in Hebrew literature.

This translation, published originally in 1936 by JPS, is a landmark in Jewish publishing. It made this Hebrew text finally available to English readers, and it gave us insights into the groundbreaking work that Kaplan did in orienting American Jews to the deep connection between ethical living and religious belief. It is no wonder that this book has become the centerpiece of the modern-day Mussar Movement, which inspires so many on their spiritual path.

Rabbi Ira Stone, consummate teacher and stirring speaker, is a major force in the resurgence of the Mussar Movement. In his introduction, he presents Luzzatto and Mesillat Yesharim in their historical context, and gives us new insights into Kaplan's emerging theology. Stone also explains the principles of reading that he uses in his commentary and teaching to make this medieval text so inspiring to readers today.

This volume contains the original Kaplan translation, as well as those sections of the text that Kaplan omitted, along with Stone's new commentary. The original Hebrew text is in the back of the book.

Ira F. Stone is rabbi of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel, Philadelphia. He has been a lecturer in the department of philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary and is adjunct and visiting lecturer in modern Jewish thought at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. In addition to numerous articles, Stone has published two volumes of poetry and is the author of Seeking the Path to Life, Reading Levinas/Reading Talmud, and A Responsible Life: The Spiritual Path of Mussar.

Mordecai Kaplan was born in Lithuania and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1889. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), and received a master's degree from Columbia University. He first served as associate rabbi of Kehillath Jeshurun, an Orthodox synagogue in New York, and later joined the faculty of JTS. Kaplan continued teaching and writing until his death in 1983, at the age of 102.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780827608566
Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society
Publication date: 09/15/2010
Edition description: Bilingual
Pages: 550
Product dimensions: 6.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.60(d)

Table of Contents

Preface Ira F. Stone ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction Ira F. Stone xiii

The Kaplan Translation: Appreciation and Critique

Mussar Theory and Practice

Final Thoughts on Kaplan and Luzzatto

Introduction Mordecai M. Kaplan xxiii

Preface Mesillat Yesharim Moses Hayyim Luzzatto 1

Chapter 1 A General Review of the Duty of Human Beings in the World 16

Chapter 2 Concerning the Trait of Watchfulness 35

Chapter 3 Concerning the Divisions of Watchfulness 40

Chapter 4 Concerning the Manner of Acquiring Watchfulness 49

Chapter 5 Concerning the Factors Which Detract from Watchfulness and the Withdrawing of Oneself from Them 68

Chapter 6 Concerning the Trait of Zeal 81

Chapter 7 Investigating the Divisions of Zeal 90

Chapter 8 The Manner of Acquiring Zeal 95

Chapter 9 Concerning the Factors Which Detract from Zeal and the Withdrawing of Oneself from Them 99

Chapter 10 The Trait of Cleanliness 106

Chapter 11 Concerning the Particulars of the Trait of Cleanliness 110

Chapter 12 Concerning the Means of Acquiring Cleanliness 159

Chapter 13 Concerning the Trait of Separation 162

Chapter 14 Concerning the Divisions of Separation 174

Chapter 15 Concerning the Means of Acquiring Separation 177

Chapter 16 Concerning the Trait of Purity 181

Chapter 17 Concerning the Means of Acquiring Purity 187

Chapter 18 Investigating the Trait of Hasidut 190

Chapter 19 Concerning the Divisions of Hasidut 195

Chapter 20 Concerning the Weighing of Hasidut 230

Chapter 21 Concerning the Means of Acquiring Hasidut 236

Chapter 22 Concerning the Trait of Humility 240

Chapter 23 Concerning the Means of Acquiring Humility 252

Chapter 24 Concerning the Fear of Sin 258

Chapter 25 The Manner of Acquiring the Fear of Sin 265

Chapter 26 Concerning the Trait of Holiness 267

Notes 275

Mesillat Yesharim: Hebrew Text 277

Bibliography 509

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