Historian of Kabbalah & Jewish Magic.
Designer of Kabbalah & Jewish Magic.

Upcoming Course

The Zohar enchants all who read its mystical prose, luring its readers to enter an imaginative world unlike any other in Jewish literature. For centuries, it has been the living font of inspiration for kabbalists across the globe, as they deciphered its symbols, chanted its Aramaic passages, and enacted its rituals. This course offers beginners the tools to study the Zohar in its original language—Aramaic, written in Hebrew letters—and immerse themselves in the magic of its words and meanings. All that is needed is a working knowledge of the Aleph Bet; those with no reading fluency in Hebrew are welcome along with those who have experience reading Hebrew texts. While there are many paths available today for beginners to study the Zohar in English and for advanced students to study it in Aramaic, there are few, if any, opportunities for beginners to develop the skills necessary to fall in love with the poetic cadences of its Aramaic, to learn to chant its mystical passages, and master the unique vocabulary of Zoharic Kabbalah. By honing these skills, one can cultivate their own relationship to this fantastical text and feel empowered to unfold new meanings from its mysteries. 

Thursdays 5:00-6:00pm PST. An optional, additional 30 minutes of pair-review (havrutah) will be facilitated as well (6-6:30 PST). Recordings of each meeting will be made available.

Series One: Reading Roses

The Zohar begins by deciphering the rose as a symbol of both creation and eros. We will begin with this iconic passage in Session One. In Session Two we will study a related text from Exodus that tells a story about rosewater and those who walk with roses. The two texts together offer a great introduction to the styles of the Zohar and its ecological theology. 

Session One: “Who is a Rose?” 

3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18

Session Two: “Rosewater and the Rosewalker” 

5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/30

Session One: $70

Presale: Session One & Two: $118

Participants in Session One can Purchase Session Two at a later time for $70. 

Participating in Session One is a prerequisite for attending Session Two. Future series will be open to anyone.