How to Read the Zohar: Series One, Sessions 1 & 2

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, you can cultivate your own relationship to this fantastical text and feel empowered to unfold new meanings from its mysteries.