Zohar (translated: The Book of Splendour), Hebrew, Vilnus (Lithuania), 1882, embossed leather binding mended with cotton thread, complete, 24x17x5cm.
Der ist das bedeutendste Buch der jüdischen Mystik, der . Er stellt eine Auslegung und Kommentar dar. Hier der 2. Teil eines fünfbändigen Werkes: 2. Buch Moses „Exodus“. Als Autor wird genannt. Diese Zuschreibung gilt heute nicht mehr. Heute gilt als Autor .
The Zohar is the most important book of Jewish mysticism, the Kabbalah. It is an interpretation and commentary. Here is the 2nd part of a five-volume work: 2nd Book of Moses ‘Exodus’. Schimon ben Jochai is named as the author. This attribution is no longer valid today. Today the author is Mosche de Leon.
The Zohar uses four levels of understanding for biblical interpretation,
- the literal text ( hebr. pshat)
- the figurative, allegorical meaning ( hebr. remez)
- the meaning in life ( Hebrew drash)
- the mystical, mysterious meaning ( hebr. sod)
The first letters of these four Hebrew words form the term ‘PaRDeS’ (‘orchard’, related to the German word ‘Paradies’).
It is written in Hebrew script in an artificially ancient Aramaic to emphasise its age and meaning. A book for experts; it is not suitable for everyday prayers.
The owner is inscribed on the back of the cover: ‘Jacob Dahan, son of Lehasisan’. The name comes from the southern Mediterranean region. It is unclear whether the book is part of the genizah.
All information has been compiled with the kind assistance of Mr Beni Pollak, teacher of the Landesverbandes der Jüdischen Gemeinden in Hesse.