Hebrew Book of the Dead: In the Wilderness
by Zhenya Senyak
Category: Religion

The long and troubled journey of the human soul, from the earliest days of creation to reincarnation in the Promised Land, is told in this epic tale of the ancient Hebrews. This vision of trial and sacrifice yields fresh perspectives on the familiar Biblical stories, as the figures, landmarks, and events take on new significance when the actual ancient Hebrew text is translated literally. The result is a transformational reading of the Bible, deeply personal and spiritual. The inevitable struggle of a divine spirit trapped in a body of mud and struggling to become free is enacted against the backdrop of the desert wilderness, the World of Yetzirah, a world beyond the Sea of Ending. The text, threading through the first six books of the Bible, is illuminated by commentary that draws on contemporary linguistic and scientific sources, and traditional Kabbalist sources. Included are original Hebrew text, scriptural citations, a summary, and the Songs of Ascent, a selection of Psalms that mirror the journey of the soul. Some illustrations and a commentary by Rabbi Jonathan Slater, introduction by Huston Smith.