To Touch the Divine: A Jewish Mysticism Primer

Adult Education Kabbalah Religious History Comparative Religion Spiritual Growth Jewish Mysticism

First-edition hardcover copy of “To Touch the Divine: A Jewish Mysticism Primer,” the 1989 cornerstone volume in Hilda Rader’s sought-after series. This clean, tight, jacketed textbook is increasingly scarce in collectible condition, yet still priced for readers rather than locked away in glass cases. If you want an introduction to Kabbalah, Merkabah meditation, and Hasidic thought that is both academically solid and spiritually inviting, this vintage release is the copy serious students hunt for.

Rader, a respected adult-education teacher, wrote the guide she wished she could hand her own classes: concise chapters, primary-source excerpts, and reflection questions that let beginners taste Jewish mysticism without drowning in jargon. The book moves from the biblical “Chariot” visions through the Zohar, Lurianic Kabbalah, and modern neo-Hasidic revival, showing how each era re-imagines the soul’s climb toward the “Divine sparks.” Side-bars define Hebrew terms, timelines anchor ideas historically, and annotated bibliographies point the way to deeper study.

Because it was designed for synagogue adult-learning programs, the tone is welcoming to Christians, Buddhists, and secular seekers doing comparative-religion work, yet it remains grounded in authentic Jewish tradition. Owners praise its clarity: one reader called it “the only mysticism book I finished in a weekend and immediately re-read with a highlighter.” Collectors value the sturdy sewn binding and the unclipped dust jacket with its iconic Jerusalem-blue motif—both hard to find in this very-good, unmarked state. Secure this first printing now while copies still surface under the radar.

Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.

Buy Now Questions