Gershom Scholem guides the reader though the central themes in the intricate history of the Kabbalah, clarifying the relations be- tween mysticism and established religious authority, the mystics` interpretation of the Torah and their attempts to discover the hid- den meaning underlying Scripture, the tension between the philo- sophical and the mystical concepts of God, and the symbolism employed in mystical religion. Along with Scholem`s Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism, this is the standard work in its field. -- Choice Comprises some of Scholem`s most broadly conceived intellectual efforts, dealing with such universal issues as creativity and tradi- tion, Scripture and its interpretation, religion and myth, and the nature of religious authority. -- ARTHUR GREEN, Brandeis University Makes the intricate and fascinating world of kabbalistic symbol and myth accessible to a wider audience, rendering it in terms that are of interest to contemporary readers. -- ELLIOT R. WOLFSON, New York University