Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism

Rating:
Summary: Assembling the Fragments
Review: Howard Schwartz has been gathering the sparks and the scattered fragments of the vessels of Jewish folklore, scholarship and mysticism for many years. He is truly one of the great illuminators of the ancient and voluminous body of Jewish thought. He is also a poet and a storyteller who performs his vision for the edification of both Jew and non-Jew alike. This work, Tree of Souls, is in many ways the culmination of his lifelong effort to bring together the sparks and fragments he has been so carefully nurturing into a coherent and far-reaching mythology of Judaism. This book should not only be of interest to Jews but to anyone interested in the great mythologies of the world. It can be read cover to cover, or dipped into whenever or wherever the heart desires. I can guarantee you, though, that once you have contemplated even one leaf from this magnificent tree of souls you will return again and again for more.

Rating:
Summary: A window and Mirror for the Ages
Review: Howard Scwatrz's stunningly researched, organized,
and artisticly recreated TREE OF SOULS will keep Jewish lore alive and accessible to the larger population for generations to come. In addition, he has offered a window into the wealth of one faith's lore while simultaneously providing a mirror of major issues, charatcers, and themes that embue the lore of many cultures.

Rating:
Summary: A Treasure house of Souls and Stories
Review: The magnificent Tree of Souls arrived yesterday. What a beautiful, soulful, scholarly, graceful, balanced, and whole book it is! I love Caren Loebel-Fried's illustrations and I think the combination of these truly archetypal images, and Howard Schwartz's storytelling is perfect!

I've been writing a new book called Nights By The wall...the subtitle is Torah, Dreams and Everything. I had reached a place of pause, when this delicious book arrived. I am reading it by opening to wherever I happen to open it, and reading that portion. This works amazingly well. I think that is because Tree of Souls is so complete a telling of the entire story of Judaism that it functions as a wisdom book. Open to any page. You will learn and feel refreshed.

Rating:
Summary: Soul Food
Review: This magnificent volume is a valuable reference for both students and scholars of Judaica and folklore, among other fields. It is also a beautiful gift. Tree of Souls is that rare book that manages to simultaneously enlighten, entertain and inspire. It is certain to become a classic.



Rating:
Summary: A treasure
Review: Tree Of Souls should become the centerpiece on the shelf of anyone interested in Judaism, storytelling or mythology. Howard Schwartz shows in this book the connections to the universal as well as the dynamic uniqueness of Jewish mythology.
I love that it's such an in-depth, all encompassing scholarly work, yet presented with the clear and entertaining voice of a master storyteller. I find the introduction and the detailed annotations on every story particularly helpful and enjoy randomly opening up any page and immediately finding something interesting, intriguing and new to learn.
A real treasure!


Rating:
Summary: Luminous . . . .
Review: Want to know what happened before the world was created according to mythic Judaism? Turn to page 71: "God rode upon the wings of the wind and upon the flames of the sword." Curious about the ten kabbalist sefirot (channels of God's energy)? Check page 529 for a diagram. Not sure if the above falls within the accepted Jewish tradition or outside of it? Peruse the "Note on Sources," clear-as-day footnotes and fifty-six page bibliography.

Late at night, my four-year-old awoke and asked why God had to be a boy (and not a girl). Thanks to "Tree of Souls," I retold a story I had just read about the Shekhinah, the bride of God--divine presence--exiled at the time of the destruction of the Temple, she will return when it is rebuilt. My daughter loved the story and has since asked me to read to her aloud from the book (Although this is very much a text for grownups, kids will love your personal adaptions of these myths and the hauntingly mysterious illustrations. Or else pick-up one or more of Howard Schwartz's many richly imagined children's books.)

Anyone at all interested in mythology will find something of value in "Tree of Souls." If you were born Jewish but looked to other traditions for your spiritual nourishment (like I did), then turn back. You will find what you seek (or the most thorough beginning of the journey you could ever hope for) right here. The newest jewel in my collection, this treasure will be with me until the end of days.