Jody Myers is Professor of Religious Studies at California State University, Northridge and author of Seeking Zion: Modernity and Messianic Activism in the Writings of Tsevi Hirsch Kalischer, and many other journal articles and book chapters.

Myers presents an interesting investigation of a highly controversial subject: the Kabbalah Centre in America. Created by Rabbi Philip Berg, these centers are dedicated to popularizing, in a highly revised form, traditional Jewish mysticism known as kabbalah among both Jews and non-Jews. The justification for such dissemination lies in a belief in the unusual mission of kabbalah. Berg and his colleagues have had considerable success. In most large US cities one finds all sorts of individuals, including most famously Madonna, espousing kabbalistic doctrines. Myers was sufficiently intrigued to undertake the first serious, surprisingly sympathetic study of this phenomenon. She sees it as a syncretistic new religious movement that attracts upwardly mobile Western urbanites, disappointed by organized religion yet looking for a spiritual and ethical outlook with religious roots. Her description of the movement covers its roots, popularization in the US, main teachings, and value in spiritual healing, and a survey-profile of some of its adherents. Her methodological approach is primarily sociological and psychological and stresses the functional character of the movement. Even if one is more critical of the Kabbalah Centre, as this reviewer is, this is a valuable study for libraries serving religious studies programs. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above.

Jody Myers is Professor of Religious Studies at California State University, Northridge and author of Seeking Zion: Modernity and Messianic Activism in the Writings of Tsevi Hirsch Kalischer, and many other journal articles and book chapters.

Myers presents an interesting investigation of a highly controversial subject: the Kabbalah Centre in America. Created by Rabbi Philip Berg, these centers are dedicated to popularizing, in a highly revised form, traditional Jewish mysticism known as kabbalah among both Jews and non-Jews. The justification for such dissemination lies in a belief in the unusual mission of kabbalah. Berg and his colleagues have had considerable success. In most large US cities one finds all sorts of individuals, including most famously Madonna, espousing kabbalistic doctrines. Myers was sufficiently intrigued to undertake the first serious, surprisingly sympathetic study of this phenomenon. She sees it as a syncretistic new religious movement that attracts upwardly mobile Western urbanites, disappointed by organized religion yet looking for a spiritual and ethical outlook with religious roots. Her description of the movement covers its roots, popularization in the US, main teachings, and value in spiritual healing, and a survey-profile of some of its adherents. Her methodological approach is primarily sociological and psychological and stresses the functional character of the movement. Even if one is more critical of the Kabbalah Centre, as this reviewer is, this is a valuable study for libraries serving religious studies programs. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above.

Jody Myers is Professor of Religious Studies at California State University, Northridge and author of Seeking Zion: Modernity and Messianic Activism in the Writings of Tsevi Hirsch Kalischer, and many other journal articles and book chapters.

Myers presents an interesting investigation of a highly controversial subject: the Kabbalah Centre in America. Created by Rabbi Philip Berg, these centers are dedicated to popularizing, in a highly revised form, traditional Jewish mysticism known as kabbalah among both Jews and non-Jews. The justification for such dissemination lies in a belief in the unusual mission of kabbalah. Berg and his colleagues have had considerable success. In most large US cities one finds all sorts of individuals, including most famously Madonna, espousing kabbalistic doctrines. Myers was sufficiently intrigued to undertake the first serious, surprisingly sympathetic study of this phenomenon. She sees it as a syncretistic new religious movement that attracts upwardly mobile Western urbanites, disappointed by organized religion yet looking for a spiritual and ethical outlook with religious roots. Her description of the movement covers its roots, popularization in the US, main teachings, and value in spiritual healing, and a survey-profile of some of its adherents. Her methodological approach is primarily sociological and psychological and stresses the functional character of the movement. Even if one is more critical of the Kabbalah Centre, as this reviewer is, this is a valuable study for libraries serving religious studies programs. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above.