Welcome! This is an introductory resource guide created by Ezra Rose for Jews (of all backgrounds & experiences, including/especially those who are reconnecting or in the process of becoming Jewish!) and others who want to learn more about the history of Jewish magic & mysticism. The recommendations here are intended to serve as a jumping-off point for further study - this is by no means an exhaustive list! It's also based entirely on my own opinion/experience: these are the resources I've personally used and loved.

For a short explanation of how this page came to be and why so many of us are interested in the subject, click "why?"

"FAQ" briefly covers topics such as the halakhic (Jewish legal) status of magic, as well as how to recognize culturally authentic resources.

"books" collects offline/print resources, while "links" will point you to other online offerings, including resources on contemporary Jewish magic & mystic practice.

why?

As a Jewish creator whose work is directly inspired by Jewish magic & mysticism, I'm asked all the time how I learned about these traditions - particularly by other Jews who grew up, as I did, without any awareness of this side of Judaism. As a queer, trans & disabled Jew, I've found that I connect most deeply with spiritual practices that have (both historically and currently) often been marginalized even within Jewish cultures.

It's deeply important to me to make these kind of connections more visible and accessible to others, as too many Jewish institutions still neglect or restrict their study, and as cultural appropriation of Jewish magic & mysticism is rampant. All Jews deserve access to our whole, authentic cultural history, especially when it can be so life-changing for those of us on the outer edges of our own communities.

Isn't magic prohibited by the Torah / against Jewish law?

There are several prohibitions relating to magic in our sacred texts (Exodus 22:18, “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” being one of the most frequently cited), and not surprisingly, there’s been a lot of debate over how we should read and understand those restrictions! Some folks argue that the practices described as “witchcraft” in the Torah and Talmud only refer to the magic practices of other non-Jewish peoples - after all, there are many examples of rabbis and sages performing magical acts, particularly by using holy names. Others argue that only magic which does not rely on the Divine is prohibited; in other words, recognizing that all spiritual power comes from the Divine is what makes Jewish magic different from idolatry. Still others believe that those prohibitions specifically targeted the contemporary spiritual/folk practices of ancient Jewish women (and perhaps other marginalized genders), which were seen as dangerous to patriarchal religious authority. For us, studying and practicing magic is a way to reclaim older aspects of Judaism that may have been lost.

Is Jewish magic/mysticism (including Kabbalah) okay for non-Jews to practice?

Short answer: no. Judaism is a closed culture, meaning that conversion is required in order to become a part of the Jewish people if you aren’t born into or raised by a Jewish family. Jewish magic & mysticism are inextricable from Jewish religion and culture - when removed from their context, they lose meaning, and practicing them as a non-Jew is a form of cultural appropriation (with a long and violent history). However, learning about the history of Jewish magic & mysticism is open to all, and if it really speaks to you on a spiritual level, you should consider talking to a rabbi!

How can I recognize authentic Jewish material from cultural appropriation?

It's always important to look closely at the source and context of any information you find. While it isn't a hard rule, in general practice, you can tell kosher (genuine, in accordance with Jewish law) Kabbalah from Christian "Cabala" and western occult "Qabalah" by the spelling used. Some western occultists write under fake "Hebrew" pen names - look at the publisher and the kind of material they usually put out. The "Solomonic" magic of late medieval and early Renaissance grimoires is not Jewish. Sefirot (Tree of Life) diagrams with added alchemical symbols or chakra color connections are generally not made by Jews. The presence of crosses or mention of Jesus/Yeshua in any material should be a dead giveaway that it is not Jewish!

Introductory Books

  • The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism by Geoffrey W. Dennis (2007) - excellent overview, easy to reference!

  • The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism by Daniel Matt (1995) - my favorite intro to Kabbalah, very accessible.

  • Inner Space: Introduction to Kabbalah, Meditation and Prophecy by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (1991) - a slightly more in-depth intro to Kabbalah with some great scientific parallels by a noted rabbi & physicist (who also wrote extensively on Jewish meditation techniques).

  • Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism by Rabbi Gershon Winkler (2003) - excellent intro to the history of earth-based Judaism & its Jewish magic/mystical connections.

  • Ascending Jacob’s Ladder: Jewish Views of Angels, Demons and Evil Spirits by Ronald Isaacs (1998) - intro to supernatural entities in Judaism.

  • Divination, Magic and Healing: The Book of Jewish Folklore by Ronald Isaacs (1998) - intro to various Jewish folk practices and superstitions.

Deeper Dives

  • Ancient Jewish Magic: A History by Gideon Bohak (2008) - large academic/historic overview from the Second Temple period through late rabbinic eras.

  • Jewish Magic Before the Rise of Kabbalah by Yuval Harari (2010) - a more in-depth focus on Jewish magic practices in late antiquity and the early Islamic period.

  • Between Worlds: Dybbuks, Exorcists, and Early Modern Judaism by J.H. Chajes (2003) - fascinating study of spirit possession throughout Jewish history.

  • Kabbalah by Gershom Scholem (1974) - “definitive” history of Jewish mysticism by one of its most well-respected scholars.

Folklore Collections

I highly recommend Howard Schwartz’s collections of retold Jewish tales, including:
Elijah’s Violin and Other Jewish Fairy Tales (1983)
Miriam’s Tambourine: Jewish Folktales from around the World (1986)
Lilith’s Cave: Jewish Tales of the Supernatural (1987) - my favorite
Gabriel’s Palace: Jewish Mystical Tales (1993)
Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism (2008)
Leaves from the Garden of Eden (2008)