Explaining the mysticism of the Torah and the other books in the Hebrew Bible, this is an overview of the historical trends that have shaped Kabbalah as it is known today, examining the interpretative methods that are intended to unlock the secrets of the Torah and reveal the inner fabric of creation. Brian Lancaster explores key extracts from the seminal works of Kabbalah—the Sefer Yetsirah, the Bahir, and the Zohar—and presents the major teachings of influential kabbalists. He also places Kabbalah in the context of Judaism as a whole, and illuminates the ways in which Judaism's teachings, prayers, and rituals express a concealed inner tradition. Along with an introduction, bibliography and index, the book includes a glossary and illustrations in the form of diagrams and Hebrew letter forms.