Turn
Aside from Evil and Do Good was written by Zevi
Hirsch Eichenstein (1763–1831), a hasidic master and renowned adept in Lurianic
kabbalah. He wrote it with the intention of providing a guide to would-be
hasidic kabbalists on how to live a holy life. Eichenstein was unusual in the
hasidic world in that as well as being a kabbalist he was a competent talmudist
and was also acquainted both with the science of his day and with medieval
Jewish philosophy. His views differ from those of other hasidic masters,
principally in the importance he attributes to studying the kabbalah, which he
considers an important antidote to unbelief, and in his more positive attitude
to the enjoyment of sexual activity and to business activity; he is concerned
to show how both can be integrated in a holy life.



This lively translation
by Louis Jacobs of the second edition (1850), which includes the notes of R.
Zevi Elimelekh of Dynow, gives the reader an insight into a highly
unconventional hasidic master and the basic ideas of Lurianic kabbalah as he
perceived them. Through hundreds of scholarly annotations, printed at the foot
of each page for ease of reference, Louis Jacobs helps the reader to understand
the kabbalistic ideas and imagery and other opaque terms, and clarifies the
sources to which the author alludes.



Turn
Aside from Evil and Do Good conveys the full
flavour of an original hasidic approach to kabbalism. Immensely readable, it
will be of interest to anyone interested in hasidism and Jewish mysticism or
the religious way and its social history. Louis Jacobs has added a very
accessible introduction to explain the Lurianic system of kabbalah; he also
provides biographical details of Eichenstein and his school, and a full
bibliography.

Volume editor: Louis Jacobs