"The Future of the Zohar" is an afternoon event celebrating Daniel Matt's new, English translation of the Zohar. A labor of many years, the translation is transforming how the Zohar is studied and appreciated, and promises to create new, exciting futures for one of Judaism's mystical gems. This conference will feature several [TED-style] talks on Kabbalah, a musical performance of a selection from the Zohar, and an opportunity to celebrate an achievement that is both deftly academic and aimed at making the Zohar accessible to anybody who wishes to dive into its mysteries and spiritual insights.
Aubrey Glazer
Rabbi Beth Sholom, San Francisco, and the author of Mystical Vertigo: Kabbalistic Hebrew Poetry Dancing Cross the Divide (Academic Studies Press, 2013). Zoharic Afterglow in Leonard Cohen: Falling with our Angels
Avishai Bar-Asher
Princeton University, Program in Judaic Studies, Post-Doc Contemplating the Glowing Ember’s Flame: On Translating the Zohar’s Enigmas
Daniel Matt
Former professor of Jewish spirituality at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, and a leading authority on the Zohar and Kabbalah. Hillula - The Wedding Celebration of Rabbi Shim’on Bar Yohai
Jeremiah Lockwood
A scholar, story-teller, and the front man for The Sway Machinery, a band with a unique focus on mining atavisms and cultural memory to create new and exciting music. A Musical Rendition of Raza D’Shabbos [Zohar 2:135]
SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016 3:30–6pm Easton Hall 2401 Ridge Road Berkeley, CA