Reading the Zohar: A Guided Workbook for Engaging the Core Text of Jewish Mysticism

The Zohar is the central text of Jewish mysticism, but it is notoriously difficult to enter: written in a distinctive literary Aramaic, structured as mystical homily rather than argument, and saturated with symbolic layering that presupposes familiarity with its own interpretive universe. This workbook provides structured entry into the Zohar's world through guided reading of carefully selected passages, supported by translation, annotation scaffolding, and detailed commentary on the symbolic vocabulary. By the end of this course you will be able to read the Zohar in translation with annotated support, identify major recurring symbols (the Shekhinah, divine masculine and feminine, upper and lower waters), trace a kabbalistic interpretation of a Torah passage using the four levels of PaRDeS (peshat, remez, derash, sod), and articulate the distinctive narrative and rhetorical style of the Zohar's composition. What you will learn: - The PaRDeS interpretive framework and how the Zohar operates primarily at the level of sod (hidden meaning) - Key symbols of the Zohar: the Shekhinah as divine feminine presence, the cosmic tree, and the divine name - A guided reading of the Zohar's introduction: Patach Eliyahu and the discussion of the sefirot - The Zohar on Bereshit (Genesis 1): creation as theogonic event in the kabbalistic register - Zoharic treatments of Shabbat as the union of the divine masculine and feminine attributes - How to use an annotated Zohar edition and secondary scholarship to ground interpretation - The literary style of the Zohar: the circle of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai as a narrative device - Hasidic interpretations of the Zohar: how later masters (Besht, Maggid of Mezeritch) read the text Each unit presents a passage in English translation alongside structured annotation worksheets that guide you through the symbolic vocabulary, cross-references to parallel passages, and questions that prompt deeper reading. After completing each worksheet independently, annotated worked examples walk through the same passage in more depth. Reflection prompts invite you to consider how the kabbalistic reading transforms your understanding of the underlying Torah passage. The course includes cumulative self-assessment exercises to check familiarity with recurring symbols and concepts. This course is written for readers who have a basic orientation to Jewish mysticism and want to engage directly with the Zohar as a text. It is suitable for those who have completed an introductory course in Kabbalah or who have equivalent background from self-study or religious education. No knowledge of Aramaic is required. Scholars, practitioners, and curious readers are all welcome.