Determined to uncover the secrets of this esoteric faith, the author embarked upon three 10-week Kabbalah classes among other learning opportunities, examined Kabbalah publications from the 1970s to the present, listened to KLC audio tapes, and interacted with adherents.

"This path-breaking study peels away many layers of mystery surrounding the beliefs, practices, leaders, and history of the Kabbalah Centre--a movement rooted in Jewish mysticism, but now broadly universal and heavily New Age. Myers shows how the Kabbalah Centre fits into the panoply of American religion, where it engenders controversy, and why it appeals to Christians like Madonna. A valuable and illuminating contribution."

"This path-breaking study peels away many layers of mystery surrounding the beliefs, practices, leaders, and history of the Kabbalah Centre--a movement rooted in Jewish mysticism, but now broadly universal and heavily New Age. Myers shows how the Kabbalah Centre fits into the panoply of American religion, where it engenders controversy, and why it appeals to Christians like Madonna. A valuable and illuminating contribution." -- Jonathan D. Sarna, Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University, author of American Judaism: A History "The Kabbalah Centre has received a great deal of publicity, but no sustained attention from scholars studying new religious movements. This surprising gap in our understanding has been closed admirably by Dr. Myers in this clear, concise, and comprehensive study of the group. Myers' carefully researched, and sympathetic yet critical, ethnography provides an excellent introduction to the history, the beliefs and practices, and the social profile of this uniquely American religious innovation." -- Lorne L. Dawson, Professor of Sociology & Religious Studies, University of Waterloo "Few contemporary religious phenomena have received as much attention as the Kabbalah Centre. For the first time now, an academic scholar of history and religion, Professor Jody Myers, has made a sincere foray into the institution itself and presented her fascinating findings in this volume. Using the technique of disciplined empathy along with an open mind and great creativity, Professor Myers enlightens us concerning the Centre's history, methods and philosophy, and how these fit into the larger phenomenology of religion. This book is outstanding, both for its insights into the Kabbalah Centre and as an example of how to study a contemporary urban religious community." -- Matt Goldish, Samuel M. and Esther Melton Professor of Jewish History and Director of the Melton Center for Jewish Studies at the Ohio State University "Prof. Myers skillfully integrates the perspective of a critical historian with a sensitive and empathic ethnographic approach. Based on both written documents and close acquaintance with participants and leaders of the Kabbalah Center, Prof. Myers portrays the multifarious and complex facets of one of the most intriguing and influential contemporary spiritual movements. Kabbalah and the Spiritual Quest is an excellent work of historical and ethnographic scholarship, for both general readers and academic scholars. This is a major contribution to our understanding of contemporary spiritual culture." -- Dr. Boaz Huss, Goldstein-Goren Department of Jewish Thought, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

The link between religion, spirituality, and healing has often been touted as a route to better well-being. The books in this series attest to this belief by examining various approaches to experiencing healing through religious and spiritual methods.