ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I WISH TO THANK all those who have so generously helped me complete this work by sharing their insights, reflections, and encouragement. Through this project, I have gained the invaluable friendship of such illustrious scholars as Joseph Dan, Rachel Elior, Immanuel Etkes, Eitan Fishbane, Michael Gottsegen, Menahem Kalus, and Jacob Neusner. I have been greatly enriched by having had personal contact and correspondence with them, and I look forward to a continued dialogue with this fountain of knowledge and light.

I also wish to acknowledge with fondness the contribution of the late Steve Segal, who assisted me with the initial research on the kabbalists discussed in this book.