About this Book

A spiritual journey—both deeply personal and strikingly universal.

One of Israel’s leading cultural figures, Dov Elbaum
grew up in an ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem family, and was a prodigy who
seemed destined for greatness in the world of Talmud study. But in his
late teens, he abruptly broke away and set off into secular Israeli
society.

In this fascinating, courageous and compelling
autobiography, Elbaum seeks to understand his decision and its
consequences. With the structure of Kabbalah as his road map, Elbaum
journeys into the deep recesses of his self and his soul. The ultimate
goal of his journey is “the Void,” a Kabbalistic space that precedes
God’s creation of the world, and a psychological state that precedes our
formation as individuals. It is a space of great vulnerability but also
of hope for rebirth and renewal.

This is an intimate, honest, revealing work, both
deeply personal and strikingly universal. The Hebrew
edition was a bestseller and sold over 50,000 copies.