The immense influence on Western culture of an ancient Jewish tradition From its beginnings in small Jewish communities in the Mediterranean, Kabbalah—the ancient Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of the Bible, using esoteric methods such as ciphers and numerology—has had an immense influence on Western culture. This volume examines that influence from its beginning, to practical Kabbalah and magic, to modern manifestations in art and popular culture. Encompassing figures ranging from Rudolph Steiner to David Bowie, Kabbalah follows the traces of mystical Jewish doctrines in painting, sculpture, design, literature, film and music. The works of artists Ghiora Aharoni, Mordecai Ardon, Michael Berkowitz, William Blake, Rachel Brown, Moshe Castel, Rene Clemensic, Belu Simion Fainaru, Victoria Hanna, Louis Kahn, Isidor Kaufmann, Anselm Kiefer, R.B. Kitaj, Sigalit Landau, Paul K. Lynch, Madonna, Barnett Newman, Leonard Nimoy, Mark Podwal, Dan Reisner, Hanna Rovina, Gabriele Seethaler, Harry Smith, Roman Vishniac, Frank Lloyd Wright and Jacques Zucker are also included.