“Explores the exegetical tradition of Isaac Luria and his followers within the historical context in 16th-century Safed, a unique community that brought practitioners of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam into close contact with one another. ”

“A pioneering foray into Lurianic biblical exegesis; nothing like it has been attempted in English before.”
 — Alan Cooper, Jewish Theological Seminary

“Shaul Magid's From Metaphysics to Midrash is a theoretically sophisticated and textually nuanced exploration of what is unquestionably the most complex body of Jewish mystical literature. . . . The author is to be congratulated for producing a study of a 16th—century phenomenon that will resonate deeply with scholars who have explored the issues of alterity, identity and difference, gender construction, and the problem of embodiment.”
 — Elliot R. Wolfson, New York University

“Shaul Magid has written a bold . . . book. . . . From Metaphysics to Midrash is rich in intriguing discussions about the boundaries between Jews and non-Jews, good and evil, God and man from the perspective of Lurianic Kabbalah’s interpretation of Scripture.Vol. 28, No. 1 Fall 2009”
 — Michael Nutkiewicz, Religious Studies Program, University of New Mexico