This is the first complete translation of Vikuaḥ 'al Ḥokhmat ha-Kabbalah , a literary-philosophical dialogue composed by the great Italian Jewish scholar Samuel David Luzzatto (1800-1865), also known as Shadal. Originally published in Hebrew in 1852, the Dialogue depicts a multi-faceted and acrimonious disputation between two scholars, who debate the authority and authenticity of Jewish mystical traditions. This work subjects Kabbalah, along with its textual centerpiece the Zohar, to both a rigorous critique and an impassioned defense, thereby inviting the reader to critically examine this centuries-old debate. Shadal’s Dialogue is a classic text of the Jewish enlightenment ( Haskalah ), in which trends of modern scholarship and historical criticism are brought into confrontation with rabbinic tradition and Kabbalistic mysteries. This translation has been augmented by over a thousand footnotes, extensive glossaries, and a lengthy introduction outlining the place of Shadal’s Dialogue within the history of Kabbalah criticism and the rise of modern Jewish scholarship. “ A Dialogue on Kabbalah is the first complete English translation of this remarkable work. Shadal’s text is a philosophical dialogue between two sophisticated and pious Jewish men, known as the author and the guest. ... Dialogue on Kabbalah makes the fascinating and complex work of a brilliant nineteenth-century thinker accessible to scholars of religion, philosophy, intellectual history, and Jewish Studies.” (Brian Hillman, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 51 (3), September, 2025) "Samuel David Luzzatto's genius and sharp pen is seen throughout his corpus, which covers the range of Jewish scholarship. His most controversial work, which engendered a range of reactions, was undoubtedly his Dialogue on the Wisdom of the Kabbalah . In an era when Kabbalah, even among those who did not study it, was held in the highest esteem, Luzzatto fearlessly challenged Kabbalah as a corruption of authentic Jewish beliefs. J.J. Kimche, a bright new star in the world of Jewish scholarship, has produced a fine translation with learned notes of this classic of Jewish learning, unraveling for us the often difficult meaning of the text, as well as explaining the kabbalistic background of what Luzzatto was focusing on. He has also provided a helpful introduction laying out the history and context in which Luzzatto's work arose. In an era when Jewish mysticism has found great popularity, we are in Kimche's debt for reminding us of those scholars, chief among them Luzzatto, who presented an alternative vision of Judaism."― Professor Marc B. Shapiro , Weinberg Chair in Judaic Studies, University of Scranton "The books of classical Kabbalah have delighted their adherents and vexed their critics for centuries. While the rise of historical thinking and criticism in the 19th century led many Jewish intellectuals to debate the antiquity and legitimacy of Jewish mysticism, Shmuel David Luzzatto's Dialogue stands head and shoulders above the rest of these polemics. Shadal's marvelously informative work portrays a vivid literary debate over the origins and authority of Jewish mystical writings, presenting a well-balanced, dynamic, and compelling argument in which historical and philosophical methods are pitted against ardent traditionalism. Kimche's magnificent translation of this work, paired with an illuminating introduction and filled with an impressive number of helpful annotations, opens Luzzatto's Dialogue to an English readership for the first time. This book is a must-read for scholars of Kabbalah and philosophy, but it's so much more: it will expand the horizons of anyone interested in the modern Jewish experience."― Ariel Evan Mayse , Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Stanford University “Shadal's marvelously informative Dialogue portrays a vivid literary debate over the origins and authority of Jewish mystical writings, presenting a well-balanced, dynamic, and compelling argument in which historical and philosophical methods are pitted against ardent traditionalism. Kimche's magnificent translation of this work, paired with an illuminating introduction and filled with an impressive number of helpful annotations, opens Luzzatto's Dialogue to an English readership for the first time. This book is a must-read for… anyone interested in the modern Jewish experience." ― Ariel Evan Mayse , Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Stanford University This is the first complete translation of Vikuaḥ 'al Ḥokhmat ha-Kabbalah , a literary-philosophical dialogue composed by the great Italian Jewish scholar Samuel David Luzzatto (1800-1865), also known as Shadal. Originally published in Hebrew in 1852, the Dialogue depicts a multi-faceted and acrimonious disputation between two scholars, who debate the authority and authenticity of Jewish mystical traditions. This work subjects Kabbalah, along with its textual centerpiece the Zohar, to both a rigorous criti