Turn Aside from Evil and Do Good

First published in Hebrew as Sur mera va ‘aseh tov [1832]
First hardback edition in English 1995
First paperback edition in English 1995
First digital on-demand edition 2012
English translation and editorial matter© Louis Jacobs 1995

THE book translated here, Sur mera va’aseh tmJ, by Zevi Hirsch Eichenstein (1763-1833), is unique in its blending of classical kabbalah with the approach of Beshtian Hasidism. The translation is fairly literal, although some concessions have been made for the modern reader. As the more technical terms defy simple translation, they are generally given in transliteration and explained in the notes.

From the second edition onwards the work has appeared with the notes and comments of R. Zevi Elimelekh of Dynow. These notes have been helpful for the elucidation of the author’s meaning and are reproduced as appropriate along with my own, their source being indicated by Z.E. for Zevi Elimelekh.

Before tackling the translation itself, the reader is advised to read first the Introduction for the historical background. The section in the Introduction on kabbalah should certainly be read, since Eichenstein’s text refers again and again to kabbalah and its technical terms.

Eichenstein quotes from all the traditional sources of Judaism; in the notes these are cited in the abbreviated form used in the Encyclopedia Judaica. Details of these works are given in the Bibliography, together with a short list of general works relevant to the book.