Moses Cordovero (1522–1570) was the foremost architect of classical Kabbalah and the leading mystical thinker of sixteenth-century Safed. His Pardes Rimonim (“Orchard of Pomegranates”) remains the most systematic exposition of kabbalistic theology ever composed, shaping Jewish mysticism on the eve of the Lurianic revolution.

This volume provides a comprehensive study of Cordovero's Kabbalah, conceived as a companion to the full translation of Pardes Rimonim. It situates the work within Cordovero's life, historical milieu, and complete literary corpus, and offers a structured analysis of its thirty-two gates: divine emanation, the Sefirot, cosmology and anthropology, evil and judgment, prayer and theurgy, Torah and sacred time, prophecy, and mystical attainment. Beyond Pardes, the book examines Cordovero's major writings—including Or Yakar, Tomer Devorah, Eilima Rabbati, and his prayer and ethical works—revealing the unity underlying his theological system.

Combining intellectual history, textual scholarship, and systematic analysis, this study clarifies Cordovero's sources, methods, and legacy, as well as his complex relationship to Lurianic Kabbalah. It is an essential resource for scholars of Jewish mysticism and a rigorous guide for readers seeking to understand the structure, coherence, and enduring significance of Cordovero's thought.