Jay Michaelson is an incredibly talented and versatile writer. Last year, he won a Jewish Book Award for his scholarly work on Jacob Frank. Now, we have a collection of short fiction, The Secret That Is Not a Secret: Ten Heretical Tales. All of Michaelson’s books share common features, but there are also dissimilarities. He is that kind of writer, always pushing his subject matter both toward his concerns and away from them.
This collection of short fiction does not disappoint. Here we have ten stories, modeled after the ten emanations of God as depicted in the Kabbalah. The Kabbalah has always flirted with, if not indulged in, heresy, and Michaelson’s tales allow this flirtation and indulgence to become a full-fledged sexual romance.
You can read this collection knowing close to nothing about Kabbalah. Just revel in the mystery and richness of Michaelson’s prose. If you know some, you will know more after reading. If you are an accomplished Kabbalist, you will see old sources poured into new vessels to great effect in this extraordinary collection of stories.
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