Acquainting readers with certain literary as well as intellectual and psychological aspects of Jewish thought, life, and religious experience, the six legends and tales in Manna and Mystery are rich in the Jewish themes of mystical love, endurance, thirst for learning, and persecution. Bettina Knapp's essays in Manna and Mystery: A Jungian Approach to Hebrew Myth and Legend open the modern consciousness to their ancient insights and wisdom, while seeking the treasure of subjectivity and soulfulness.

Through myth, individuals as well as the collective gain the illusion of being able to rework their lives. In this study, Knapp probes myths--such as the Golem, Dybbuk, and the "divine child." She argues powerfully and persuasively for their relevance to believers of all religions today as they were to the Jews of the past.