Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Major trends in jewish mysticism gershom scholem isbn. The origins of jewish mysticism jewish book council. It is a diverse anthology of jewish supernatural folklore, with stories spanning over one thousand years and originating from france to persia. The fundamentals of jewish mysticism download ebook pdf. The texts in this book, taken from different eras, illustrate five different categories of jewish mysticism. The early jewish mystics did not even have a concept such as mysticism and never thought their experiences so abnormal as to require a special term.
The providence of this book is interesting, it came originally from a jewish family in the vilma ghetto who made it to the holy land without the book being stolen, confiscated or burned. It does this by providing readings from the most important mystical texts, accompanied by daniel m. This volume provides an overview of the history, principles, content and nature of the kabbalah and introduces the breadth and depth. Sepher yirah, book of formation, or book of creation is the title of the earliest extant book on jewish mysticism, although some early commentators treated it as a treatise on mathematical and linguistic theory as opposed to kabbalah. So often in popular and even educated opinion, judaism of old was considered legalistic and pedantic. The zohar contains discussions of the nature of god, the origin and structure of the universe, the nature of souls, redemption, the relationship of ego to darkness and true self to the light of god. Splendor or radiance is the foundational work in the literature of jewish mystical thought known as kabbalah.
Amongst scholarly studies, a book like this one is one in a thousand, if not one in ten thousand. Why does tradition hold that one should not study jewish mysticism known as kabbalah. I will begin with the term mysticism in general, then discuss the implications of the modiier jewish the phases of jewish mysticism and the viability of the notorious concept of mystical union. Avoiding the pitfalls common to other popular works in this fascinating field, it provides a thorough grounding in the subject and offers helpful pointers for further study.
For the first time ever, thirtyfive hundred years of accumulated secret wisdom, drawn from the wells of a great. In the medieval era jewish mysticism developed under the influence of the word number esoteric text sefer yetzirah. A volume in the jps anthologies of jewish thought series. The areas of jewish thought that most extensively discuss these issues, kabbalah and jewish mysticism, were traditionally not even taught to people until the age of 40, when they had completed their education in written torah and oral torah in other words, in bible and practical law. It unifies kabbalah and talmud to explain the mechanics of creation, the infinitude of gd, and the structure of the human personality. It began to flourish in palestine in the 1st century ce and had as its main concern ecstatic and mystical contemplation of the divine throne, or chariot merkava, seen in a vision by ezekiel, the prophet ezekiel 1.
Jun 28, 2018 was adam, the first human in the hebrew bible, the first mystic. In addition, many of the books on the subject are by occultists, and however valuable they are, tend to have their own agenda. The origins of jewish mysticism offers the first indepth look at the history of jewish mysticism from the book of ezekiel to the merkavah mysticism of late antiquity. The encyclopedia of jewish myth, magic and mysticism is an exhaustive collection of various entries from jewish myth and its fascinating. According to sefer yetzirah, god created the world by manipulating the 22 letters of the hebrew alphabet along with 10 primordial numbers. Jan 24, 2011 the origins of jewish mysticism offers the first indepth look at the history of jewish mysticism from the book of ezekiel to the merkavah mysticism of late antiquity. The interdisciplinary seminar on the jewish roots of eastern christian mysticism is designed as the internet version of an ongoing research seminar of graduate students at the department of theology of marquette university milwaukee, usa. Like most subjects of jewish belief, the area of mysticism is wide open to personal interpretation. An unprecedented annotated anthology of the most important jewish mystical works, a kabbalah and jewish mysticism reader is designed to facilitate teaching these works to all levels of learners in adult education and college classroom settings.
Early forms of jewish mysticism rachel elior i introduction the mysticalpoetical hebrew works of the first five centuries of the common era, known collectively as heikhalot heavenly sanctuaries and merkavah thronechariot literature remain on the whole a closed book to readers and students, although the first scholarly studies were published. An annotated anthology of jewish mystical works, concepts, and experiences, a kabbalah and jewish mysticism reader explores issues relating to what has compelled jews to seek a more intimate relationship with god. Some traditional jews take mysticism very seriously. Academic study of jewish mysticism, especially since gershom scholems major trends in. He explains how neoplatonism, gnosticism, christianity and other currents influenced and were in turn impacted by jewish mysticism. About the book a volume in the jps anthologies of jewish thought series. Jewish mysticism kabbalah, is based on the public revelation at sinai, when the torah was given to israel.
Click download or read online button to get the fundamentals of jewish mysticism book now. The encyclopedia of jewish myth, magic, and mysticism includes a complete bibliography and helpful sections such as a quick reference glossary of frequently used terms, notes on hebrew usage and transliteration, an appendix of illustrations, and a list of abbreviations of traditional sources. The encyclopedia of jewish myth, magic, and mysticism was released in 2007 to remarkable reception. Kabbalah and mysticism, are based on the standard orthodox model of observing the commandments. Academic study of jewish mysticism, especially since gershom scholems major trends in jewish mysticism 1941, distinguishes between different forms of mysticism across different eras of jewish history. The influence of jewish mysticism on jewish contemporary artists. I received it as a gift when it first came out in 1988, and remains one of my favorite books. An introduction fills a longstanding gap in the available literature. By the th century, jewish culture was ripe for a new breed of mysticism to flourish. Jewish mysticism can congratulate itself in having, at one momentous epoch of jewish history, achieved for judaism a boon, which christian mysticism in quite another way, but in an equally important degree, achieved for christianity. Merkavah mystics aimed at understanding and experiencing the vision of the divine throne discussed in the first chapter of the biblical book of ezekiel. Laenen takes us step by step through the centuries of development to the present day, explaining how the various currents of tradition are related. The book s unique combination of philological erudition, phenomenological penetration, and synthetic sweep not only wrought a revolution in jewish studies but also established jewish mysticism as a major phenomenon in the general history of religions.
In contemporary judaism, the only main forms of jewish mysticism followed are esoteric. Tanya the book of tanya translated into english text. Tanya the book of tanya translated into english text of. Tanya, the magnum opus of the founder of chabad lubavitch chasidism, is indispensable to understanding the philosophy of the chasidic movement and the essence of the jewish soul. In the medieval era jewish mysticism developed under the influence of the wordnumber esoteric text sefer yetzirah. I just knew based on interviews i had seen him doing on numerous christian media networks, that the entire premise of the book was based on kabbalah and jewish mysticism. Indeed hebrew has no word for the mystical experience.
Major trends in jewish mysticism by gershom scholem. A collection of lectures on the features of the movement of mysticism that began in antiquity and continues in hasidism today. Matt, the encyclopedia of jewish myth, magic and my. Once upon a time, i read edward erdelacs merkabah rider series and was bowled over by the awesomeness, the combination of pulp western and jewish mystacism. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Horwitzs insightful introductions and commentary accompany readings in the talmud and zohar and writings by baal shem tov, rav. The encyclopedia of jewish myth, magic and mysticism. Of these, kabbalah, which emerged in 12thcentury europe, is the most well known, but not the only typologic form, or the earliest to emerge. The origins of jewish mysticism offers the first indepth look at the history of jewish mysticism from. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology. The first part begins with a consideration of the mystical character of apocalypticism and then uses the book of revelation and the development of views about the heavenly mediator figure of enoch to explore the importance of apocalypticism in the gospels and. The first and only encyclopedia of its kind, this singlevolume reference provides a fascinating elucidation of the often unfamiliar elements, ideas, and mythical figures associated with jewish.
Also, in what sense are the various phenomena that come under this heading really jewish. The encyclopedia of jewish myth, magic, and mysticism presents lore that can spiritually enrich the life of anyone, jewish or not, who wishes to understand the mysteries that underlie our universe. Feb 24, 2011 there is a new book by peter schafer of princeton university the origins of jewish mysticism princeton up, 2011 in the book he traces jewish mysticism from the bible to the heikhalot in about seven stages of development. Kabbalah and jewish mysticism torah 101 mechon mamre.
Was adam, the first human in the hebrew bible, the first mystic. Jan 01, 2007 the encyclopedia of jewish myth, magic and mysticism book. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Abelson puts the kabbalah into context as the outgrowth of a longterm evolution of jewish mystical thought.
Dan, a professor at the hebrew university of jerusalem and a leading expert in jewish mysticism and kabbalah, presents a fundamental work on the history of jewish mysticism, the first written on such a large scale and one that represents 30 years of work. The earliest roots of kabbala are traced to merkava mysticism. A kabbalah and jewish mysticism reader the jewish publication. Here, we present a historical viewpoint of it going back to the. Other jewish ideologies were more mystical than kabbalah, especially the philosophical schools, which strove to elevate the soul towards a pure, contemplative experience of the divine. A book with the provocative title the origins of jewish mysticism requires some comment on the terminology used.
The books of enoch kabbalah and jewish mysticism articles. A kabbalah and jewish mysticism reader nebraska press. Abelson puts the kabbalah into context as the outgrowth of a longterm evolution of jewish mystical thought, starting with the essenes and the merkabah chariot mysticism of. This book brings together the perspectives of apocalypticism and early jewish mysticism to illuminate aspects of new testament theology. This book looks more at some of the aspects of practical kabbalism rather than theoretical kabbalism. The origins of jewish mysticism peter schafer the book of. Throughout jewish history, unique individuals have had mystical experiences. The areas of jewish thought that most extensively discuss these issues, kabbalah and jewish mysticism, were traditionally not even taught to people until the age of 40, when they had completed their education in torah and talmud.
Graetz regards the appearance of this mysticism as some sudden. Major trends in jewish mysticism book by gershom scholem. Jewish mysticism project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The true kabbalah or power of gd is not taught in books, but is passed from father to. The true mystic engages in a solitary pursuit with the exception of the qumran. Mysticism is an integral part of chasidic judaism, for example, and passages from kabbalistic sources are routinely included in traditional prayer books. Many of the books on the subject of kabbalah are by occultists, and however valuable they are, tend to have their own agenda. Jewish mysticism kabbalah, is based on the public revelation at sinai, when the torah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the torah the five books of moses and scriptural interpretations as well as material on mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology. The origins of jewish mysticism offers the first indepth look at the history of jewish mysticism from the book of ezekiel to the merkavah. In a thorough historical overview of the movements and trends in jewish mysticism, dutch scholar j. Popular jewish mysticism books goodreads share book. The key to kabbalah will open up the world of jewish mysticism, giving you your first thirstquenching sips of the teachings of pnimiyut hatorah, the inner dimension of the torah. Jewish mysticism explained exploring kabbalah youtube.
Readers will find this accessible introduction reliably informed and authoritative. Mysticism and mystical experiences have been a part of judaism since the earliest days. The encyclopedia of jewish myth, magic and mysticism by. Firstever english translation unlocks the gates to jewish mysticism. Jewish esotericism is the oldest and most influential continuous occult tradition in the west. Sefer hatemunah book of the figure th14th century influential doctrine in kabbalah of cosmic cycles, later rejected by cordovero and luria. The third book of enoch was written in the fifthsixth century and describes how the secondcentury rabbi ishmael journeyed into heaven and saw gods throne and chariot. The earliest known jewish text on magic and cosmology, sefer yetzira book of creation, appeared. Sefer yetzirah is a brief book that had an enormous influence on future jewish mysticism. Angels and mazalot kabbalah, chassidism and jewish mysticism. It was honored by both the jewish book council and the association of jewish librarians, and it received enthusiastic popular interest. Dan expounds on the most essential issues of each period from ancient to recent times.
The zohar is the foundational work in the literature of jewish mystical thought known as kabbalah. Buy a cheap copy of major trends in jewish mysticism book by gershom scholem. The latter book gives a detailed account of each day of creation, embellishing the narrative found in genesis 1 with, among other things, a description of gods residence in the upper worlds. The origins of jewish mysticism princeton university press. This essential guide to the ancient jewish mysticism of kabbalah is complete and concise for beginning learners of the faith. The first forms of jewish mysticism emerged in the early centuries of the first millennium. An unprecedented annotated anthology of the most important jewish mystical works. Systematic christian mysticism began in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. The work has been bound in a stunning morocco leather quarter binding with marbled paper covered boards. Matt separates the book into various sections dealing with one particular topic accompanied by an excerpt from the text with signifance to that topic. The merkavah movement is widely recognized as the first fullfledged expression of jewish mysticism, one that had important ramifications for classical rabbinic judaism and the emergence of the kabbalah in twelfthcentury europe. Jewish mysticism differs radically from all other mystic schools. Project muse a kabbalah and jewish mysticism reader. If youre a muslim you wont need the quran and if youre a christian then the bible becomes a hopeless book.
Be warned, the themes are often mature and so this book is best for readers 14 and up. Some say kabbalah goes all the way back to the beginning of time. Download jewish mysticism pdf by joshua abelsonmany of the books on the subject of kabbalah are by occultists, and however valuable they are, tend to have their own agenda. This section deals with the special nature and characteristics of jewish mysticism, the main lines of its development, and its role in presentday religion and culture.
We will see later what techniques each of these types employs to achieve its goals, as well as how they work and more about how they developed. The prevailing opinionamong theologians as well as in the mind of the ordinary manseems to be that judaism and mysticism stand at the opposite poles of thought, and that, therefore, such a phrase as jewish mysticism is a glaring and indefensible contradiction in terms. The historical event of sinai attests to the divine source and nature of the torah and jewish mysticism. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Daniel m horwitz an annotated anthology of jewish mystical works, concepts, and experiences, a kabbalah and jewish mysticism reader explores issues relating to what has compelled jews to seek a more intimate. Scholar moshe idel groups the different expressions of jewish mysticism into two fundamental types. Abelson puts the kabbalah into context as the outgrowth of a longterm evolution of jewish mystical thought, starting with the essenes and the merkabah chariot mysticism of the talmundic era.
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