A collection of lectures on the features of the movement of mysticism that began in antiquity and continues. But three works stand out not only by virtue of their size, but also by virtue of their impact. Perhaps a more significant turning point in the growth of interest in jewish mysticism, though, was the series of lectures that scholem gave at the jewish institute of religion in new york city in 1938, subsequently collected and published as major trends in jewish mysticism, a brilliant and remarkably comprehensive introduction to the history. Major trends in jewish mysticism ebook written by gershom scholem. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading major trends in jewish mysticism. Scholems major trends in jewish mysticism 1941, and his later study, jewish 1 the pioneering studies of heikhalot literature in the nineteenth century were as follows. Ebook gershom scholem as pdf download portable document format. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He is the author of from berlin to jerusalem, major trends in jewish mysticism, the messianic idea in judaism, on the. See all 20 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. He was the first professor of jewish mysticism at hebrew university of jerusalem. I cannot of course hope to deal comprehensively in a few hours with a subject so vast and at the same time so intricate as the whole sweep and whirl of the mystical stream, as it runs its course through the movements which are known to the history of jewish religion under the names of kabbalah and hasidism.
Mqjor trends i71jewish mysticism is based on the hilda strook lectures delivered by professor scholem at thejewish institute of religion, new york. Scholem unearthed a range of manuscripts on mysticism and established the authorship of the zohar. Gershom scholem was a professor of jewish mysticism at the hebrew university in jerusalem until his death in 1982. Scholem, professor of jewish mysticism at the hebrew university in jerusalem, was born in berlin and educated at the universities of berlin, jena, berne and munich. Pdf the issue of historical continuity has been of great interest to jewish historians and intellectuals from the establishing of the wissenschaft des. The greatest proponent of kabbalah in the 20th century was gershom scholem, the german. Major trends in jewish mysticism gershom scholem download bok. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Major trends in jewish mysticism 9780805210422 by gershom scholem. Scholem, who was emeritus professor of jewish mysticism at the hebrew university in jerusalem, is credited with elevating the esoteric subject of the cabala to. Major trends in jewish mysticism book by gershom scholem. Major trends in jewish mysticism gershom scholem download. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read major trends in jewish mysticism. According to gershom scholem, a modern jewish scholar of kabbalahs issac lurias influence was surpassed only by that of the sefer hazohar the sefirot ten sefirot the sefirot, in the speculations of esoteric jewish mysticism kabbalah, are any of the emanations, or powers, by which god the creator was said to become manifest. Major trends in jewish mysticism by gershom gerhard scholem, 9780805210422, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Of these, kabbalah, which emerged in 12thcentury europe, is the most well known, but not the only typologic form, or the earliest to emerge. What gershom scholems take on jewish mysticism can teach. Scholem major trends in jewish mysticism 1 39 hekhalot. 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.
His many books and studies on jewish mysticism grow out of his vast pioneering work in unearthing and interpreting manuscripts hitherto neglected or unknown. Major trends in jewish mysticism kindle edition by scholem, gershom. Working in jerusalem at the national library and, eventually, as a professor of jewish mysticism at the hebrew university, he revitalized interest in kabbalah, an esoteric tradition within judaism. In his introduction to major trends in jewish mysticism, scholem blames jewish scholars of the haskalah period, who, because of what he decried their antagonism and neglect of the study of kabbalah, allowed the field be all but monopolized by charlatans and dreamers scholem s chapter on merkabah mysticism and jewish gnosticism deals mainly with the mystical books the lesser hechalot and. In addition, a great many more explanatory notes are needed. Scholem major trends in jewish mysticism 1 39 january 12 14 hekhalot mysticism from rgst 26 at university of california, santa barbara. Major trends in jewish mysticism paperback may 2, 1995. Reading from gershom scholems classic scholarly work on the kabbalah. Gershom scholem was professor of jewish mysticism at the hebrew university of jerusalem until his death in 1982. Zohars translation unlocks the secrets of jewish mysticism in an age of extremism. Major trends in jewish mysticism and origins of the kabbala. The story of jewish mysticism is not ended, it has not yet become history, and the secret life it holds c an. Scholem joined the staff of the hebrew university in 1923, as a librarian 19231927, becoming a lecturer from 1925, and a professor of jewish mysticism and kabbalah 19331965.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. 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. He is also the author of the messianic idea in judaism, on the kabbalah and its symbolism, on the mystical shape of. Major trends in jewish mysticism by scholem, gershom and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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.
Major trends in jewish mysticism scholem, gershom on. His close friends included walter benjamin and leo strauss, and selected letters. See also scholems comments at the end of major trends in jewish mysticism. Major trends in jewish mysticism tells the history of jewish mysticism following the advent of christianity which gershom scholem considers to have been the first and still the most catastrophic jewish mystic movement.
Gershom scholem born as gerhard scholem in 1897 in berlindied in 1982 in jerusalem is the bestknown modern scholar of jewish mysticism, viewed as the worlds leading authority on the science and history of kabbalah. He is also the author of the messianic idea in judaism, on the kabbalah and its symbolism, on the mystical shape of the godhead and z. I consider this book to be essential for a complete understanding of the history of jewish mysticism. In the case of gershom scholem, also the opera minora, articles, and essays were great. In his introduction to major trends in jewish mysticism, scholem blames jewish scholars of the haskalah period, who, because of what he decried their antagonism and neglect of the study of kabbalah, allowed the field be all but monopolized by charlatans and dreamers scholem s chapter on merkabah mysticism and jewish gnosticism deals mainly with the mystical books the lesser. Gershom scholem 18971982 ignored these biases and singlehandedly established jewish mysticism as an academic discourse. December 5, 1897 february 21, 1982, was a germanborn israeli philosopher and historian. Typology of ecstasy and enthronement in ancient jewish mysticism elliot r. For present purposes the most important item in scholems massive oeuvre is his major trends in jewish mysticism. Major trends in jewish mysticism kindle edition by. Jewish mysticism in the university, academic study or. Scholem to present a synthetic account of his field from rabbinic antiquity up.
Some of the arguments in the present study appear also in my essay. Major trends in jewish mysticism gershom gerhard scholem. Buy major trends in jewish mysticism hardcover by gershom scholem isbn. His landmark collection of essays, major trends in jewish mysticism, is the starting point for all scholarship on jewish. Gershom scholem, major trends in jewish mysticism, new york 1967, pp 4079 gershom scholem, jewish gnosticism, merkabah mysticism and talmudic tradition, new york 1965 5076. For a sophisticated understanding, not only of the dynamics of jewish mysticism, but of the exquisite complexities of jewish history and tradition, major trends is a major port. As in many such gatherings, there is too much intellectual filling that might well have been left out. Buy a cheap copy of major trends in jewish mysticism book by gershom scholem. Wolfson it has been long recognized, following the pioneering research of gershom scholem, that one of the salient features of early jewish mysticismknown technically as hekhalot palace or merkavah. He is widely regarded as the founder of the modern, academic study of kabbalah. The formation of jewish mysticism and its impact on the. Major trends in jewish mysticism is a work on the history of the jewish kabbalah by gershom scholem, published in 1941. Pubschockenpathbreaking study dividing rabbinic ascent mysticism into merkavah divine chariot and hekhalot celestial palaces traditions, positing an especially strong flowering after the jewish expulsion from spain to the rise of eastern european hasidim. Scholem, major trends in jewish mysticism jerusalem.
A collection of lectures on the features of the movement of mysticism that began in antiquity and continues in hasidism today. Scholem saw his main task as clarifying the origins of early jewish mysticism on the. On the possibility of jewish mysticism in our time by. The zohar unlocks the secrets of jewish mysticism in an. Editions of major trends in jewish mysticism by gershom. Gershom scholem stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. This was the name moses gave his son after his escape from egypt, for he said, i have.
Jews and christians in late antiquity and the early middle ages. In his introduction to major trends in jewish mysticism, scholem blames jewish scholars of the haskalah period, who, because of what he decried their antagonism and neglect of the study of kabbalah, allowed the field be all but monopolized by charlatans and dreamers scholems chapter on merkabah mysticism and jewish gnosticism deals mainly with the mystical books the lesser. Major trends in jewish mysticism by gershom scholem. Full text of major trends in jewish mysticism see other formats.