By April 10, 2008 Read More →

Eleazar.of Worms, Sode Razzaya, 19

Jewish Mysticism
“The throne of His glory is in heaven above.” Therefore, we direct our hearts to our Father in heaven. If the world had not been created, the throne would not have been possible nor would the presence of His strength in the exalted heights have been possible. Without human beings there would be no throne, for the throne of glory has a circumference and boundary, but the Creator, blessed be He, has no boundary or limit, and the throne has a surrounding limit. Since He desired to create human beings, it was necessary to create the world, and since it was necessary to create the world the heaven was necessary and upon it was His throne of glory, that is, so that they would bow down toward heaven. The Creator is in one place just as He is another. He is below just as He is above…. If this is so, then why should one direct one’s heart to heaven? In order to show His creatures to where their hearts should be directed, when He created the world it was necessary to set up a throne in heaven.

Translated by Elliot Wolfson in “Sacred Space and Mental Iconography- Imago Templi and Contemplation in Rhineland Jewish Pietism,” in Ki Baruch Hu- Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Judaic Studies in Honor of Baruch A. Levine, 593-634.

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