The Catastrophe of Sabbetai Zvi
Sabbetai Zvi was a manic-depressive who had a huge effect on world Jewry in the Ottoman Empire and on the study of Kabbalah. See also: Shabbatai Zvi and Sabbateanism
Sabbetai Zvi was a manic-depressive who had a huge effect on world Jewry in the Ottoman Empire and on the study of Kabbalah. See also: Shabbatai Zvi and Sabbateanism
Edited by Prof. Elliot R. Wolfson, with the assistance of Dr. Hartley Lachter This site is designed to serve as an introduction to the main historical periods and theoretical currents of Jewish Mysticism, Esotericism and Kabbalah, ranging from the Bible, through the Talmud, the Zohar, Isaac Luria, the Baal Shem Tov and beyond. The theoretical […]
by Prof. Elliot R. Wolfson Biblical Precursors The Hebrew Bible is a primary source of reflection and inspiration for virtually all branches of Jewish Mysticism and Esotericism. While we must be careful not to conflate the religion of the ancient Israelites with later periods of Jewish history, it remains clear that certain elements of continuity […]
by Prof. Elliot R. Wolfson There is still no consensus regarding the best way to delineate the major characteristics of Jewish mysticism, let alone a single definition. The basic historical framework for this academic discipline, however, remains the one established by Gershom Scholem on the basis of his careful philological studies, which built on the […]
Sefer Hasidim, § 978 Tikkunei Zohar, 1a Zohar 2-136b Zohar 2-136a Moses de Leon, “Sefer ha-Mishkal- Text and Study,” Wijnhoven, 59-60 3th century Ashkenazic text, MS Oxford, Bodleian Library 1566, fols. 45a-b Eleazar of Worms, Hokhmat ha-Nefesh, 13b-c Moses de Leon, Shushan ‘Edut, pp. 363-364 Simhah Bunem of Przysucha (1765-1827), Qol Simhah to Gen. 1-26 […]
Jewish Mysticism “Upon this semblance of a throne, there was the semblance [of a human form]” (Ezek. 1-26). Why are there two images (dimyonot)? This is what is said in the Book of Beliefs regarding the two glories (kevodot) above in heaven, one upon the throne and the other above. This is the explanation of […]
Abrams, Daniel. “A History of the Unique Cherub.” The Jewish Quarterly Review 90, no. 3/4. 2 (April 2000): 397-403. _____. “From Divine Shape to Angelic Being: The Career of Akatriel in Jewish Literature.” The Journal of Religion 76, no. 1 (January 1996): 43-63. _____. “The Boundaries of Divine Ontology: The Inclusion and Exclusion of Metatron […]
Video 1 – Kabbalah in Safed in the 16th Century In the wake of the expulsion of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the 15th century, Safed, a town in northern Israel became a major center both and economically speaking and religiously speaking. Within a relatively short span of time one […]
Kabbalah in Safed in the 16th Century Abraham Abulafia Hasidei Ashkenaz Evil in Kabbalah Isaac Luria- The ARI Moses de Leon Mysticism and Mystical Experience Erotic Symbolism in Kabbalah Prayer and Worship according to Kabbalah Mysticism and Secrecy in Rabbinic Literature Secrecy, Mystery and Esotericism in Jewish Mysticism Sefer ha-Bahir- The Book of Illumination Sefer […]
Seforim Online RAMBI Jewish National and University Library – Digitized Book Repository Lurianic Kabbalah and Mysticism