Jewish Mysticism From Antiquity to the Present

This course traces the history of Jewish mysticism from late antiquity through modernity. After an overview of early Jewish mysticism from the biblical and rabbinic periods, as well as the mystical-based asceticism of medieval German pietists, we will concentrate on the medieval flowering of the erotically charged “Kabbalah” of Spain and Southern France—covering such topics as: God, evil, demonology, sin, death, sexuality, prayer, and magic. We will particularly focus on the biblical exegesis of The Zohar, the most central text of Jewish mysticism that, traditionally, one was forbidden to study until the age of 40. After tracing the further development of Kabbalah in 16th-century Safed (Land of Israel), we will study the mass eruption of the Kabbalah-based Messianic movement, which centered around Shabbetai Tzevi. We then begin our study of Hasidism, the movement of popular mysticism founded on the teachings the Ba’al Shem Tov (The Besht) in 18th-century Eastern Europe, which was forged into a mass movement by charismatic miracle workers called “Tzaddikim.” We will consider the vigorous opposition to Hasidism both by traditionalists and by proponents of the rationalistic, Enlightenment-based movement of social reform known as “maskilim.” We then consider Hasidism’s war against modernity, its unique response to the Holocaust, and its continued flourishing in tight-knit communities from Brooklyn to Jerusalem. Finally, we examine the revival of Kabbalah and Hasidism by modern, secularized Jews (and non-Jews) in search of spirituality and authenticity. Throughout this course, we will strive to appreciate the theoretical, literary, and experiential aspects of Jewish mysticism within its various historical contexts.