Mysticism

Jewish Mysticism Renewed

In the last three decades, Jewish mysticism has gone from an underground discipline to a mass phenomenon.

Creation Mysticism: Fashioning the World From Letters

An early group of Jewish mystics conceived of the Hebrew alphabet as the building blocks of creation.

The Lesson in Abundance

The 15th of Shvat is a call to share our wealth.

Kabbalah and Tu Bishvat

The Jewish mystics created the Tu Bishvat seder.

God’s Withdrawal

Isaac Luria's theory of creation.

The Gerona Circle of Kabbalah

Influential kabbalists like Rabbi Azriel and Jacob ben Sheshet were, at times, criticized for their work.

Merkavah Mysticism in Rabbinic Literature

In the Talmud and midrash, visions of the Divine Throne are achieved by studying the Torah.

Hasidic Mysticism

Hasidism spread mystical ideas to the masses of East-European Jewry.

Heikhalot Literature

Scholars disagree over whether Heikhalot texts are chronicles of mystical adventures or literary creations.

What Hasidic Jews Believe

Though Hasidism is not a homogenous philosophy, there are certain ideas common to its many subgroups.

Challenging the Master

Moshe Idel's critique of Gershom Scholem.