The Messianic Idea in Judaism: And Other Essays on Jewish Spirituality
Product ID: 36129224
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An insightful collection of essays on the Kabbalah and Jewish spirituality—from the preeminent scholar of Jewish mysticism. Gershom Scholem was the master builder of historical studies of the Kabbalah. When he began to work on this neglected field, the few who studied these texts were either amateurs who were looking for occult wisdom, or old-style Kabbalists who were seeking guidance on their spiritual journeys. His work broke with the outlook of the scholars of the previous century in Judaica—die Wissenschaft des Judentums, the Science of Judaism—whose orientation he rejected, calling their “disregard for the most vital aspects of the Jewish people as a collective entity: a form of “censorship of the Jewish past.” The major founders of modern Jewish historical studies in the nineteenth century, Leopold Zunz and Abraham Geiger, had ignored the Kabbalah; it did not fit into their account of the Jewish religion as rational and worthy of respect by “enlightened” minds. The only exception was the historian Heinrich Graetz. He had paid substantial attention to its texts and to their most explosive exponent, the false Messiah Sabbatai Zevi, but Graetz had depicted the Kabbalah and all that flowed from it as an unworthy revolt from the underground of Jewish life against its reasonable, law-abiding, and learned mainstream. Scholem conducted a continuing polemic with Zunz, Geiger, and Graetz by bringing into view a Jewish past more varied, more vital, and more interesting than any idealized portrait could reveal. — from the Foreword by Arthur Hertzberg, 1995 Review: Outstanding presentation and delivery. - Outstanding presentation and delivery. Review: Fascinated - A fascinating collection of lectures. The discussion of some of the more bizarre, and yet intellectual followers of Shabtai Zvi into the 20th century is amazing. I had never understood antinomianism, but Scholem explains the thinking and rationale behind it brilliantly.
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| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 32 Reviews |
S**.
Outstanding presentation and delivery.
Outstanding presentation and delivery.
A**S
Fascinated
A fascinating collection of lectures. The discussion of some of the more bizarre, and yet intellectual followers of Shabtai Zvi into the 20th century is amazing. I had never understood antinomianism, but Scholem explains the thinking and rationale behind it brilliantly.
A**K
Discourse on Messianic Judiasm
The large majority of this book discusses the rise and fall of messianism through the medieval period and how it affects Judaism today. There are also other essays present that discuss the history of the Star of David symbolism and the mystical golems. The author presents the case of how Sabbatianism and Hasidism influenced the messianic themes that are prevalent in today's Judiasm. Some of the more interesting readings cover the notion of Sabbatianism and its transformation to a sect that believes in a messiah that pointed the way to redemption through sin as a result of its heretical leadership. Identifying some of the religious inadequacies of Sabbatianism and how they gave rise to Hasidism and the notion of a messianism that focuses on self and personal redemption, the author presents a plausible argument worthy of serious debate for years to come.
J**R
Essential reading
This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the messianic impulse, whether in Judaism, Christianity, or Shi'ite Islam.
T**D
Five Stars
excellent
N**D
Messianism, Antinomianism, and Jewish Spirituality
Gershom Scholem, recognized as one of the foremost academic scholars of Jewish mysticism of the 20th century, presents here an excellent series of essays exploring the crises caused by fits of messianism in Judaism, especially the Sabbatian crisis. The essays include: Toward an Understanding of the Messianic Idea in Judaism- details the concept of the messiah (mosiach) in the Hebrew exoteric traditions throughout history. The Messianic Idea in Kabbalism- explores the origins of kabbalistic messianism in Isaac Luria and how this paved the way for Sabbatai Zevi. The Crisis of Tradition in Jewish Mysticism- discusses the antinomian tendencies of messianic movements (esp. in the Sabbatians and post-Sabbatians, such as the Frankists and the Donme) and how Jewish law is abridged by proclamations of a new law, which is further advanced in the next essay, Redemption through Sin- a more thorough look at antinomianism in Judaism, and how it stems from the idea of Spiritual Torah vs. Written Torah. Further essays explore the Donme movement in greater detail, takes a look at a rare Sabbatian will from a Sabbatian who lived in New York in the 1800's, further essays on Hasidism and it's retort to Messianism, as well as the mystical aspects of Devekut (Hasidic "Cleaving to God"), and further essays in Jewish scholarship and an essay on the birth of the Star of David as a Jewish symbol. Highly recommended to all parties interested in more advanced scholarship in Kabbalah and Jewish Heresy.
L**V
Judaic Messianism
Interesting but confusing at times. The author uses too many esoteric words that detract from the layperson’s comprehension on the thrust of the text’s point.
T**N
Excellent!
Excellent!
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