Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Mystic Trends in Judaism analyzes the development of the Jews' relationship to God as expressed in kabbala, messianism, hasidism, the cult of the tzadikim and, finally, as reflected in three classic Yiddish writers. The twofold significance of the kabbala-as a mystical conception of a cosmic world, and as a nationalist concept of the Jewish people-merged, in the conviction that this people was chosen to bring universal redemption to all people, on earth. Arnold Posy notes that the mystical revelations of the kabbala and the empirical conclusions of modern science share an awareness of the existence of a world beyond the world of matter as perceived by the physical senses.
Synopsis
How were Jews able to survive centuries of deprivation and persecution? One factor was the belief in the tenet that what is just is right. Another was the relationship of the Jews to God as expressed in mystical writings. By evaluating the incalculable impact made on Judaism by Kabbalah, Messianism, Hasidism, and Zaddikism, this absorbing volume gives us a better understanding of the yearning of the Jew not only for personal evaluation, but for universal redemption. Originally published in 1966 and reissued in 1994, this title is available on-demand only.