Synopses & Reviews
The Origins of Jewish Mysticism offers the first in-depth look at the history of Jewish mysticism from the book of Ezekiel to the Merkavah mysticism of late antiquity. The Merkavah movement is widely recognized as the first full-fledged expression of Jewish mysticism, one that had important ramifications for classical rabbinic Judaism and the emergence of the Kabbalah in twelfth-century Europe. Yet until now, the origins and development of still earlier forms of Jewish mysticism have been largely overlooked.
In this book, Peter Schäfer sheds new light on Ezekiel's tantalizing vision, the apocalyptic literature of Enoch, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the writings of the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher Philo, the rabbinical writings of the Talmudic period, and the esotericism of the Merkavah mystics. Schäfer questions whether we can accurately speak of Jewish mysticism as a uniform, coherent phenomenon with origins in Judaism's mythical past. Rather than imposing preconceived notions about "mysticism" on a great variety of writings that arose from different cultural, religious, and historical settings, he reveals what these writings seek to tell us about the age-old human desire to get close to and communicate with God.
Synopsis
The Origins of Jewish Mysticism offers the first in-depth look at the history of Jewish mysticism from the book of Ezekiel to the Merkavah mysticism of late antiquity. The Merkavah movement is widely recognized as the first full-fledged expression of Jewish mysticism, one that had important ramifications for classical rabbinic Judaism and the emergence of the Kabbalah in twelfth-century Europe. Yet until now, the origins and development of still earlier forms of Jewish mysticism have been largely overlooked.
In this book, Peter Schäfer sheds new light on Ezekiel's tantalizing vision, the apocalyptic literature of Enoch, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the writings of the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher Philo, the rabbinical writings of the Talmudic period, and the esotericism of the Merkavah mystics. Schäfer questions whether we can accurately speak of Jewish mysticism as a uniform, coherent phenomenon with origins in Judaism's mythical past. Rather than imposing preconceived notions about "mysticism" on a great variety of writings that arose from different cultural, religious, and historical settings, he reveals what these writings seek to tell us about the age-old human desire to get close to and communicate with God.
Synopsis
"
The Origins of Jewish Mysticism is the culmination of a lifetime of scholarship by one of the most important figures in the field. Full of fresh and convincing interpretations, it is among the most significant works on Jewish mysticism to appear in decades."
--Philip Alexander, University of Manchester"With great acumen and ingenuity, Schäfer refutes the currently popular idea that there was an uninterrupted continuum from the earliest Jewish apocalypses and the Dead Sea Scrolls to the mystical Hekhalot literature of late antiquity. His book is a very sobering reminder that the origins of Jewish mysticism still remain by and large shrouded in darkness."--Pieter W. van der Horst, professor emeritus, Utrecht University
Synopsis
"The Origins of Jewish Mysticism is the culmination of a lifetime of scholarship by one of the most important figures in the field. Full of fresh and convincing interpretations, it is among the most significant works on Jewish mysticism to appear in decades."--Philip Alexander, University of Manchester
"With great acumen and ingenuity, Schäfer refutes the currently popular idea that there was an uninterrupted continuum from the earliest Jewish apocalypses and the Dead Sea Scrolls to the mystical Hekhalot literature of late antiquity. His book is a very sobering reminder that the origins of Jewish mysticism still remain by and large shrouded in darkness."--Pieter W. van der Horst, professor emeritus, Utrecht University
Synopsis
The Origins of Jewish Mysticism offers the first in-depth look at the history of Jewish mysticism from the book of Ezekiel to the Merkavah mysticism of late antiquity. The Merkavah movement is widely recognized as the first full-fledged expression of Jewish mysticism, one that had important ramifications for classical rabbinic Judaism and the emergence of the Kabbalah in twelfth-century Europe. Yet until now, the origins and development of still earlier forms of Jewish mysticism have been largely overlooked.
In this book, Peter Schäfer sheds new light on Ezekiel's tantalizing vision, the apocalyptic literature of Enoch, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the writings of the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher Philo, the rabbinical writings of the Talmudic period, and the esotericism of the Merkavah mystics. Schäfer questions whether we can accurately speak of Jewish mysticism as a uniform, coherent phenomenon with origins in Judaism's mythical past. Rather than imposing preconceived notions about "mysticism" on a great variety of writings that arose from different cultural, religious, and historical settings, he reveals what these writings seek to tell us about the age-old human desire to get close to and communicate with God.
Synopsis
"
The Origins of Jewish Mysticism is the culmination of a lifetime of scholarship by one of the most important figures in the field. Full of fresh and convincing interpretations, it is among the most significant works on Jewish mysticism to appear in decades."--Philip Alexander, University of Manchester
"With great acumen and ingenuity, Schäfer refutes the currently popular idea that there was an uninterrupted continuum from the earliest Jewish apocalypses and the Dead Sea Scrolls to the mystical Hekhalot literature of late antiquity. His book is a very sobering reminder that the origins of Jewish mysticism still remain by and large shrouded in darkness."--Pieter W. van der Horst, professor emeritus, Utrecht University
About the Author
Peter Schäfer is the Ronald O. Perelman Professor of Jewish Studies and professor of religion at Princeton University. His books include "Jesus in the Talmud" and "Mirror of His Beauty: Feminine Images of God from the Bible to the Early Kabbalah" (both Princeton). He received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 2007.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments XI
Abbreviations XIII
Introduction 1
Mysticism 1
Jewish Mysticism 9
1 Phases of Jewish Mysticism 9
2 Unio mystica 17
Origins 20
The Origins of Jewish Mysticism 23
Chapter 1: Ezekiel's Vision: The Cosmos as Temple 34
Chapter 2: Enoch and His Circle: Ascent to Heaven 53
The Book of the Watchers (1 Enoch 1-36) 53
The Testament of Levi67
Similitudes of Enoch (1 Enoch 37-71) 72
2 Enoch 77
Chapter 3: Enoch's Companions: From the Community to the Individual 86
Apocalypse of Abraham 86
Ascension of Isaiah 93
Apocalypse of Zephaniah 99
Apocalypse of John 103
Chapter 4: Qumran: Communion with the Angels 112
A Community of Priests 113
Communion with the Angels in the Holy War 116
Liturgical Communion with the Angels 122
The Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice 130
The Self-Glorification Hymn 146
Summary 151
Chapter 5: Philo: The Ascent of the Soul 154
Philo's Concept of God 155
Body and Soul, Senses and Mind 160
The Soul's Vision of God 164
Chapter 6: The Rabbis I: Approaching God through Exegesis.175
Reading and Expounding the Torah 176
The Cycle of Seven Stories 185
1 Yohanan b Zakkai and Eleazar b Arakh: Teacher and Student 186
2 Chain of Transmission 195
3 Four Entered a Garden 196
4 Parable of the King's Garden 203
5 Parable of the Middle Course 206
6 Ben Zoma and Creation 207
7 Creation 209
Summary 210
Chapter 7: The Rabbis II: The Merkavah in Context 214
Yerushalmi 214
Bavli 222
Chapter 8: The Merkavah Mystics 243
Hekhalot Rabbati 244
1 The Gedullah Hymns 245
2 The Qedushah Hymns 254
3 The Ten Martyrs Narrative 256
4 The Apocalypses 257
5 Qedushah Hymns and Hymns of Praise 259
6 The Ascent Accounts 268
Hekhalot Zutarti 282
1 §§ 335-374: Ascent Accounts 283
2 §§ 375-406: Metatron 294
3 §§ 407-427: The Test of the Mystic and His Ascent 298
4 §§ 489-495: The Book of the Mysteries of the Divine Names 304
5 §§ 498-517: The Magic of the Name 305
Shi'ur Qomah 306
3 Enoch 315
1 Ishmael's Ascent 316
2 Enoch Is Metatron 318
Summary 327
Chapter 9: Conclusions 331
Ezekiel and the Ascent Apocalypses 331
Hekhalot Literature 339
Qumran 348
The Rabbis 350
Philo 352
Mysticism 353
Bibliography 357
Source Index 373
General Index 391