Judaism Nov 5,
Friday: Hasidic Jews. pp. 123-124
What are the names of the important Jewish mystical traditions?
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From the Bible: passages important in the development of later Jewish Mysticism
1. As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and
horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to
heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its
horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. 2 Kings 2:9-12
2. Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was
by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
… As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire
flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like
glowing metal in the midst of the fire. Within it there were figures resembling four living
beings. …In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning
coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. … Now as I
looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living
beings, for each of the four of them. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship
was like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and
workmanship being as if one wheel were within another. excerpts from Ezekiel 1:1-17
What is Merkavah mysticism? ______________________________________________
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A 5-6 century C.E. “Merkavah” text.
“Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him.” Rabbi Ishmael said:
When I ascended to the height to behold the vision of the chariot, I entered 6 palaces, one
inside the other, and when I reached the door of the 7th palace I paused in prayer before
the Holy One, blessed be he; Then I entered the 7th palace and he led me to the camp of the
Shekinah and presented me before the throne of Glory so that I might behold the chariot.
Excerpt from 3 Enoch
What was the rabbinic response to the growth of mystical thought? ______________________
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Bavli: Chagigah 14b "Our masters taught: Four men entered the Pardes ('Orchard' of mystical
teachings), Ben Azzai.. died, Ben Zoma.. became demented,
Aher became a heretic.
Rabbi Akiva departed unhurt." What is Kabbalah? ____________________________________________________________
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What are some key elements of Kabbalah? _________________________________________
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What role do rituals play in it? _______________________________________________
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How has Kabbalah influenced Jewish Sabbath rituals? ____________________________
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What is God called in Kabbalah? _____________________________________________
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How can one approach God according to the mystics? _____________________________
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How has God created the world and manifest himself in it? _________________________
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How else is God imagined in Kabbalah? ________________________________________
What is the primary text of Kabballah? __________________________________________
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A later mystic, Baal Shem Tov, would write:
With the light created by God during the six days of Creation, Adam could see from one
end of the world to the other. God hid the light away for the righteous in the hereafter.
Where did he hide it? In the Torah. So when I open Zohar, I see the whole world.
Unity of Tiferet & Shekinah can be influenced by human sin / righteousness
What is meant by the “Garment of Torah”? _____________________________
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What are some other features of Kabbaistic practice and belief? ______________________
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who was Isaac Luria? ________________________________________________________
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What are the main theories of Lurianic Kabalah ?
Tzimzum________________________________________________________________
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Tikkun_________________________________________________________________
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How did Luria view the Messiah? _____________________________________________
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Breslauer, p. 100. Some dangers of these trends in Judaism:
Torah a secret code  Opens Torah up to anyone’s interpretation
Prayer has magical power  New prayers will replace the old
Disorder is fundamental to nature  Descent into disorder necessary to restore cosmos
Leader is essential to salvation.  Small step to people claiming to be Messiah
What did many Kabbalists think would happen in 1648?
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What did happen? _________________________________________________________
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Who tried to turn dispar into hope? ____________________________________________
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What was his relationship with traditional Judaism? ______________________________
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What ended up happening to him and his movement? _____________________________
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