On the Possibility of Jewish Mysticism in Our Time [Hardcover]

Gershom S Scholem (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 082760579X | ISBN-13: 978-0827605794 | Publication Date: December 11, 1997 | Edition: 1st

In this collection of essays chosen for this volume, we encounter a scholar passionately concerned with the cultural and spiritual renaissance of the Jewish people in its own land, a scholar whose concerns encompass issues of the cultural life, language, the meaning of scholarship, and the religious quest.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

A mixed bag of 23 essays, most previously unpublished in English, by the passionate German-born Zionist and master scholar of Jewish mysticism. As in many such gatherings, there is too much intellectual ``filling'' that might well have been left out; had this volume been reduced by a third, it would have seemed more substantive. In addition, a great many more explanatory notes are needed; how many readers, after all, will understand references to ``anti- Canaanite'' thought or to ``Alfasi''? Some of Scholem's (18971982) essays are meant only for specialists. An analysis of Franz Rosenweig's The Star of Redemption proves to be as dense as that acclaimed but little-read work of 20th-century Jewish theology. Some half-dozen essays, however, are highly accessible and scintillating, particularly ``Reflections on Modern Jewish Studies,'' a devastating critique of the highly rationalist and apologetic 19th-century ``science of Judaism.'' Scholem maintains that ``operative within the Jewish Haskalah'' (Enlightenment) were ``tendencies towards historical suicide'' and the ``destruction and dismantling'' of many facets of the tradition unacceptable to the Haskalah's leading thinkers. Also noteworthy are the beautifully crafted essays ``Three Types of Jewish Piety'' and ``My Way to Kabbalah,'' an autobiographical sketch. The introduction by Shapira (the chief editor of Scholem's writings), while too short, provides a fascinating intellectual sketch of Scholem, revealing, for example, that his magisterial biography of the 17th-century false messiah Shabtai Zevi was written ``in its entirety, almost at once, in one draft, without early studies or partial preparations.'' The best parts of this collection reveal that Scholem, who spoke of himself as a God-believer but also a ``religious anarchist,'' delved into previously neglected aspects of Judaism's long history with unparalleled intellectual empathy and thoroughness. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society; 1st edition (December 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082760579X
• ISBN-13: 978-0827605794
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,444,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The joy of being in the presence of a great mind and spirit, October 4, 2007

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: On the Possibility of Jewish Mysticism in Our Time (Hardcover)

Reading this book was an especially pleasant experience for me. Scholem the great scholar who opened to the world the whole hidden treasure of 'Jewish Mysticism' here writes on a number of the subjects which occupied him throughout his long career. He tells the story of his first turning to Jewish studies, the rebellion against his German patriot father and family upbringing, the beginning study of Hebrew, the decision to move to Eretz Yisrael, the meeting with Bialik, the attaining of a place at Hebrew University, the probing of manuscripts which for hundreds of years were neglected by other scholars. Scholem writes too of the situation of Jewish culture as a whole. He has a long and devastating critique of the scholars of the 'Haskalah' who demonized much of Jewish learning. He speaks of the effort in Eretz Yisrael to create a new kind of Jewish culture. He speaks about the relative absence of Jewish mysticism in his own time, and yet writes with understanding of the mystical strain in the writing of Rav Kook. He speaks about the quest for peace, the relation to the Arabs. And here as a person of Brit Sholem he tells of how the repeated Jewish efforts to meet with Arabs often ended tragically. And this because any Arab elements open to dialogue were terrorized and even murdered.
In writing of 'Mysticism ' at the outset he explains a fundamental difference between Jewish and other mysticism, one which for many means there is no real Jewish Mysticism. Scholem claims that the complete unification with God mystics claim to be the central experience of religion- is not what is claimed by Jewish seekers of God. The Jewish 'mystics' always preserve the distinction between themselves and what is Transcendent. It is interesting that Scholem's pupil Moshe Idel will qualify Scholem on this score.
Scholem too writes convincingly of his own Zionism , of the radical change in Jewish history which came with the return of the Jewish people to their holy land.
This is an inspiring, thought- provoking uplifting set of essays. A good introducation by Scholem's pupil Abraham Shapira and a masterful translation by Jonathan Chipman add to the pleasure of the volume.