The Three Temples: On the Emergence of Jewish Mysticism [Paperback]

Rachel Elior (Author), David Louvish (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1904113338 | ISBN-13: 978-1904113331 | Publication Date: June 30, 2005

In this ground-breaking study, Rachel Elior offers a comprehensive theory of the crystallization of the early stages of the mystical tradition in Judaism based on the numerous ancient scrolls and manuscripts published in the last few decades. Her wide-ranging research, scrupulously documented, enables her to demonstrate an uninterrupted line linking the priestly traditions of the Temple, the mystical liturgical literature found in the Qumran caves and associated directly and indirectly with the Merkavah tradition of around the second and first centuries BCE, and the mystical works of the second to fifth centuries CE known as Heikhalot literature. The key factor linking all these texts, according to Professor Elior’s theory, is that many of those who wrote them were members of the priestly classes. Prevented from being able to perform the rituals of sacred service in the Temple as ordained in the biblical tradition, they channelled their religious impetus in other directions to create a new spiritual focus. The mystical tradition they developed centred first on a heavenly Chariot Throne known as the Merkavah, and later on heavenly sanctuaries known as Heikhalot. In this way the priestly class developed an alternative focus for spirituality, based on a supertemporal liturgical and ritual relationship with ministering angels in the supernal sanctuaries. This came to embrace an entire mystical world devoted to sustaining religious liturgical tradition and ritual memory in the absence of the Temple. This lyrical investigation of the origins and workings of this supernal world is sure to become a standard work in the study of early Jewish mysticism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Very readable ... This is only the second of Elior's many Hebrew works to be translated into English. Hopefully, it is the harbinger of many more. I recommend this work for inclusion in all academic and theological collections.' Daniel J. Rettberg, AJL Newsletter 'In this major work, senior scholar Rachel Elior demonstrates her sure command over a broad swath of ancient esoteric texts, examining together sources usually treated in isolation ... Elior has put forward a series of incisive ... arguments that are sure to provoke discussion.' G. Spinner, Choice 'This very worthwhile work deserves praise for its breathtaking scope, its bold courage, and its brilliant creativity.' Andrea Lieber, Journal of Religion 'Elior succeeds in her attempt at answering the question constantly discussed in the scholarship on early Jewish mysticism, by and for whom the poetic descriptions of heavenly palaces were written ... What makes her exposition exciting is its reversal of the existing view ... Rachel Elior's sketch of a different picture of early Judaism, which is written with much verve, has opened up many new problems for research. Her book does not merely deal with the origin of Jewish mysticism, but with the foundations of Judaism and thereby, even in its method, breaks down disciplinary barriers.' Gerold Necker, Judaica 'Innovative ... This is an important book for anyone interested in the Qumran sectaries and in the origins of the Jewish mystical tradition. It is well written, lays out its arguments clearly, and can be highly recommended.' Morris M. Faierstein, Religious Studies Review

About the Author

Rachel Elior is John and Golda Cohen Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mystical Thought at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She has been a research fellow and visiting professor at University College London, the University of Amsterdam, Oberlin College, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Case Western University, Yeshiva University, Tokyo University, and Princeton University. She is the author of numerous works on Jewish mysticism and hasidism, two of which are also published by the Littman Library: The Mystical Origins of Hasidism (2006), and Jewish Mysticism: The Infinite Expression of Freedom (2007). The recipient of many honours, she was awarded the 2006 Gershom Scholem Prize for the Study of Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Littman Library Of Jewish Civilization (June 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904113338
• ISBN-13: 978-1904113331
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,061,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An important book that could have been a great book, December 31, 2004

By 

Geoffrey W. Dennis (Flower Mound, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Three Temples: On the Emergence of Jewish Mysticism (Littman Library of Jewish Civilization) (Hardcover)

In this book, Dr. Rachel Elior does a masterful job of reconstructing the origins of early Jewish(Merkavah) mysticism, tracing it to the priestly spirituality that shaped such Biblical books as Ezekiel and Isaiah, then tracking its evolution in Apocalyptic works such as I Enoch, Jubilees and the Testament of Levi, its mutation into a dualistic, secterian priestly mysticism as expressed in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and finally being "rabbinized" through the Hechalot literature of Merkavah mysticism.
Elior makes a compelling argument, collecting the available data and giving it a coherent, reasonable interpretation. The resulting narrative is so neatly done, in fact, that one is left doubtful only in that it seems so logical that it must, on some level, be an oversimplification. History just isn't usually this tidy. That said, any criticism I could offer would only be only peripheral points. Her thesis seems very sound to me and melds well with the data. This is therefore a very important book, one that dramatically advances our understanding of early Jewish mysticism.
It is an important book, but not a great one, for the simple lack of an assertive editor. This 265 page book needed only to be about 175 pages. The constant repetition of ideas, points, and the same illustrative texts, is both tedious and unnecessary. Elior feels compelled to review the same conceptual clusters (four directions, sevens, Shavuot, the solar calendar of weeks divided into 13, priestly-angels)laundry-list like, every few pages. The Rabbinic text Chagigah 2:1 must be cited, en toto, at least four times.
But this stylistic shortcoming should not prevent one form reading this work. Just be prepared to scan a bit in order to get to the pithy parts.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired Analysis, July 19, 2008

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SC - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Three Temples: On the Emergence of Jewish Mysticism (Paperback)

Rachel Elior presents an inspired analysis of the "Bnei Zadok" group at Qumran. Her insights and proofs concerning a different calendar and the significance of certain numbers and concepts in Judaism as they viewed it gave me a whole new understanding of various elements in current Jewish thought and ritual that had never made sense to me before. The roots go deep and hints are all around us, although we may have lost touch with their original meaning. Despite this, the concepts are so deeply rooted that they still persist. I have heard Rachel Elior talk and the book is an excellent introduction to her somewhat radical theories in this area. If you want to get a different perspective I highly recommend this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Significance of Rituals and Symbols, March 11, 2009

By 

S. E. Moore (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Three Temples: On the Emergence of Jewish Mysticism (Paperback)

As as an armchair student of Christianity, this book has given me tremendous insights into ancient rituals which on the surface seem like nonsense if one doesn't understand what they represent. Margaret Barker, a Christian scholar, has done an outstanding job in correlating Jewish Temple rituals with early church liturgies. Rachel Elior, a Jewish scholar, goes into detail about the significance of the solar calendar, the cycle of worship and numerical patterns of the older Temple.

Elior traces the Heikhalot literature, the Merkavah tradition, some of the Qumran writings, and apocalyptic writings to a pre-Hasmonean Zadokite priesthood which placed special emphasis on books such as Chronicles, Ezekiel, Enoch, and Jubilees.

Elior identifies the Qumran community as a disenfranchised Zadokite priesthood who were denied access to the Temple by the Hasmoneans. She rejects the notion that they were comprised of a so called Essene sect which was described by Josephus and Philo.

Elior describes how the Temple services emulated and coincided with the services in Heaven with the Temple representing the universe and the Holy of Holies representing Heaven as illustrated in the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice found at Qumran. The solar calendar was established in Heaven where it was taught to Enoch and subsequently passed down to Noah, Melchizedek, Levi, and Moses. Adherence to the solar calendar which set the time for worship and festivals and divine numerical patterns was crucial in preserving the covenantal bond between Heaven and earth

Elior explains how the lunar calendar, a product of human intellect introduced by the Hasmonean priesthood and maintained by the more rationalist elements such as the Pharisees and Rabinnic Judaism, threatened to disrupt the harmony between Heaven and earth. The Zadokites thought of themselves as the guardians of a sacred covenant which was in danger of being broken by the Jerusalem priesthood. Much of this is reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The absence of a physical Temple was a crisis which was resolved by the idea of a Heavenly prototype with the Holy of Holies mystically transformed into the Chariot Throne of Ezekiel's vision. This tradition was carried on by the Qumran community who believed they were a priesthood in exile.

The Pharisees and Rabbinic Judaism, heirs of the rationalist movement, suppressed these ideas by excluding Enoch and Jubilees and claiming prophecy had ended with Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

However, it was the more mystical element of Judaism which inspired the Dead Sea Scrolls and Heikhalot literature. I would add that it was the more mystical element of Judaism which inspired John the Baptist (a prophet from a priestly family) who in turn inspired Jesus and the author of Revelation who undoubtedly had a priestly background.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a more ancient form of Judaism which spawned the Qumran Community and helped spawn Christianity.