Von der mystischen Gestalt der Gottheit: Studien zu Grundbegriffen der Kabbala

by Gershom Scholem

On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead: Basic Concepts of the Kabbalah is Gershom Scholem's introduction to the essential terms of Jewish mysticism. His chapter on Shekhinah--the kabbalist symbol of the female element of the godhead--helps explain why Kabbalah has a growing following among women. His chapter on Gilgul, or reincarnation, is fascinating for its description of how a spiritual phenomenon is formed, following the process from revelation to writing to teaching. And his final chapter on Tselem, or the astral body, will make you think twice about laughing at Shirley MacLaine. The astral body, according to Kabbalah, is the spiritual nature of each human being--the image of God described in Genesis 1. Scholem quotes pages of medieval rabbis' fantastic discoveries of their astral bodies, such as the following:

When I wished to find knowledge of the secrets of Creation, I came upon a dark vault within the depths of the earth, filled with blowing winds.... Then there appeared to me in my sleep a shape of most wondrous beauty [giving me instructions on how to conduct myself in order to attain knowledge of the highest things]. I then said to him: "Who are you?" And he answered: "I am your perfected nature."

--Michael Joseph Gross

Genres: Religion, Judaism, Jewish, Philosophy, Judaica, History, Nonfiction

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Gerhard Scholem, who, after his immigration from Germany to Israel, changed his name to Gershom Scholem (Hebrew: גרשם שלום), was a German-born Israeli philosopher and historian. He is widely regarded as the founder of the modern, academic study of Kabbalah, becoming the first Professor of Jewish Mysticism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His close friends included Walter Benjamin and Leo Strauss, and selected letters from his correspondence with those philosophers have been published.

Scholem is best known for his collection of lectures, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (1941) and for his biography Sabbatai Zevi, the Mystical Messiah (1973). His collected speeches and essays, published as On Kabbalah and its Symbolism (1965), helped to spread knowledge of Jewish mysticism among non-Jews.

Reviews

[David]

I heard a disciple of Gershom Scholem in a podcast of the show ON BEING and thought I would look into what Scholem wrote about the Kabbalah. What I found was a decent primer on the most prevalent Kabbalistic concepts with chapters for overarching Kabbalistic ideas like Adam Kadmon (primordial man), Shechina, Tzaddikim (righteous people), Gilgulim (soul transmutation or reincarnation) and others.

I find Kabbalah intriguing because I enjoy learning about the mystical symbols that can be derived and specified to a Judaic context. Many of the ideas presented have parallels in other cultures or religions and Scholem discusses that occasionally, but I appreciate trying to understand the unique character of Jewish mystical thought.

One concept Scholem describes is Adam's sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge. In Kabbalah the important relationship between knowledge or understanding must be connected to an obligation to maintain peace and harmony. Kabbalistic texts describe it this way: "So long as the Tree of Life, which... is the Good Urge and the quality of peace, is connected with the Tree of Knowledge... from the side of Satan and evil, then Satan can do nothing." (p. 66)

In describing the Shechina Scholem presents parallels to the female concept of wisdom, Sophia, within ancient Greek texts. He also discusses the unique Jewish method of maintaining a sacred unity within G-d by describing various attributes that emanate from Him. Such as the separation and naming of G-d's wisdom as Chochma and describing the specific characteristics of His wisdom as the seed of creation before the details have been developed.

I also learned how Kabbalists derived chains of gilgulim (reincarnation) such as one that goes from Abel to Moses. Based on their calculations Moses did a tikkun (reparation) for something Abel had done.

A lot of these symbols and interpretations often cited Ramban's (Nahmanadies') interpretation and exegesis on the Torah so I would like to see that from the source since it seems to be full of rich symbols.

[Derrick X · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brother gave me this book 3 or 4 years ago and it continues to change my life. Definitely a good one.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished rereading this after more than 20 years. It is still awesome. His chapter on the Shekinah are amazing, very relevant to the philosophical degrees of Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
And the stuff on transmigration and the astral body leave me wanting more.

[Zack2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholem here analyzes six concepts from Kabbalistic writings (foregoing the usual harping on the Kabbalists' strange methods of exegesis), using a cold and removed German modernist style. Each passage quoted is stranger than the last. The text is like a smooth and reflective column marbled with grotesque veins.

[Gail Kennon]

for me it was like being lost in a jungle of references.

[Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of key concepts in Kabbalah, though it could do with some more introductory definition before elaborating on each topic.

[adne · Rating 4 out of 5]

only read the shi'ur komah chapter but scholem just explained it so much better than anyone!! love you scholem

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of books written on Kabbalah these days...most of which is charlatanism and people looking to make a quick buck off the nihilism and forgetting of our epoch. It's no accident - or coincidence - that the rise in relativism and nihilism is in proportion to books on spirituality. People are looking for a spiritual school, one that offers a promise of fulfillment. This is not one of those books. This is an honest and authentic work on a mystical school. Highly recommended to anybody interested in this field.