Jewish Gnosticism, Merkabah, Mysticism and Talmudic Tradition

by Gershom Scholem

1960, AS NEW; original 1st edition in original binding; UNREAD per original and only owner. AS NEW and all such a designation implies; no wear to any part of the book. Not x-library or any remainder of any sort; no indication of previous ownership as in signatures, book plates, etc. Orange hardcover boards over clean, bright, white, and tight text. All copies or publications of this book are in excess of $100, starting with worn or x-library. You will be extremely please with this purchase as if you were the first owner. A beautiful solid, and clean book.

Genres: Judaism, Religion, Mysticism, Philosophy, Theology

Textbook Binding

First published January 1, 1960

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

[Samuel Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a lot of other reviews on here, I was hoping this would be an introduction to the topic, but it is more like a series of scholarly papers that are trying to suss out the timeline and development of Merkabah Mysticism and it's relationship (whether 'influenced by' or 'an influence on') early christian Gnosticism.

It assumes familiarity with the Merkabah texts, and only really touches on those actual texts a little bit. It also probably helps to have a good familiarity with the Talmud, Jewish Mysticism, Hebrew, Greek and Jewish Mystical scholarship.

Not to say that this isn't a good text for what it is, but if one is looking for an introduction, overview or even general information about the topic there are probably other texts out there that are better suited.

[Tal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but really dry writing

[Dan Zarfati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing writer producing incredible and well informed works, recommend only to the student, as it is a bit too technical for the curious.

[Martin Hassman]

Nehvězdičkuji, na mě to bylo už moc pokročilé a velmi často jsem se nechytal. Musím si napřed pořádně předčíst předchozí knihy autora.