RELIGION 208 -- PHILOSOPHY 208
JEWISH STUDIES 208
JEWISH MYSTICISM

Required Texts

Dan, Joseph & Ronald Kiener. The Early Kabbalah
Matt, Daniel. Zohar: The Book of Enlightenment
Scholem, Gershom. Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism [cited in syllabus as MTJM]
The Schocken Book of Jewish Mystical Testimonies [cited in syllabus as JMT]

On reserve or in periodical (indicated by * in schedule)

Green, Arthur (ed.) Jewish Spirituality (2 vols.)
Idel, Moshe Kabbalah: New Perspectives
James, William The Varieties of Religious Experience (Note: The enitre book may be downloaded by using the netLibrary eBook reader software. We will read only chapters 16 & 17. But it is a classic. You can possess for yourself an entire copy for free by taking advantage of Trinity's subscription to netLibrary. Check it out at www.netlibrary.com)
Scholem, Gershom The Messianic Idea in Judaism
Scholem, Gershom On The Kabbalah and its Symbolism
Weiss, J.G. Studies in East European Jewish Mysticism

SCHEDULE

I. Introduction (9/4)

II. Mysticism and Judaism: Introduction (9/6, 9/11, 9/13, 9/20, 9/25, 10/4)
A. On Judaism (9/6 & 9/11)
*1. Eugene R. Borowitz, "Judaism: An Overview," in Judaism: A People and its History, ed. By R. M. Seltzer: 3-34 (also in The Encyclopedia of Religion, ed. By M. Eliade)

B. On Mysticism (9/13):
*1. William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Lectures 16 and 17: "Mysticism"
2. Scholem, MTJM: 1-39

Sept. 18 -- No Class (Rosh ha-Shanah)

[Sept. 27 & Oct. 2 -- No Classes (Yom Kippur and Sukkot)]

C. The Mystical Experience (10/4)
Movie: "Altered States" (1980) starts at 12:45 pm!

Oct. 9 -- No Class (Trinity Days/Shemini Atzeret)

B. On Mysticism and Judaism (10/11 & 10/16):
*1. Scholem, On The Kabbalah and Its Symbolism: 5-31
*2. Moshe Idel, Kabbalah: New Perspectives (New Haven, 1988): 17-34

III. Rabbinic Mysticism: Visionary Ascents and The Book of Creation (10/18, 10/23 & 10/30)
1. Scholem, MTJM: 40-79 (10/18) Essay "What is Mysticism" due
*2. Joseph Dan, "The Religious Experience of the Merkavah"; in Jewish Spirituality: From the Bible to the Middle Ages, ed. Arthur Green, (New York, 1986): 289-307  (10/23)
3.JMT: 21-44 (10/30);

IV. Thirteenth Century (11/1, 11/6, 11/8, 11/13)
The Book Bahir (11/1):
1. Dan & Kiener, The Early Kabbalah:1-31; 43-69

The Early Kabbalah: Provence & Gerona (11/6 & 11/8)
1. Dan & Kiener, The Early Kabbalah: 71-182

Abraham Abulafia (11/13):
1. Scholem, MTJM: 119-155
2. JMT: 71-91

VI. The Zohar (11/15, 11/27, 11/29)
1. Scholem, MTJM: 156-204 (11/15)
2. Matt, Zohar: The Book of Enlightenment, entire  (11/27 & 11/29 — bring to class both days)

VII. Lurianic Kabbalah (12/4 & 12/6)
1. Scholem, MTJM: 244-286 (11/27)
*2. Scholem, On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism: 87-157 (11/29)
3. JMT: 122-181; 192-215 (11/29)

VIII. Sabbatianism (12/4)
1. Scholem, MTJM: 287-324
*2. Scholem, "Redemption Through Sin" in The Messianic Idea in Judaism: 78-141

IX. Hasidism (12/6)
On Hasidism in General:
1. Scholem, MTJM: 325-350 (4/20)
*2. J.G. Weiss, "Contemplative Mysticism and ‘Faith’ in Hasidic Piety" in Studies in East European Jewish Mysticism, pp. 43-55 (4/22)
3. JMT: 182-191; 292-298