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The Rise of Reform and Mystical Responses in Early Modern Jewish Thought

Explore the evolution of Jewish thought from the rise of Reform movements to the mysticism of Lurianic Kabbalah and Hasidism. This course examines the transformative ideas of figures like Spinoza, Mendelssohn, and Isaac Luria, showcasing responses to societal upheavals and the quest for a messianic future amidst adversity. With a focus on the interplay between traditional Torah study and innovative spirituality, participants will engage with significant historical events, key mystical concepts, and the emergence of new religious leaders, culminating in the distinctive paths that shaped modern Judaism.

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The Rise of Reform and Mystical Responses in Early Modern Jewish Thought

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  1. Monday Spinoza and Mendelssohn Haskela

  2. Wed. • Rise of Reform: • Reformers: know why you are reforming... • Goals. • Questions will be asked… • Everyone else: plan your responses!

  3. Friday: • Early Orthodox response.

  4. Mysticism and Messiah • Isaac Luria 1534-1572 • taught that a saintly teacher could redeem a generation • Revolutionary Messiah replaced by Heroic messiah

  5. Lurianic Kabalah • Tzimzum: Ein Sof (GOD) contracts to open a space for creation remnant of divine light preserved in jars.

  6. Lurianic K. • Breaking the vessels Light cannot be contained. Shards of vessels are root of evil Light scattered and surrounded by matter

  7. Lurianic K. • TIKKUN: Repair. Separating divine sparks from shards. Obedience to torah etc: Elevating world to original purity

  8. Luria: Gradual redemption. Acts of righteousness prepare the way for Messiah Jews have special obligation to help bring Messiah

  9. Breslauer, p. 100 • Torah a secret code • Open to any interpretation outside of Oral Torah • Prayer has magical power • New prayers will replace the old • Disorder is fundamental to nature • Descent into disorder necessary to restore cosmos • Leader is essential to salvation. • Small step to Messiah

  10. 1648 “Messiah will come…” • Eastern European Kabbalists determined that Messiah will come in 1648

  11. 1648-1649 Ukraine / Poland • Slaughter • Cossack rebellion • 300,000 Jews left dead?

  12. New prediction: • Messiah in 1666

  13. Sabbatai Zevi 1626-1676 • 1648 Claimed to be Messiah. • Overturned traditional Halakhah • Turks forced conversion to Islam. • Died in prison as an apostate • Many followers saw his “descent into sin” part of mystical repair of the universe.

  14. 17th -18th century • Increasing violence against Jews in East Europe • Jewish economy falters • Considerable poverty

  15. Jacob Frank (1726-1791) • Polish • Claimed to be Messiah • Overturned sexual ethics. • Rejected by Rabbinic leadership, • Converted to Christianity. • Speaks against Judaism • Incites further violence.

  16. Jewish classes differences • Poor Jews feel they are made to bear the burden of supporting the wealthy and the rabbinical schools. • Rabbinical schools not providing spiritual leadership for the larger community: • Elitist

  17. Alternative religion • Many Askenazi Jews in Poland • Turn to mystically influenced religious teachers astrology magic • Miracle-workers manipulate divine name. • Belief in demons, spirits etc grows.

  18. Amulet to protect baby

  19. Baal Shem Tov1700-1760 • Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer • Massive legendary material • Herbal Doctor “Baal Shem” Good Name • Distinguishes him from magicians.

  20. Simple teacher Stories / Parables Appealed to the uneducated. Studied Kabbalah

  21. Teachings Emotion over intellect Intuition more important than even Talmud God’s immanence “sparks of holiness” In nature & simple objects Joy in life and worship antidote to bigotry Songs, dancing drinking Folksongs seen as religious allegories.

  22. BeshT (B. Shem Tov) Prayer • Clinging: continual awareness of God’s presence • Ecstasy / Enthusiasm: Traditional prayer regulations ignored spontaneous.

  23. BeshT on Messiah: 2 theories. • His teachings were a prelude to redemption by Messiah. • Downplays “eschatology” (end of the world) • Reaction to false messiahs Sees eschatology as allegory of personal transformation.

  24. Legend • 1747 BeshT sees Messiah“When will you come?” • “When every Jews is as spiritual as you” • Mission: to bring the Messiah.

  25. Modern Denominations Is Messiah a person or Is there only a “messianic period” when justice will prevail?

  26. Successors • Tzaddik “righteous” • Rebbe • Disciples of BeshT who form their own schools. • Became dynastic

  27. Hasidic Jews

  28. R. Zalman of Ladi1745-1812 • Habad (Chabad)– Lubavitch Hasid • Integrated Mysticism with renewed emphasis on Oral Torah

  29. Backlash • Rabbinic Elite challenges Hasids • “Mitnagdim” • Elijah ben Solomon Zalman 1720-97 “Gaon of Vilna”

  30. Modernity • Hasidic Judaism: anti-modernist in many respects. • Return to tradition, and Judaism as a special people • Rejected rise of modern “citizenship”

  31. Irony • Mitnagdim taught Hasidism was a dangerous innovation • Hasidism rejected modernity and became a force for orthodoxy.

  32. sources • http://www.williams.edu/library/citing/styles/chicago1.html • http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/axismundi/The_Rise_Of....htm#anchor596778

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