What is Jewish Mysticism? (Kabbalah)

We continue our series on mysticism by exploring Judaism and its mystical tradition, including the famous Kabbalah but also going beyond it.

ESOTERICA: @TheEsotericaChannel
Seekers of Unity: @SeekersofUnity

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Music by:
Filip Holm

Sources/Recomended Reading:

Dan, Joseph (1986). "The Early Kabbalah". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press.

Fine, Lawrence (2003). "Physician of the Soul, Healer of the Cosmos: Isaac Luria and His Kabbalistic Fellowship". Stanford University Press.

Idel, Moshe (1987). "The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia". State University of New York Press.

Idel, Moshe (1988). "Studies in Ecstatic Kabbalah". State University of New York Press.

Idel, Moshe (1990). "Kabbalah: New Perspectives". Yale University Press.

Idel, Moshe (1995). "Hasidism: Between Ecstacy and Magic". SUNY Press.

Kaplan, Aryeh (translated by) (1990). "The Bahir: Illumination". Red Wheel/Weiser; Revised ed. edition.

Kraemer, Joel L. (2010). "Maimonides: The Life and World of one of Civilization's Greatest Minds". Doubleday & Co Inc.

Krassen, Mosheh Aaron. “Introduction: Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov: Prophet of a New Paradigm.” In Israel ben Eliezer. Pillar of Prayer. Translated by Menachem Kallus. Louisville, KY: Fons Vitae, 2010.

Lobel, Diana (2021). "Moses and Abraham Maimonides: Encountering the Divine". Academic Studies Press.

Miller, Moshe (translated by) (1994). "The Palm Tree of Devorah". Targum.

Russ-Fishbane, Elisha (2015). "Judaism, Sufism, and the Pietists of Medieval Egypt: A study of Abraham Maimonides and his times". Oxford University Press

Scholem, Gershom (1995). "Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism". Schocken Books; Revised edition.

Scholem, Gershom (1996). "On the Kabbalah and its Symbolism". Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group; Revised ed. edition.

Wolfson, Elliot R. (1997). “Jewish mysticism: A Philosophical Overview,” in History of Jewish Philosophy, Daniel Frank, Oliver Leaman (eds.).

Wolfson, Eliot R. (2011). “Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia and the Prophetic Kabbalah”. In Jewish Mysticism & Kabbalah (ed. Frederick E. Greenspahn). New York University Press.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:38 What is Mysticism?
3:59 Mysticism in the Biblical Prophets
6:00 Apocalypticism and Early Jewish Philosophy
7:15 Merkavah & Hekhalot Mysticism (ESOTERICA)
18:11 The Sefer Yetzirah & Sefer Ha-Bahir
23:05 The Origins of Kabbalah
26:34 What is Kabbalah?
28:19 Abulafia & Prophetic/Ecstatic Kabbalah
32:06 Early Kabbalistic Circles & The Zohar
35:47 Theosophical Kabbalah
43:59 Safed, Moshe Cordovero & Imitatio Dei
47:13 Isaac Luria & Lurianic Kabbalah
50:40 Multiple kinds of Kabbalah & Jewish Mysticism
53:14 Hasidism (Seekers of Unity)
1:02:37 Modern Developments
1:04:07 Unio mystica
1:07:54 Jewish Mysticism today & Conclusions

#kabbalah #judaism #mysticism

[LetsTalkReligion]

Stream my new song Isthmus here:


Support Let's Talk Religion on Patreon:
Or through a one-time donation:

[TheEsotericaChannel]

Great working together, Filip! Greetings everyone from somewhere in the gulf of Mexico.

[fighttheevilrobots]

My family have been Kabbalists for over 500 years, since before we were expelled from Spain during the Inquisition.
My father studied and taught Kabbalah for the last 35 years of his life. I am grateful that I inherited his library and writings.

[Matt-zxuj]

I love learning about all types of mysticism.

[zakelfassi]

You three* collaborating on this topic is the most wholesome way to start 2024. Thank you for all you do; much love and appreciation to all ❤

[nicolesawyer-jmir]

The 3 of you together is fantastic. Thank you.
How blessed are we to have young scholars sharing - bring these topics ti light and most important bring all of us together.
Be kind all.

[michaelsmullen]

@LetsTalkReligion From someone that has been learning Kabbalah for over 30 years, may I commend you on your knowledgeable and comprehensive presentation of what is not an easy subject matter to summarise so well! Shalom!

[craigdelaney]

Thanks and Blessings for the New Year! This was a Wonderful bite of Inspiration & Enlightenment to start the year.🙏🏾💖🖖🏾🥂

[SirBolsón]

I'd like to see a video on Celtic Christianity as it was one of the many ethnic forms of the Christian faith and often correlated with that of the celtic languages (i.e. Britonnic and Goidelic) which resided throughout modern-day England, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Ireland!

[ChrisQuigley]

I remember about 8 years ago when i started diving into these subjects there was absolutely nothing like these videos. The world will hopefully get with the program.

[SeekersofUnity]

Excited for this. I hear you got some handsome guests.

[jwhite]

The fact that this whole video is so comprehensive on such an immense subject is astounding. Amazing job!!

[thebestofu-tubebytheresaes]

I’ve recently watched a pd cast on the mystical qabalah.. love to learn all that I can. I appreciate what you do.

[sahamal_savu]

Very interesting overview, I appreciate any content you publish about mysticism of any variety 👍

[IVNHYPRFNK]

perfect timing as I just about to finish Justin Sledge's introduction to Kabbalah

[genghisgalahad]

This is a wondrous gentle resolute reminder to continue on the path toward studying Kabbalah as gently with myself yet resolutely as I can! 🎉 📜

[kitteecatt]

beautiful collaboration between some of the greatest religious studies minds on youtube. love you guys

[willieluncheonette]

On Baal Shem, Jewish mystic and healer “When Baal Shem was dying, somebody asked, “Are you prepared to meet the Lord?” He said, “I have always been ready. It is not a question of becoming ready now — I have always been ready. Any moment he could have called me!” The man asked, “What is your readiness?” Baal Shem said, “I know a few beautiful jokes — I will tell him those jokes. And I know he will enjoy them and he will laugh with me. And what else can I offer to him? The whole world is his, the whole universe is his, I am his, so what can I offer to him? Just a few jokes!” Baal Shem is one of the great buddhas who has come out of the Jewish tradition, one of the most loved by his disciples. He was the founder of Hassidism.”

[KoopstaKlicca]

Thank you for the video. Great quality as always! Only if the people in your comment sections could share some of the same intellectual care, openness and empathy that you have lol

A lot of people are wanting to jump to judging if they agree or disagree or if its right or wrong rather than "entertaining" the premises or appreciating the beautiful complexities that make up any wisdom tradition. Your handling of these topics is admirable, and I feel like if there is one main lesson I get from your content it is that

[irvingmarcovici]

You three are among my favourite content creators on YouTube!