How Many Works Of Jewish Mysticism Have Been Produced?

In contemporary Judaism, the main forms of Jewish mysticism include esoteric Lurianic Kabbalah and its later commentaries, various schools of Hasidic Judaism, and Neo-Hasidism (incorporating Neo-Kabbalah) in non-Orthodox Jewish denominations. Metaphysics, or the attempt to conceive the world as a whole by means of thought, has been developed from the first by the union and conflict of two very different human beings. There are three types of mysticism in the history of Judaism: the ecstatic, the contemplative, and the esoteric.

The Merkavah movement is widely recognized as the first full-fledged expression of Jewish mysticism, which had important ramifications for classical rabbinic Judaism and the emergence of the modern Judaism. Jewish mysticism differs significantly from all other mystic schools and is based on the public Revelation at Sinai, when the Torah was given to Israel.

There are three types of mysticism in the history of Judaism: the ecstatic, the contemplative, and the esoteric. Kabbalists teach that about fifty-seven hundred years ago, according to the Hebrew calendar, human consciousness became a new reality in this process. The creation story of ancient Judaic mysticism describes God’s creation of the universe through the manipulation of the Hebrew alphabet and ten numbers or sefirot.

What is the number 8 in Jewish mysticism?

Hannukah is celebrated for eight days, with the eighth day marking the arrival of new oil and the beginning of the Temple’s revitalization. Aaron is called forth on this day, marking the end of his preparation period and his time to begin serving. The mystics believe that the eighth day represents newness, while numbers like six are associated with physicality, while seven represents spirituality, as God created Shabbat. Eight, according to the mystics, is meta-spiritual, transcending and taking us to a higher plane.

What are the 4 worlds of Kabbalah?

The concept of “Worlds” refers to the emanation of creative lifeforce from the Ein Sof or Godhead through progressive, innumerable tzimtzumim or concealments. Kabbalists identified the names of these worlds from Isaiah 43:7, which are Beri’ah (Creation), Yetzirah (Formation), Assiah (Action), and Atziluth (Emanation). Collectively, the Four Worlds are referred to as אבי״ע Aviyaʿ after their initial letters.

The Worlds are formed by the divine creative light or ohr, which is divine immanence. The ten sefirot “attributes” and their associated twelve partzufim or “personas” reflect this light in the Four Worlds, as do more specific Divine manifestations. In Lurianic Kabbalah, the partzufim interact dynamically, and sublime levels are clothed within lower existences, a concealed soul.

The Five Worlds are in descending order: Adam Kadmon (Cosmic Man), Atziluth (Emanation), Beri’ah (World of Creation), Yetzirah (Formation), Assiah (Action), and Assiah Gashmi (Physical Assiah).

Adam Kadmon signifies the first pristine emanation, still united with the Ein Sof. Atziluth is the realm of “Keter Elyon” or “Supernal Crown”, representing the divine light with no vessels, the manifestation of the specific Divine plan for existence within Creation. In Lurianic Kabbalah, the lights from Adam Kadmon precipitate Tohu and Tikun.

Atziluth is the realm of revelation, where the ten sefirot emerge in revelation, with Chochma (Wisdom) dominating. The last sefira, Malkuth (Kingdom), represents the “divine speech” of the first Genesis creation narrative, through which God created the universe.

Beriah is the realm of the “Divine Throne”, denoting the sefirot configuration of Atziluth descending into Beriah like a King on a Throne. The sefirah Binah (Understanding) predominates, representing Divine intellect. Yetzirah is the formation level, where created beings assume shape and form, with the emotional sefirot Chesed through Yesod predominating. The angels of Assiah function on the active level, as the sefirah Malkuth (fulfilment in Kingship) predominates.

Below spiritual Assiah is the physical universe, which encapsulates the final sefirot of Assiah, the physical universe with all its creations.

How many creation stories were there?

The Genesis creation narrative is a myth shared by Judaism and Christianity, told in the Book of Genesis chapters 1–2. While the Jewish and Christian tradition believes it is a comprehensive story, modern scholars of biblical criticism identify it as a composite work made up of two stories drawn from different sources. The first account, in Genesis 1:1–2:3, is from the Priestly source, largely dated to the 6th century BCE. In this story, Elohim creates the heavens and Earth in six days, then rests on, blesses, and sanctifies the seventh (or Biblical Sabbath).

The second account, which takes up the rest of Genesis 2, is largely from the Jahwist source, commonly dated to the 10th or 9th centuries BCE. In this story, God creates Adam, the first man, from dust and places him in the Garden of Eden, where he is given dominion over the animals. Eve, the first woman, is created from Adam’s rib as his companion.

The first major comprehensive draft of the Pentateuch, thought to have been composed in the late 7th or 6th century BCE, was later expanded by other authors, influenced by Mesopotamian mythology and ancient near eastern cosmology. The combined narrative is a critique of the Mesopotamian theology of creation, affirming monotheism and denying polytheism.

What is 137 in Judaism?

Rabbi Joshua Greenberg’s Psalm 137 is a poignant poem that expresses deep sorrow and longing for the life of the Judeans who were oppressed by their Babylonian captors. The poem recounts the abuse and humiliation suffered by the Judeans, who were asked to sing a song of Zion in the midst of the rivers of Babylon. The poet reflects on the difficulty of singing a song of the Lord on alien soil and the consequences of forgetting Jerusalem. The poem also highlights the Edomites’ retaliation against Jerusalem’s fall, and the blessing of fair Babylon for those who repay their captors’ kindness.

The poem also highlights the difficulty of singing a song of the Lord in a foreign land, as it is a reminder of the horror caused by others who completely upend one’s life. The poem serves as a reminder of the harsh realities faced by the Judeans and the importance of remembering and preserving their memory.

Is Kabbalah older than Judaism?

Kabbalah, a Jewish mysticism, originated from earlier forms in 12th- to 13th-century Spain and Southern France and was reinterpreted during the Jewish mystical renaissance in 16th-century Ottoman Palestine. The foundational text of Kabbalah, the Zohar, was composed in the late 13th century. Isaac Luria is considered the father of contemporary Kabbalah, and Lurianic Kabbalah was popularized in the form of Hasidic Judaism from the 18th century onwards.

In the 20th century, academic interest in Kabbalistic texts led by Jewish historian Gershom Scholem has inspired the development of historical research on Kabbalah in Judaic studies. Major texts in the main line of Jewish mysticism that fall under the heading “Kabbalah” include the Bahir, Zohar, Pardes Rimonim, and Etz Chayim (‘Ein Sof’). Early Hekhalot writings are acknowledged as ancestral to the sensibilities of this later flowering of Kabbalah, and the Sefer Yetzirah is acknowledged as the antecedent from which all these books draw many of their formal inspirations.

The history of Jewish mysticism encompasses various forms of esoteric and spiritual practices aimed at understanding the divine and hidden aspects of existence. Kabbalah, one of the most prominent forms, emerged in the 12th century and has since become a central component of Jewish mystical thought. Other notable early forms include prophetic and apocalyptic mysticism, evident in biblical and post-biblical texts.

What are the 7 creations of God?

The creation of the world is divided into seven days, each of which represents a distinct aspect of the natural world. Day 1 is characterised by the interplay of light and darkness, while Day 2 encompasses the vast expanse of the sky and the depths of the sea. Day 3 represents the emergence of land, and Day 4 is symbolised by the sun and moon. The subsequent days, 5 and 6, represent the diversity of birds and fish, respectively. Finally, Day 7 is a representation of the divine, symbolising the ultimate source of creation.

What is number 5 Kabbalah?

Gevurah, also known as Geburah, is the fifth sephirah in the kabbalistic Tree of Life and the second emotive attribute of the sephirot. It is located below Binah, Chesed, and above Hod. Gevurah is considered the essence of judgment and limitation, and corresponds to awe and the element of fire. It is the fifth of the ten Sefirot and the second emotive attribute in Creation, corresponding to the second day of creation. Gevurah is also associated with the second day of creation.

What is the creation in Jewish mysticism?

The creation myth of ancient Judaic mysticism suggests that God created the universe through a process called tzimtzum, which means stepping back to allow for an Other or Else. This concept is deeply rooted in the Judaic notion of a world of Free Will, where the Eyn-Sof, or the Endless One, subdued the omnipotent Divine Presence to realize the Divine Will that there are other beings. Our world is a sacred space that the Great Spirit gave us as a gift, allowing us to be as human as divinely possible and as divine as humanly possible.

God’s presence filled the universe at the beginning of time, and when He decided to bring this world into being, He first drew in His breath, contracting Himself. From that contraction, darkness was created, and when He said, “Let there be light”, the light filled the darkness, and ten holy vessels came forth, each filled with primordial light.

How many creation stories are there in Judaism?

The Book of Genesis contains two creation stories. The first story, Elohim, creates the heavens and earth in six days, followed by resting on, blessing, and sanctifying the seventh. The second story, now referred to as Yahweh, creates Adam, the first man, from dust and places him in the Garden of Eden. Eve, the first woman, is created from Adam and as his companion. God creates by spoken command and names the elements of the world as he creates them.

Day 1 focuses on the creation of light and time, while Day 2 focuses on the firmament, which sets the stars in Genesis 1:17. Day 3 creates a ring of ocean surrounding a single circular continent, and Day 4 sets “lights” in the firmament to rule over the day and night. Day 5 focuses on the creation of living creatures, and Day 6 focuses on Adam’s creation.

In the second story, God created man, the Garden of Eden, and planted trees, living creatures, and the first woman.

What is the Jewish creation?

The creation story in Genesis explains Jewish religious teachings about the creation of the world. God created the world in six days, with the seventh day being the seventh day. God created men and women in his own image, blessing them and directing them to be fruitful, increase in number, fill the earth, and rule over all living creatures. This is seen as evidence that humans have a special responsibility to lead creation and care for the earth.

Some Jews read the creation story literally, believing that God created everything exactly as described. Others, however, see the account as an allegory, recognizing that God created the world and gave humans a special role within it. This allows them to accept scientific theories about creation, such as the Theory of Creation and the Theory of Reproduction.

What does 777 mean Jewish?

The octal value 777 represents the triumph of “God’s number” 7 over the Devil’s number 666. The AWB flag displays the numbers in a triskelion shape, resembling the Nazi Swastika. In Unix, the chmod command grants all file-access permissions to all user types. Boeing, the largest US airliners manufacturer, released the Boeing 777 in 1995, which includes various models. The -100 was discontinued due to interest loss, but the Boeing 777X, developed for various airlines, will return to normal production in the 21st century.