Ithaca College
Spring Semester 2003

Jewish Mysticism
Jewish Studies 340-333, Religion 344-333
TTh 4:00-5:15 CNS 118

Professor Rebecca Lesses
Office: Gannett G122
Phone: 274-3556
E-mail: rlesses@ithaca.edu
Office Hours: MW 2:30-4:00 p.m., Thurs., 10:30-noon, or by appointment.

This course traces the history of Jewish mysticism from its beginnings to the present day. After a brief overview of early Jewish mysticism from the biblical and rabbinic periods, we will concentrate on the medieval flowering of Kabbalah, and its further developments in Safed, Israel and Eastern European Hasidism. The emphasis will be on understanding both the theoretical and experiential aspects of Jewish mysticism, and on examining some of its key texts.

Books for Purchase

Daniel Matt, Zohar: The Book of Enlightenment

Lawrence Fine, ed., Safed Spirituality

Joseph Dan, ed., The Early Kabbalah

David R. Blumenthal, ed., Understanding Jewish Mysticism: The Merkabah Tradition and the Zoharic Tradition.

David Meltzer, ed., The Secret Garden: An Anthology in the Kabbalah.

Nehemia Polen, The Holy Fire.

David Ariel, The Mystic Quest: An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism

Louis Jacobs, Hasidic Prayer

In addition, there will be a course packet available – starred readings (*) can be found in the reader.

Course requirements

1. Participation (15%). Attendance and active participation in class discussions.

2. Weekly chevruta study (10%).

Chevruta (fellowship) is the rabbinic method of studying a text: reading a text together with another person, so that you can discuss your own questions about the text and spark each other’s ideas. It stems from the idea that learning is acquired best through the active interaction between self, fellow, and text. Your chevruta partner may have different questions than you do, or different answers. Each student will choose or be assigned a small group that will meet weekly, outside of class, to discuss the assigned reading. I will hand out questions each week to foster discussion in the chevruta groups.

Once a week each group is required to submit questions/comments (at least one page) which will be addressed in class. The questions should be submitted to me via e-mail by Monday at 5:00 p.m.

3. Papers

1. Definitions of mysticism -- January 31 (2-3 pages) (10%)

2. Hasidism Paper -- February 28 (5-7 pages) (15%)

3. Textual analysis of a passage from the Gnostic texts, Sefer Yezirah, Sefer ha-Bahir, or the Zohar -- April 4 (5-7 pages) (15%)

4. Research paper/project (10-15 pages or equivalent effort) (35%)

Paper: the purpose of the paper is to delve more deeply into a particular subject or text, using sources that go beyond the readings assigned for the course.

Project: a creative response to some aspect of Jewish mysticism that cannot be approached through a traditional research paper. Possible materials and methods: painting with oil, watercolor, acrylics, drawing, sculpture, video, collage, etc. Like the research paper, the project should use sources that go beyond the readings assigned for the course, and it must also be accompanied by a 3-5 page paper explaining the project, the materials used, the intention of the project, etc.

A. A two-page proposal for the paper/project is due March 25 (5%). The proposal must include a statement of the intention of the paper/project, materials and methods to be employed (if it is a project), and a bibliography.

B. The paper/project is due May 1 (25%).

C. Presentation of the paper or project during the scheduled time for the final exam (5%): TBA.

Course Policies

1. No plagiarism on papers or cheating on examinations. ALL WRITTEN WORK MUST BE YOUR OWN. Please consult pages 116-118 of the Student Handbook for a complete statement of the Ithaca College policy on plagiarism, including definitions of plagiarism and proper citation of sources.

2. Attendance in class is required. In order not to be penalized for missing class because of illness or family emergency, you must notify me and provide a written excuse: either a note from the health center or your doctor, or an official notice from Kathy Lucas’s office (274-1375) (H&S; if you are not an H&S student, from the appropriate office in your school).

3. All written work must be done to pass the class. This includes the midterm exam and papers.

4. Students with learning disabilities: please approach me early in the semester and let me know your needs in terms of papers or exams. Also, please have the Office for Support Services send me a letter with your specific needs.

Schedule of Classes

starred articles (*) are available in the reader

Topic 1: Introduction (Jan. 21-30)

Tuesday, January 21: Introduction to class
handout: Ezekiel 1, Isaiah 6, definitions of mysticism
basic information on Judaism (time-line, basic religious concepts)
For basic information on Judaism, read: Eugene R. Borowitz: "Judaism: An Overview" in The Encyclopedia of Religion (available in the library: Reference BL31 .E46 1986)

Thurs., Jan. 23: What is mysticism?
read: Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 1-15.

Tues., Jan. 28: What is Jewish mysticism?
read: Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 17-49.

Thurs., Jan. 30: Jewish mysticism in our time?
read: *Rodger Kamenetz, The Jew in the Lotus, pp. 72-90

Fri., Jan. 31, noon: Paper #1 due, on definitions of mysticism

Topic 2: Hasidism and Mystical Leadership

Tues., Feb. 4: Introduction: The Ba’al Shem Tov
read: Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 163-165, 173-183.
Jacobs, Hasidic Prayer, pp. 1-16.
*the letter of the Ba’al Shem Tov to his brother-in-law, Gershon of Kutov

Thurs., Feb. 6: Hasidic prayer
read: *Louis Jacobs, Hasidic Prayer, pp. 17-35, 54-81.
listening in class: Hasidic nigunim
Further Reading
Schatz-Uffenheimer, Hasidism as Mysticism, "Contemplative Prayer," pp. 168-188; Gershom Scholem, "Devekut, or Communion with God," in The Messianic Idea in Judaism and other essays on Jewish spirituality (New York: Schocken, 1971), pp. 203-226 (on reserve).

Tues., Feb. 11: Contemplative Prayer and the Prayers of the Zaddik
read: Jacobs, Hasidic Prayer, pp. 70-92, 126-139.

Thurs., Feb. 13: The Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto, Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapiro
read: Polen, The Holy Fire, pp. xv-35.

Tues., Feb. 18: Faith and its transformation in the Ghetto
read: Polen, The Holy Fire, pp. 36-105

Thurs., Feb. 20: Divine Weeping
read: Polen, The Holy Fire, pp. 106-156.

Mon., Feb. 24: REQUIRED EVENING LECTURE: 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Nehemia Polen speaking in Textor 101 on Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapiro.

Tues., Feb. 25: A LIFE APART: on Hasidism in contemporary America

Topic 3: Origins of the Kabbalah: Between Gnosticism and Monotheism

Thurs.., Feb. 27: Mysticism in the Bible
read: *Gen. 1-3 (creation of the world), Proverbs 8-9 (the figure of Wisdom), Ezekiel 1, Isaiah 6, 2 Kings 8 (Solomon’s dedication of the Temple)
Further Reading
Jon D. Levenson, "The Jerusalem Temple in Devotional Visionary Experience," in Arthur Green, ed., Jewish Spirituality I (New York: Crossroad, 1986), pp. 32-61 (on reserve).

Fri., Feb. 28, noon: Paper #2 due, on Hasidism

Mar. 4-Mar. 6: Gnosticism
read: *Hypostasis of the Archons
*Hymn of the Pearl and Hymn of the Maiden of Light from the Acts of Thomas

Spring Break: Mon., Mar. 10-14

March 18-20: Sefer Yezirah
read: Blumenthal, Understanding Jewish Mysticism, "The Secrets of Creation," pp. 9-46.
Background reading
Gershom Scholem, Origins of the Kabbalah (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1990), pp. 24-35; Scholem, Kabbalah (New York: Quadrangle/New York Times Book Co., 1974), pp. 21-30 (on reserve).

Tues., March 25: Sefer ha-Bahir
read: David Meltzer, The Secret Garden: An Anthology in the Kabbalah, pp. 49-96;
Joseph Dan, The Early Kabbalah, pp. 7-14, 28-31, 59-69.
Background reading
Scholem, Origins of the Kabbalah, pp. 35-198; Scholem, Kabbalah, pp. 30-35, 42-61, 312-316 (on reserve).

Tues., Mar. 25: two-page paper or project proposal due in class

Topic 4: the Zohar

Thurs., Mar. 27: Introduction to the Zohar
read: Daniel Matt, Zohar, pp. 2-45, 121-126.
Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 27-37
Background reading
Scholem, Kabbalah, pp. 213-243, 432-434, 443-448 (on reserve).

Tues., April 1: Eyn Sof and Sefirot
read: Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 54-82, 111-122.

Thurs., Apr. 3: Creation
read: Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 83-88.
Matt, Zohar, pp. 49-53, 147.

Fri., Apr. 4: Paper #3 due (on Gnostic texts, Sefer Yezirah, the Bahir, or the Zohar)

Tues., Apr. 8: Male and Female
read: Matt, Zohar, pp. 55-56, 65-68, 99-101, 105-106, 117-118, 153-162.
Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 89-104

Thurs., Apr. 10: Evil emanations in early Kabbalah
read: Dan, pp. 31-37, 165-182 ("Treatise on the Left Emanation")
Background reading
Joseph Dan, "Samael, Lilith, and the concept of Evil in Early Kabbalah," in Lawrence Fine, Essential Papers on Kabbalah, pp. 154-178 (on reserve).

Tues., Apr. 15: The Zohar on evil
read: Matt, Zohar, pp. 54, 60-64, 69-74, 75-79, 84-90, 133-141.

Thurs., Apr. 17: no class, first day of Passover

Tues., Apr. 22: The Zohar on religious practice
read: Matt, Zohar, pp. 127-132, 148-152
Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 139-162.

Topic 5: The Kabbalah of Safed

Thurs., Apr. 24: Lurianic myth
read: Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 163-174.
Fine, Safed Spirituality, pp. 1-24.
Meltzer, pp. 171-209
Further Reading:
Scholem, Major Trends, pp. 244-286; Scholem, Kabbalah, pp. 67-79, 128-144, 420-428.
R. J. Zwi Werblowsky, "The Safed Revival and its Aftermath," in Arthur Green, ed., Jewish Spirituality II (New York: Crossroad, 1989), pp. 7-33 (on reserve).

Tues., Apr. 29: Safed practices
read: Fine, pp. 27-40, 61-80 (Luria), 102-115, 135-156.
Ariel, The Mystic Quest, pp. 104-109.
Further Reading:
Scholem, On the Kabbalah and its Symbolism (New York: Schocken, 1969), pp. 109-117, 137-146; Lawrence Fine, "The Contemplative Practice of Yihudim in Lurianic Kabbalah," in Green, Jewish Spirituality II, pp. 64-98; Louis Jacobs, "The Uplifting of Sparks in Later Jewish Mysticism," in Green, Jewish Spirituality II, pp. 99-126 (on reserve).

Thurs., May 1: Evaluation and conclusions

This page maintained by: Rebecca Lesses
Last revised January 23, 2003