Jewish Mysticism
Jewish Mysticism
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JUS 435
The word mystic or mysticism did not exist in the Hebrew lexicon until recently. The term mysticism, when applied to a Jewish religious phenomenon, is different from when used to denote a Christian one, because the Hebrew language does not have a term parallel in meaning to mysticism; nor is there in Jewish culture any concept which can be identified as equivalent to mysticism.1 Notwithstanding, the Jews have had deep and significant spiritual experiences, have developed an esoteric system, and have produced literature outlining its characteristics.
Language
Judaism and the Jewish mystical tradition are separated from its Christian European counterparts by a radical difference in the basic conception of language.2 Hebrew, according to Jewish tradition is, in fact, the language of HaShem (G-d). In creating the world, HaShem used the Hebrew alphabet (alef bet) to bring the universe into existence. Judaism states it has recorded in its scriptures, the actual word of G-d in its original language.3
The Hebrew alef bet consists not only of sounds but also symbols and each of the letters have numerical values. They include vocalization marks, musical signs and “…other elements combine into the essence of language as a creative - rather than communicative - instrument.”4 Where Christians often take a fundamentalist literal stance on their exegesis of the Bible, in the Jewish tradition the scriptures have been open to interpretation. Once language is recognized as an aspect of infinite divine wisdom, it cannot have finite meaning.5 The plain meaning of the text may be readily discernible, but no one can grasp the true significance, from a divine standpoint, of the real, finite semantic message of any word of G-d.6 Hence, “exegesis is an infinite process, and no new discovery negates the previous one. Different, or even contradictory interpretations have equal validity….”7
Life of the Torah
Jewish mystical
XXXXX X XXXXX
JUS 435
The word mystic or mysticism did not exist in the Hebrew lexicon until recently. The term mysticism, when applied to a Jewish religious phenomenon, is different from when used to denote a Christian one, because the Hebrew language does not have a term parallel in meaning to mysticism; nor is there in Jewish culture any concept which can be identified as equivalent to mysticism.1 Notwithstanding, the Jews have had deep and significant spiritual experiences, have developed an esoteric system, and have produced literature outlining its characteristics.
Language
Judaism and the Jewish mystical tradition are separated from its Christian European counterparts by a radical difference in the basic conception of language.2 Hebrew, according to Jewish tradition is, in fact, the language of HaShem (G-d). In creating the world, HaShem used the Hebrew alphabet (alef bet) to bring the universe into existence. Judaism states it has recorded in its scriptures, the actual word of G-d in its original language.3
The Hebrew alef bet consists not only of sounds but also symbols and each of the letters have numerical values. They include vocalization marks, musical signs and “…other elements combine into the essence of language as a creative - rather than communicative - instrument.”4 Where Christians often take a fundamentalist literal stance on their exegesis of the Bible, in the Jewish tradition the scriptures have been open to interpretation. Once language is recognized as an aspect of infinite divine wisdom, it cannot have finite meaning.5 The plain meaning of the text may be readily discernible, but no one can grasp the true significance, from a divine standpoint, of the real, finite semantic message of any word of G-d.6 Hence, “exegesis is an infinite process, and no new discovery negates the previous one. Different, or even contradictory interpretations have equal validity….”7
Life of the Torah
Jewish mystical