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Lecturer(s)
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Visi Tamás, doc. Ph.D., M.A.
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Course content
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Topics to be discussed in the seminars: 1. Introduction: Anti-Rationalistic trend in Jewish thoughts and the origins of Kabbalah (Reading: the Commentary of Isaac the Blind on Sefer Yetzirah) 2. Sefirotic versus prophetic Kabbalah (Reading: Idel, Messianic Mystics, 58-100) 3. Jewish Intellectual Life in 16th century Moravia: Rabbinic sources 4. Kabbalah in Maharal´s Thought 5. Eliezer Eilburg: Intellectual Non-Conformism and Kabbalah in 16th century Moravia (Reading: Davies, "The Ten Questions") 6. A New Sacred City, Safed, and a New Holy Man, Yitzhak Luria 7. From Straznice to Safed: Shloml ben Hayyim Meisterl´s quest for the teachings of Yitzhak Luria (reading: Joseph Delmedigo, Matzref le-hokhma, 40a-49b). 8. Va-yahel Moshe: Kabbalah and Everyday Life in the Thought of a 16-17th century Moravian rabbi, Judah Altschuler of Moravsky Krumlov 9. Hemdat Yamim and the Popularization of Lurianic Kabbalah 10. Kabbalistic Symbolism in Moravian Synagogues 11. Kabbalistic Background of Moravian Takkanot (reading: E. Roth, ed. Takkanot Nikolsburg, 5-11) 12. Sabbateanism in Moravia: Lobele Prosstitz 13. Sabbateanism in Moravia: Responsa literature 14. Hasidism (or Its Absence) in Moravia: Shmuel Schmelke Horowitz and the invention of the "Nikolsburg Hasidic Dynasty"
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook)
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Learning outcomes
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Kabbalah originated as an esoteric mystical lore in the Middle Ages but became the dominating force of Jewish religious thought in the Early Modern period and it influenced immensely popular religion. The purpose of the seminar is to explore the presence of kabbalistic ideas and practices in early modern Moravia.
Familiarity with the outlines of the history of medieval Jewish and Islamic magic. For advanced students: ability to read, translate and interpret Jewish philosophical texts in Hebrew, Arabic, and Judeo-Arabic.
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Prerequisites
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Ability to read English
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Student performance, Systematic Observation of Student, Seminar Work
Students are obliged to prepare for every seminar (set reading list) and participate actively in discussions. They will obtain credits at the end of the seminar.
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Recommended literature
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+ V závislosti na tématu semináře/Depending on the topic of seminar.
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Collette Sirat. (1985). A History of Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages. Cambridge.
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G. Scholem. (1946). Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism. New York.
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