The Politics of Secrets
Thirteenth-Century Kabbalah in Context
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5348514 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hartley Lachter (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Volume | 101 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 502-510 |
| Publication date | 2011-09-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Jewish Quarterly Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0021-6682 • E-ISSN: 1553-0604 |
| Publisher | Project MUSE (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1353/jqr.2011.0034 |
| OpenAlex | W2062527536 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 3 |
Mystical texts, like all texts, are informed by the context in which they are written and read. The proliferation of Kabbalah in late 13th century Castile is an instructive example of how the construction of Jewish esotericism is shaped by the intellectual and cultural environment. Kabbalists during this period were able to compose a large number of texts which succeeded in acquiring legitimacy in at least some Jewish circles, due in no small part to the increased interest in esoteric knowledge in the broader cultural context. Moreover, by advancing a uniquely Jewish claim to ancient, revealed esoteric truth, kabbalists sought to counter Christian anti-Jewish claims, and present an alternative to rationalist interpretations of Jewish scripture and religious praxis. By considering the historical context in which kabbalistic texts take shape, we can better appreciate the way that kabbalistic texts advance a worldview and conception of Jewish identity that addresses the perceived needs of Jews in particular intellectual and political environments
Archaeology · Art · Context (archaeology) · Kabbalah · Literature · Mysticism · Political science · Politics · Archaeology and Historical Studies · History · Islamic Studies and History · Law · Medieval and Classical Philosophy · Philosophy
| Citations per year | 0.14 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2019 - 2019 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |