Question #1 - What do you think Jewish Mysticism is? What are its parameters? Boundaries? Is there anything you think it should discuss? Anything you think it shouldn't?
I believe Jewish Mysticism is about spiritual encounters with God and the freeing of oneself from the bondage of everyday life. I believe it is within the boundaries of normative Judiasm, allowing Jews to become closer with God. I believe it should discuss certain steps to attain spirituality and a closeness with one's Creator. I do not believe it should discuss mystical experiences (such as seeing the future, talking to the dead, etc.)
I think Jewish Mysticism is about each and every persons different encounter with God on every level, because it is true that not every person is as religious as the next, and a person is going to believe in God to the depths that their mind will allow. I think the bouderies are ones that allow people to become closer to God and develop a 'relationship'. I do agree with George when he says that Mysticism should discuss and lead people down a path to become spiritually close with God. I also agree that it should not discuss mystical experiences.
To often Judaism is seen as a religion simply of order, detailing how to live ones life. In modern times more often Judaism is seen as a cultural or social guide. Perhaps Jewish Mysticism reveals to us the spiritual side of the world that we are able to embrace through Judaism. The only boundaries on that spirituality would pertain to ones willingness to learn and to accept. Most tasks in Judaism are done as a group, prayer being the most prominent example. Perhaps Jewish Mysticism falls on the more personal side of the religion as an examination of our own spirituality creating the ability to attain new insights into ourselves to open our eyes giving us a sense of wonder of the world around us relating this world and our place in it specifically to G-d. Why should that spiritual awakening not come in the form of a vision, a conversation with a deceased relative, or even a Golem tearing through down town Newark; if such mystical experiences help us become more spiritually attuned to the world around us? Perhaps the only thing I can see it not discussing are the rational reasons and logic that we normally live by.
I'd say that Jewish Mysticism is more than just explaining encounters with G-d, but rather the study of anything relative to Judaism that cannot be explained by "rational" thought. Maybe when G-d created the world, He purposefully laid hints of His existence in nature in the forms of specific patterns. While attaining spiritual closeness to G-d is important, it is not the only facet of Jewish Mysticism. For example, anything that a person believes to affect him as a "religious experience" should count as being mystical because it can neither be proven nor disproven. Any beliefs that can neither be 100% true or false should fall within the boundaries of mysticism; those that pertain to Judaism should be studied in this class. I agree with Jake in that the only boundaries we should have are those by which we live every day, restricting our thoughts and belief systems to earthly reasoning.
It seems to me that Mysticism is something that lies outside of the normal parameters of the usual prayers and traditions that we associate with Judaism. Most everyone who has already posted mentioned a more spiritual connection with G-d and I agree. Perhaps Mysticism is Judaism more on a personal level in which the individual is able to connect with G-d through means outside of the normal routines.
I think it is very exciting to learn about. It is so old and has been secretly passed down for years by chosen rabbis. I think it may be a little hard for someone who is not so learned in the torah to grasp the consepts but on a surface level i think that mystisism is very inspiring. It is almost like a new way of looking at judaism!
Going through hebrew school I always learned the stories and traditions of Judaism. As said in class I never really grasped the concepts of Jewish Mysticism. As I read the opening chapter from what I interpreted, it is what one puts into Jewish Mysticism is what they get out. I don't believe there is a correct amount of spirituality that has to be put into the process. It is solely up to the worshipper to decide on what level he connects with God and what makes them feel closer with God.
I think that Jewish Mysticism, like anything considered mystical, is an outlet to escape one's own daily realities, to reach a place that their mind would not normally let them go to. I agree with (the other Jenna) in that a person will only believe in G-d and the mystical aspects of religion to the point that their minds will allow them to. I think it is only when a person will open their mind to the possibility that a direct awareness of and relationship with G-d exists that they will be able to truely understand the mystical aspects of Judaism.
thought most people have already touched on it, I believe that mysticism involves not thinking about G-d in the sense of a higher being but being able to incorporate him into every facet of your normal life...in that he's always around, and that miracles happen all the time (and not that hes some old guy with a beard sitting on a cloud). There shouldn't be any boundaries to mysticism, since it's already outside of rational thought. it won't be able to provide definite answers, but act more as a guide for interpreting the world around us.
I think Jewish Mysticism is the communication with God on a spiritual level. I believe Jewish Mysticism relates to each persons personal relationship with God, and cannot necessarily be described through rational thought. I think it should discuss the ability to become spiritually close with God and how to establish a relationship with God.
I think that Jewish Mysticism is the route which individuals take in order to better understand g-d, life, faith and the soul and to become closer to oneself and to the spiritual realm. Mysticism should discuss the ways in which others have achieved thier personal "enlightenment" which can inspire others, and also give some insight into what previous mysticists have learned. I don't think there is any topic which should be off limits in such a metaphysical discipline.
13 comments:
I believe Jewish Mysticism is about spiritual encounters with God and the freeing of oneself from the bondage of everyday life. I believe it is within the boundaries of normative Judiasm, allowing Jews to become closer with God. I believe it should discuss certain steps to attain spirituality and a closeness with one's Creator. I do not believe it should discuss mystical experiences (such as seeing the future, talking to the dead, etc.)
I think Jewish Mysticism is about each and every persons different encounter with God on every level, because it is true that not every person is as religious as the next, and a person is going to believe in God to the depths that their mind will allow. I think the bouderies are ones that allow people to become closer to God and develop a 'relationship'. I do agree with George when he says that Mysticism should discuss and lead people down a path to become spiritually close with God. I also agree that it should not discuss mystical experiences.
To often Judaism is seen as a religion simply of order, detailing how to live ones life. In modern times more often Judaism is seen as a cultural or social guide. Perhaps Jewish Mysticism reveals to us the spiritual side of the world that we are able to embrace through Judaism. The only boundaries on that spirituality would pertain to ones willingness to learn and to accept. Most tasks in Judaism are done as a group, prayer being the most prominent example. Perhaps Jewish Mysticism falls on the more personal side of the religion as an examination of our own spirituality creating the ability to attain new insights into ourselves to open our eyes giving us a sense of wonder of the world around us relating this world and our place in it specifically to G-d. Why should that spiritual awakening not come in the form of a vision, a conversation with a deceased relative, or even a Golem tearing through down town Newark; if such mystical experiences help us become more spiritually attuned to the world around us? Perhaps the only thing I can see it not discussing are the rational reasons and logic that we normally live by.
I'd say that Jewish Mysticism is more than just explaining encounters with G-d, but rather the study of anything relative to Judaism that cannot be explained by "rational" thought. Maybe when G-d created the world, He purposefully laid hints of His existence in nature in the forms of specific patterns. While attaining spiritual closeness to G-d is important, it is not the only facet of Jewish Mysticism. For example, anything that a person believes to affect him as a "religious experience" should count as being mystical because it can neither be proven nor disproven. Any beliefs that can neither be 100% true or false should fall within the boundaries of mysticism; those that pertain to Judaism should be studied in this class. I agree with Jake in that the only boundaries we should have are those by which we live every day, restricting our thoughts and belief systems to earthly reasoning.
It seems to me that Mysticism is something that lies outside of the normal parameters of the usual prayers and traditions that we associate with Judaism. Most everyone who has already posted mentioned a more spiritual connection with G-d and I agree. Perhaps Mysticism is Judaism more on a personal level in which the individual is able to connect with G-d through means outside of the normal routines.
I think it is very exciting to learn about. It is so old and has been secretly passed down for years by chosen rabbis. I think it may be a little hard for someone who is not so learned in the torah to grasp the consepts but on a surface level i think that mystisism is very inspiring. It is almost like a new way of looking at judaism!
Guys, you can make your own post. This week it is not that important, but, in the future it allows us to comment on each others ideas.
Going through hebrew school I always learned the stories and traditions of Judaism. As said in class I never really grasped the concepts of Jewish Mysticism. As I read the opening chapter from what I interpreted, it is what one puts into Jewish Mysticism is what they get out. I don't believe there is a correct amount of spirituality that has to be put into the process. It is solely up to the worshipper to decide on what level he connects with God and what makes them feel closer with God.
I think that Jewish Mysticism, like anything considered mystical, is an outlet to escape one's own daily realities, to reach a place that their mind would not normally let them go to. I agree with (the other Jenna) in that a person will only believe in G-d and the mystical aspects of religion to the point that their minds will allow them to. I think it is only when a person will open their mind to the possibility that a direct awareness of and relationship with G-d exists that they will be able to truely understand the mystical aspects of Judaism.
thought most people have already touched on it, I believe that mysticism involves not thinking about G-d in the sense of a higher being but being able to incorporate him into every facet of your normal life...in that he's always around, and that miracles happen all the time (and not that hes some old guy with a beard sitting on a cloud). There shouldn't be any boundaries to mysticism, since it's already outside of rational thought. it won't be able to provide definite answers, but act more as a guide for interpreting the world around us.
I think Jewish Mysticism is the communication with God on a spiritual level. I believe Jewish Mysticism relates to each persons personal relationship with God, and cannot necessarily be described through rational thought. I think it should discuss the ability to become spiritually close with God and how to establish a relationship with God.
I think that Jewish Mysticism is the route which individuals take in order to better understand g-d, life, faith and the soul and to become closer to oneself and to the spiritual realm. Mysticism should discuss the ways in which others have achieved thier personal "enlightenment" which can inspire others, and also give some insight into what previous mysticists have learned. I don't think there is any topic which should be off limits in such a metaphysical discipline.
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