SHULA JACOBS,
NEW and BRILLIANT Upload!Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), pp. 133-4. It cannot be maintained that there is a special hasidic doctrine of free will. The hasidic sources, when referring, as they do frequently, to human ... Continue Reading ➨
Exorcism
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), p. 124. Ansky’s very popular play The Dybbuk has, as a central theme, an exorcism practiced by a hasidic tzaddik. There are, in fact, numerous tales of ... Continue Reading ➨
Existentialism
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), pp. 123-4. Atheistic existentialism, in which nothing is given, not even God, is obviously at variance with Hasidism. Religious existentialism, with its ... Continue Reading ➨
Exegesis
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), pp. 121-3. The principle behind hasidic exegesis of the Bible, as evidenced in the classical hasidic works, is that of the Zohar (III, 152a), according to ... Continue Reading ➨
Ecstasy
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), p. 100. The term generally used in Hasidism for burning enthusiasm in prayer and worship is hitlahavut, from lahav, a flame. The term used for the raptures that ... Continue Reading ➨
Eating
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), pp. 99-100. Eating as an act of devotion occupies a prominent place in hasidic life and thought. In addition to the sacred meal in which the hasidim gather ... Continue Reading ➨
Devekut
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), p. 88. Attachment to God, cleaving to Him in thought at all times, having God in the mind constantly—this idea is found in the work of a number of medieval ... Continue Reading ➨
Creator and Creation
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), pp. 74-5. Hasidic thought follows the kabbalistic understanding of creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing, yesh me’ayin) in terms of the emanation of the ... Continue Reading ➨
Cordovero, Moses ben Jacob (1522-1570)
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), pp. 72-3. Moses, known as the Remak, was one of the most profound and systematic exponents of the teachings of the Zohar and a leading figure in the circle of ... Continue Reading ➨
Bittul Hayesh
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), p. 48. Annihilation of selfhood: the hasidic ideal of self-transcendence. In hasidic theory a person’s ego interposes a barrier between the real self and God. A ... Continue Reading ➨
Asceticism
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), p. 27. The early hasidic masters claim that the Besht taught a new way in the service of God—one in which the asceticism prominent in the Lurianic Kabbalah was ... Continue Reading ➨
Aaron of Starosselje (1766-22 Tishri 1828)
Originally published in Tzvi M. Rabinowicz (ed.), The encyclopedia of Hasidism (1996), pp. 3-4. Son of R. Moses Horowitz, a descendant of R. Isaiah Horowitz, he was born in Orsha in the district of Moghilev. In his youth, Aaron became a disciple ... Continue Reading ➨
The Non-Religious Jew
Originally published in the Jewish Chronicle, New Year Section, 17th September 1971. The Jewishness of the secular or non-religious Jew is discussed by Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs, minister of the New London Synagogue, Rabbi Dr. Solomon Goldman, of the ... Continue Reading ➨
Judaism
Originally published in Peter Bishop & Michael Darton (eds.), The Encyclopedia of World Faiths: an illustrated survey of the world's living religions (1987), pp. 32-53. HISTORICAL OUTLINE Judaism is centred on a people, the Jews, of whom in ... Continue Reading ➨
Focus on Reform – An Interview with Dr. Louis Jacobs
Originally published in Living Judaism: Journal of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain. Could you tell me something about your background and education? I had a conventional Jewish education, except in those days they expected you to go to ... Continue Reading ➨
Forward looking and looking forward
Dear Friends, Some important events ahead of us over the next few months, which are the main topic of this blog post! Ivor and I have been busy uploading more files on a weekly basis on the website. The number of located book reviews written by ... Continue Reading ➨
A direct line to Heaven – Rosh Hashanah
Originally published in the Jewish Chronicle - New Year Section, 2nd September 1983. What exactly is it that we are trying to do when we pray? To say, as is often done, that prayer is a dialogue with God might seem helpful at first glance. Yet a ... Continue Reading ➨
The mystical school
Originally published as chapter 4 of Raymond Goldwater (ed.), Jewish Philosophy and Philosophers (1962), pp. 82-103. The name given to Jewish mysticism is Kabbalah, a word derived from a root meaning ‘to receive,’ i.e. the tradition of mysticism ... Continue Reading ➨
J. David Bleich, ‘Contemporary Halachic Problems’, Vol. II
Originally published in the Jewish Chronicle, 18th May 1984. Despite recurring taunts of “legalism”, Jews throughout the ages have seen in the halacha, the legal side of Judaism, the religion’s most distinctive feature. Judaism has been defined as ... Continue Reading ➨
Our Relations with God
Originally published as chapter VI of Raphael Powell (ed.), The Principles and Practice of Judaism (1959), pp. 84-94. Belief in God At the heart of Judaism is the belief in the Supreme Being, All-Good and All-Powerful, who brought the world ... Continue Reading ➨