Like Angels on Jacob's Ladder

Harvey J. Hames

Description

This book explores the career of Abraham Abulafia (ca. 1240–1291), self-proclaimed Messiah and founder of the school of ecstatic Kabbalah. Active in southern Italy and Sicily where Franciscans had adopted the apocalyptic teachings of Joachim of Fiore, Abulafia believed the end of days was approaching and saw himself as chosen by God to reveal the Divine truth. He appropriated Joachite ideas, fusing them with his own revelations, to create an apocalyptic and messianic scenario that he was certain would attract his Jewish contemporaries and hoped would also convince Christians. From his focus on the centrality of the Tetragrammaton (the four letter ineffable Divine name) to the date of the expected redemption in 1290 and the coming together of Jews and Gentiles in the inclusiveness of the new age, Abulafia's engagement with the apocalyptic teachings of some of his Franciscan contemporaries enriched his own worldview. Though his messianic claims were a result of his revelatory experiences and hermeneutical reading of the Torah, they were, to no small extent, dependent on his historical circumstances and acculturation.
A Note to the Reader

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Joachim and Joachimism in Italy

2. A Life Reviewed

3. The Politics of Universal Salvation

4. 1280—Rome Revisited

5. Abulafia the “Diplomat”: Was There Method in his Madness?

Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography

Sujets

• Mysticism
• Judaism
• History of religions

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791479186
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

LIKEANGELSON JACOB S LADDER ’

Harvey J. Hames

Like Angels on Jacob’s Ladder

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Like Angels on Jacob’s Ladder

Abraham Abulafia, the Franciscans and Joachimism

Harvey J. Hames

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2007 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher

For information, address State University of New York Press, www.sunypress.edu

Production by Kelli W. Leroux Marketing by Anne M. Valentine

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hames, Harvey J. Like angels on Jacob’s ladder : Abraham Abulafia, the Franciscans, and Joachimism / Harvey J. Hames. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn978-0-7914-7271-2 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Abulafia, Abraham ben Samuel, 1240 –ca. 1292. 2. Joachim, of Fiore, ca. 1132 –1202. 3. Cabala—History. 4. Ecstasy (Judaism) 5. Salvation. 6. Judaism— Relation—Christianity. 7. History—Religious aspects—Christianity— History of doctrines—Middle Ages, 600 –1500. I. Title. bm526.h3862008 296.8'2—dc22 2007014884

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For Mum and Dad with love and gratitude

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God’s seal is truth. —Babylonian Talmud,Sanhedrin

It is known that no intellectual should judge the work of another until one has read the whole book and understood everything therein to the smallest detail. —Abraham Abulafia,Sefer ha-Edut

And it is the way of all authors who write books for the honour of God, everywhere and at all times; that he will no doubt suffer as a result of his book. —Abraham Abulafia,Hayei ha-Nefesh

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Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Contents

A Note to the Reader

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1

xv

xi

Joachim and Joachimism in Italy

A Life Reviewed

29

The Politics of Universal Salvation

1280—Rome Revisited

71

11

54

Abulafia the “Diplomat”: Was There Method in his Madness? 89

Conclusion

Notes

107

Bibliography

102

151

ix