The Mysterious Emergence of Kabbalah in the 12th Century | History of Kabbalah

[@SeekersofUnity]

Timestamps: 00:09 The Historical Mystery to solve 06:34 The Genre of Kabbalah 08:43 Midrash-Mythos meets Chakira-Logos 10:18 Neoplatonism: Plato, Philo and Plotinus 14:52 Neoplatonism in Muslim and Jewish thought 19:00 Ibn Gabirol: Mekor Chaim, Fons Vitae 21:31 Kabbalah meets Neoplatonism 23:04 Metaphysics of Neoplatonism: The One and the Many 28:32 Kabbalah of 12th Century Provence 31:09 Reaction against Maimonidean-Aristotelianism 35:44 Kabbalah of 13th Century Catalonia and Girona 41:49 Teaser and Recap 43:48 Question Time

[@tracyking4518]

Your passion for text is inspiring, nice to know that people still care

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thanks for Tracy. It’s a pleasure to be sharing.

[@ahobimo732]

I'm somewhat familiar with Plato's philosophy, but much less so with Aristotle. It just occurred to me while listening to the final part of this video, that these two founding figures in western philosophy can be seen as the precursors to rationalism and empiricism respectively. This is probably a familiar observation to students of philosophy, but it was a fresh insight for me. Oerall, the video was fantastic as usual. I'm slowly making my way through your Kabbalah playlist. I'm quite busy with demanding physical work this summer, so my time for intellectual pursuits is limited. But I greatly appreciate every chance I get to learn more about Kaballah. It's a fascinating system of mystical philosophy.

[@AA-rv2xw]

It is so, you share unity of ONE; of Kabbalah with whomsoever seeketh further light. GOD love you, brother.

[@kcartsbeat]

Thank you so much for this wealth of information! I truly appreciate you making this available.

[@SeekersofUnity]

My pleasure Patrick. We got a whole lot more to come 😉

[@BcClarity]

Thunder of passionate monologues

[@gianluigisegalerba4543]

Excellent as usual.

[@theresonlyone66]

26:30 If you have to ask how then you don't see Him as truly omnipotent. It is His will being done on earth. He left us so many clues to look for him and truly find him in glory of his true essence. Out of His Goodness and love we came to be. When God who willed him self into existence from being at zero point infinite summ of all emanations, saw how beautiful the pure unadulterated Thought was, He got overwhelmed with the beauty of its design. He began to be aware of Self, and out of not being able to contain the self, He started overflowing his Gifts. He is the One in many, the Sustainer of All Pure Thought, the Autogenes Will of all Emanations. Praise the ineffable.

[@shemuelthesabbatian1254]

Came here from the Nemetons channel, really cool!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Welcome brother. Glad to have you.

[@Cymatic-Mage]

I did, also. 🧝‍♀️💜 glad I did.

[@SeekersofUnity]

I'm glad you came.

[@FilipAlexiusJoos]

A beautiful series that I am enjoying very much and learning at the same time. Thank you Zevi! A thought I wanted to share with you on the topic of Neoplatonist thinking in the region of southern France during the time when Kabbalah “exploded” brings me to the very close proximity both in distance and timeline of the Catharism movement that was said to be radically Gnostic. I wonder if it might have influenced in some way the Jewish thought (maybe just in a way of more liberty in expressing the ideas freely) rather than just keeping it all hidden. Your thoughts Zevi? Thank you.

[@hotsauce153]

I love kabbalah, addicted btw...

[@SeekersofUnity]

You've come to the right place

[@hunkarun]

Great overview.👍 Thanks. As an ardent follower of the world's most ancient religious doctrine which is primarily 'monistic panentheism' and a loyal devotee of the oldest living God, can quite harmoniously relate to the Kabbalist, Gnostic, & Sufistic teachings of the MiddleEast faiths, including the Norse/Germanic/Celtic/Slavic/Baltic & Graeco-Roman religions of Europe, as well as Taoism & Zen Buddhism of the Far East.

[@1sedate1]

🙏Thank You 🤗

[@SeekersofUnity]

You are most welcome

[@moisheherzl2493]

Hi @zevy, I'm a recent and great admirer of yours, watched a ton of your vids, they are so good, well researched, finely structured, and truly educational, i love your passion and love for your subjects (topic, and listener) and I feel like they have special meaning to me, due to me coming from a (somewhat) similar background. One comment I have, is that you mention that Jewish mystics are usually giants of normative halacha, and I don't think that it's entirely false, as most predominant halachists had some kind of relationship with kabbalah, but I do think it's a bit hyperbolic to say that the mystics were usually giants of halacha. For instance, between all the important kabbalists (in terms of innovation, explication, and codification) there are almost no important halachists, like Ramak, de leon, Luria, Vital, Ramchal, Besht, and many more, and even Nachmanides is considered an important kabbalist in terms of its transmission and normalization, I don't think his commentary on the Torah is an expose of grand new ideas in kabbalh, it's more innovative in the sense that it legitimizes open discussion in these areas. Same goes for Karo, he clearly was deeply steeped in mysticism on a personal level, but he's not by any means (i think) an important kabbalist, and his Ashkenazi counterpart (Rema) was way more interested in scholastic ideas in the maimonidean/aristotelean sense (see תורת העולה). Anyway, hat's my comment. I wonder what your thoughts on that are, and I would love to reach out to you one day 🩵

[@SuperEliasc]

How do you know that Kabbalah was the consequence of a fusion between the Neoplatonism of Ibn Gabirol and the earlier Jewish Mysticism sources? Is it just a reasonable inference from the fact that neoplatonism existed previous to the rising of Kabbalah and the obvious similarities between ideologies, or is there an explicit mention? I highly appreciate your videos. Keep it up! Ps: There is no excuse to skip Chasidei Ashkenaz 😅

[@rkmh9342]

215th to like! Thank you for the illuminating lecture! Some thoughts inspired by the amazing lecture. When language is the world of formation, it is not so simple to write off using neoplatonism or aristotelianism as mere means to communication but syncretism. Especially when 'philosophy' in the ancient greek tradition was completely religious in nature and we only now teach an anachronistic academic version purged of its religious character. Appropriating Plato and Aristotle for your own religious or mystical agenda works as well as any appropriation without consideration of the original cultural and cultus context. I have spent the last 40 years trying to divorce myself from the pagan 'deities' I was joined with at birth and suffered horror and evil at their hands in my struggle. I have finally liberated myself but in some sense too late. It was revealed to me that much of the fault is because my ancestors joined the Kabbalah with these pagan elements from the ancient greek 'philosophical' tradition, especially the creed of wills that are free: elevating the will as an idol. I imagine you can guess, this is all connected to a mystical reason why the last messiah was forced to convert to Islam. I love Kabbalah and my Jewish siblings and i am in terror of what it has cost and will continue to cost with such a syncretistic understanding of the Sephirot. I do not understand why the warning in the Sefer Yetzirah that the Sephirot be ineffable went unheeded. I know the Merkabah techniques stopped working but to turn to alien theosophy? The consequences continue to be catastrophic. It feels like my soul has been crushed and i have done everything i can to stop my journey in reincarnation. But what was intended for evil, i have found g-dliness instead. I am here to establish true compassion, compassion unmotivated by reward or personal spiritual gain. As the Koheleth says, All is vanity. Please consider that is incontrovertible that Plato, Plotinus and Aristotle were initiated in many mystery cults. To think that their theosophical work is somehow disconnected from their initiations is an unjustifiable assumption. Much love!

[@theresonlyone66]

In all our Wisdom we fall short in explaining Him. We must humble ourselves fully, let go of desire, give selves for His will be done unto us and trust the Father would never ever want to hurt you. Anything that does its not of him, as father whose cup is overflowing, is for life.

[@nicholasbattaliou5882]

50:16 Again, you seem to be comparing two systems of thought, one being linear and the other volumetric. These systems play themselves out in Christian churches, the linear Porch/Nave/Apse basilica model versus the centralised volumetric of (say) Hagia Sophia, which was Justinian's interpretation of the Ezekiel vision. (see the wheels within wheels within the paving and balustrades). The Jerusalem temple I propose is volumetric in that it allows worshippers to approach from different directions, via different entrances, while the linear needs of the Jewish Priests (Altar to Porch to Priestly Chamber to Holy of Holies) is accommodated within the volumetric "Chariot" (the carrier).

[@theangrycommoner]

well done Zevi

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Daniel.

[@nicholasbattaliou5882]

25:35 Oneness can also be called Integration. If you have a 3- dimensional model of conscious thought and interpretation, then we all share a common stage wherein we all have our own peculiar co-ordinates to which we approach the Divine Throne, which in itself is 3 dimensional. Every personality with its peculiar set of excesses and deficiencies, within the X,Y and Z axes, all striving for the middle path, the perfect balance of forces, which ultimately centres on Temple Mount. Everybody approaches the Throne differently and everybody judges themselves as to whether they enter or not.

[@danielfreed2988]

Great class! Have you done any similar videos on R' Moshe Cordovero and Lurianic Kabbala?

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thanks so much Daniel. Unfortunately not, we haven't gotten up to there yet in our historical sketch of Kabbalah. We did do videos on Avraham Abulafia, the Zohar and some other. Glad you enjoyed. 😊

[@SeekersofUnity]

We should continue it tho.

[@artsolomon202]

I got a lott of time this week, and do not have to work, spend a lott on books like the Bahir, Sefer Yetzirah, Sefer Hachalomot last couple of months, with most importantly the Zohar translated by Daniel C. Matt ( i have the feeling I spend a thousand and received a million). So combined with binchwatching your videos 😉 it will become an interesting week.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Best of luck my friend. Enjoy the seeking 😉

[@artsolomon202]

Thank you Zevi, sometimes it feels like cornucopia ,and can be overwhelming sometimes but also a beautiful endlessness! A lott in my life has been in reverse, so it feels anyway, experiences that were and are looking for words, I think iam at that place in time for now!

[@dongershberg1793]

do you have a teaching on the safer yetzirah

[@ngonfinda9606]

This is a abit and out of Topic but have you read any Alan kardec?

[@SeekersofUnity]

Not that I can recall.

[@shloimeslavin5309]

fascinating!!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thanks bro, happy birthday 😘

[@downloadqi]

Very informative! Best roots of Kabbalah Ive ever heard. Is it reasonable to view the influence of Neo-Platonism as "alien" to the Biblical/Midrash roots? Still fuzzy on that. Any resources or books to recommend on that? Thanks!!!!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Frank. I think it's fair to call it alien, relative to those other sources. Although by that time it had already been worked through Jewish sources such as Ibn Gabirol and, to some extent, Maimonides. I would recommend Neoplatonism and Jewish Thought by Lenn Goodman (ed.), particularly Moshe Idel's article on Neoplatonism and Kabbalah.

[@downloadqi]

@@SeekersofUnity Wonderful. Thank you. I am really quite amazed at how keenly and succinctly you can summarize complex elements of Kabbalah and other mystic subjects. I have read a few books and listened to many different teachers on the topic and they "over-simplify," sensationalize ("Madonna stuff), skim over the surface, and/or take it out of its clearly Jewish/Rabbinic context. You cram more into your 1 hour videos than most of the books I have read on it, and seem to touch its heart. Are you planning on becoming a professor somewhere? Thanks again for the teaching and the book recommendation!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Frank. That's very kind of you. I'm glad i can be of service. I don't really have much plans other than continuing to learn, serve and teach, G-d willing. You're most welcome. Thank you for the kindness.

[@grailcountry]

47:53 Curious what you mean here about infinity. You must mean later Aristotelians as neither Plato nor Aristotle believed in infinity. Infinity just isn't a concept the Greeks embraced. Euclid for example actually says that a line has an indefinite number of points, not an infinite number. This idea of quantitative infinity is actually one of the things I think that's deeply disordered about our contemporary age. The only thing that is properly infinite is God, and God's infinity isn't quantitative, just as his Oneness is also not a quantity. This is how he can be One, and yet in all things, a relational multi-unity (this is what the Christian idea of the Trinity is trying to express, God as a non-identically repeating multi-unity, hence the mirror on the Rubilev icon of the Trinity).

[@SeekersofUnity]

My apologies, you're right. Infinity was the wrong word here. I meant to say eternity.

[@dr.markabrahams5757]

I SO glad that he mentions psychedelics at 26:00 because under the right conditions these Sacred Substance (Sacraments to some of us) DO "occasion" (Huston Smith) unitive states of consciousness such as those which Plotinus himself experienced on six occasions. Such an experience can change the trajectory of one's entire life and forever alter one's values.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank the good Lord, there are many paths to the One.

[@josie_posie809]

I'd love to hear more about how Judaism practice relates to Jewish mysticism. What can be said about this relationship compared to other religio-spiritual dynamics, or piety and communion with the Divine more generally?

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hey Alicia. Great question. I think you’re in the right place to explore those questions. Check out this latest conversation where we address some of these questions: Naming the Sacred | Shammai Siskind on Jewish Theology, Subjectivity and Directionality kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJerdmiKiNGJrac

[@josie_posie809]

@@SeekersofUnity Thanks, Zevi. Funny you would post a full in-depth video on the topic the day before I had the question...watching the videos in random order finally works out for me :)

[@mironalexandra4602]

listening to this breathtaking lesson, I feel so stupid :))) thank you for bringing light to my mind and knowledge

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hehe thank you Miron. No need to feel stupid, learning is an endless process. Thank you for opening your mind.

[@daniel-meir]

Geonim did not mean geniusus. It meant something like Men of High Position. Gaon is based on the root Gimel Alef He whose basic meaning is High. This is similar to the earlier term Nasi which had the same meaning being based on the root Nun - Sin - Alef whose basic meaning is Lift/Raise. Similar to the European Your Highness. Genius became associated with Gaon much later in Europe due to phonetic similarity. Maybe thanks to Haggaon Mivilna who was the highest religious authority and also a child prodigy.

[@DefWorlds]

"japheth shall dwell in the tents of shem"... Who knew Plato was in the tent!

[@gabrielr.7423]

Now I understand, I'm interested in mysticism not necessarily Kabalah. I go as far as R' Bahya goes on which concerns mystic interpretation and philosophic analysis.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Glad we could help :)

[@gabrielr.7423]

@@SeekersofUnity It is chaver. שלום ותודה רבה

[@gabrielr.7423]

@@SeekersofUnity I need help. I'would like to know about a philosophic tractate like Rambam work on Guide for the Perplexed, BUT from the Neoplatonic worldview. I want to get exposure to both view.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Start with this my friend: plato.stanford.edu/entries/maimonides-islamic/

[@gabrielr.7423]

@@SeekersofUnity Thank you!

[@processandbeing]

Thank you for making these videos and speaking so clearly about such a complex system - or systems, considering halakhah and mysticism as overlapping and distinct entities. I am a Christian very drawn toward Hebrew and Jewish thought but have no Jewish heritage and am a little unsure what to do with this affinity / magnetic pull. I also don't want to appropriate Jewish regulations out of respect but do feel that a lot of the relationship between God and his people and those who bind themselves to him (e.g. converts or turn-of-the-century "God fearers") is in practices like these. Is there anything you would recommend I read? I have bookmarked Duties of the Heart as a helpful resource from this talk as that sounds similar to my conviction about Torah in action. Is that a fairly good starting point? I do not have a community nearby to visit or I would... but I don't want that to determine my path. Does that make sense? Anyway, I appreciate all you do. Love your videos.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hey Josh. Thanks for your kind words. It’s hard to advise without knowing a person intimately. I’m a fan of people seriously exploring their own mystical traditions first, before trying others. Happy to speak one on one. Drop me an email. Love, Zevi

[@eswn1816]

My opinion: "Cultural appropriation" is a modern, 'woke' absurd limitation. You are Christian? You believe the Bible? Isaiah 56:7 KJV - Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people."

[@rachelvaron6169]

Please extend the period of time after the Safard left Spain.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Explain?

[@grailcountry]

22:38 I think you should probably take into account the cross pollination that was likely going on with the Cathars in this region at this time.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Yes. Good observation. And Islamic mysticism as well.

[@grailcountry]

@@SeekersofUnity I was turned on to your channel by a Jewish member of an online community I belong to. Loving it so far. My channel deals with enchantment, anthroposophy, and Sophiology. I had pitched him on a conversation on the overlap between Kabbalah and Sophiology and he suggested your channel and said this is the guy you need to talk to. I am listening to you content while I am working. Excellent work you are doing.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you friend. Glad you found us and are appreciating the work. Looking forward to checking out your work too.

[@yosefzee7605]

What’s curious is how in that gap of Jewish mystic chaining there’s an explosion of Rationalism ala the way of Saadia Goan and and Maimonides ibn Gabriel etc.?

[@yosefzee7605]

Ah, I see your addressing that.

[@Profmorphious123]

I have been reading about the babylonian captivity. Is this the first time that the hebrews made contact with kabbalistic teachings and lore? Or was it a tradition transmitted from the time of Abram?

[@SeekersofUnity]

Depending on who you ask, Kabbalah, as we know it, either predates the Babylonian exile by a few hundred years or post-dates it by another few hundred.

[@dubbelkastrull]

43:27 bookmark

[@LAILA-2816]

Question:at the 12th century point the form and the condition of the spehrots in their depiction wether 9 10 11 spehrots by which authority or consensus was this agreed upon and was their an authentic chain to this display at the 12th century junction ie who was the main scholar or scholars advocating the number of spehrots and was it agreed upon at this point on the number of spehrots and the essence or attribute within given spehrots?

[@SeekersofUnity]

The source and authority of this claim is to be found in Sefer Yetzira. A source which long predates the 12th century and which was taken as authoritative by all Kabbalists by that point.

[@LAILA-2816]

@@SeekersofUnity I hope this helps in some way. Ezekil is mentioned twice in the quran in two seperaite verses without any detail only that he is a pious prophet...but here's the interesting thing he is mentioned as the third in both verses oncr preceded by ishmael and idris and the other by ishmael and elijha...which I find kind peculiar because all these prophets in our kabbalah have the theme of "TIME" surrounding them.

[@zevilover3591]

What does that actually mean?🤔

[@yosefzee7605]

What are your sources? Maybe, going forward, you should post some. Be well,

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you. Sorry if I can't always respond, just busy with a few things here. Re. Sources, usually my material that's more spontaneous, less prepared, or more original, whatever that means, is harder to provide exact sources for. I can recommend reading material or share where I've gathered information more generally. Alternatively, if you ask about something specific i can try pin down a source. When i do remember to be a little bit more helpful, transparent and meticulous i do include a list of sources and further reading in the video description. Be strong,

[@yosefzee7605]

@@SeekersofUnity be strong?

[@SeekersofUnity]

Joshua 1:9

[@SeekersofUnity]

and 6 and 7

[@yosefzee7605]

this is seven layer cake for me with strawberries cream on top, for me.

[@yosefzee7605]

@Gabe Ullman oh crap... don’t let me regret this...

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

Just subscribed to My Jewish Learning to learn even more about Judaism. 🕊️

[@SeekersofUnity]

Proud of you :) Keep learning, keep seeking.

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

@@SeekersofUnity 👍

[@24434sa]

you look good :)

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you 😊

[@mupsoftaren]

Plotinus never mentions Philo, nor does any other Neoplatonists that I know of. Philo is also not an innovator of any ideas that is prevalent in Neoplatonism, as they are "all" found in the Old Academy thinkers and Aristotle's works, or in Plato himself but less obviously. The only influence Philo would have had on Neoplatonism would have been through Numenius (which is just a hypothesis not fact, as he never cites or mentions Philo either); but just like Philo, Numenius' influence and originality is greatly over-exaggerated. In-fact a lot of ideas in Middle Platonism derives from Stoic metaphysics, and what many aren't aware of, is that,Stoicism is an off-shoot of Platonism; I would even call it platonism (heretical Platonism collapsing the Good and Intellect into the World Soul, aka "Logos"). Likewise as Lloyd P. Gerson has proved, Aristotle and Plato were more in harmony than not, just as the Neoplatonists believed. Their great (non-existent) schism was really only held by Alexander of Aphrodisias, and through him medieval "neoplatonists" and later "scholars" assumed they were adversaries. Obviously they didn't agree on everything. One reason being because Plato works were pseudo-lost during the middle ages. John M. Dillon argues that Philo got most of his ideas the same way Cicero did (who says things of the Platonists many thought originated in Philo) that being from the diffusion of Platonists into the Latin and near eastern world after Sulla rampaged all over Athens (which ironically promulgated philosophy rather than destroy it by destroying corrupted Skepticism and reviving the dogmatism of Plato, although it is probably then and there that much of Aristotle's work was lost). For example Plutarch, contemporary with Philo, talked about the Forms as being the Thoughts of God, an idea that has previously ad still is thought to come from Philo, but doesn't. It is also hinted at by Cicero. And by the second century this idea is status quo among Platonists, raising doubt that a man that almost nobody mentions, (Philo), made it so popular in less than a century. journals.openedition.org/etudesplatoniciennes/448

[@mupsoftaren]

Plutarch: "It is not, therefore, out of keeping that they have a legend that the soul of Osiris is everlasting and imperishable, but that his body Typhon oftentimes dismembers and causes to disappear, and that Isis wanders hither and yon in her search for it, and fits it together again;[1] for that which really is and is perceptible and good is superior to destruction and change. The images from it with which the sensible and corporeal is impressed, and the relations, forms, and likenesses which this take upon itself, like impressions of seals in wax, are not permanently lasting, but disorder and disturbance overtakes them, being driven hither from the upper reaches, and fighting against Horus,[2] whom Isis brings forth, beholden of all, as the image of the perceptible world."

[@SeekersofUnity]

Oh, I beg to differ. See Afterman: Bernard McGinn and Moshe Idel, argue for the importance of mystical union in Philo's thought, along with its serving as a likely influence on (and possible origin of) the articulated discussions of unio mystica in Plotinus,5 and thus on Platonism and the entire Western mystical tradition.6 5 See: Bernard McGinn, The Foundations of Mysticism, Vol. 1, (New York: Rossroad, 1992), 38-40; Idel, Ben, 6a7; Idel, Kabbalah: New Perspectives, 39, 28g note 13: Idel, Enchanted Chains, 18-19, 22 6 See for example the discussion in Enn. 6.7-34 and 6.9.9, and McGinn, The Foundation of Mysticism, 53-55: And: The close reading of Philo's discussions of unio mystica, derived from his commentary on some of the biblical verses on cleaving, offers a rare opportunity to re-evaluate the trajectories of influence concerning mystical union in the history of religious traditions. We can safely claim that mystical union emerged from Philo's original Platonic-Jewish interpretation of the Septuagint. Philo was the first to interpret (in writing) the Deuteronomic injunction as referring to spiritual, mystical cleaving to God, rather than to mediating entities, institutions, or people. Philo converted the Deuteronomic, covenantal cleaving into a unique synthesis of a mystical union with the One and religious emotions of love of and intimacy with the God of Israel. Mystical union for Philo is the most intimate experience of God, a religious experience of coming close to God and cleaving to Him in love and friendship. The Septuagint, with its commandment to love and cleave to God, provided Philo, the middle Platonist philosopher, with the idea that it is possible not only to ascend in contemplation and mentally view the transcendent God, but even to cleave to and unite with Him, an idea never before articulated in either Platonic or Jewish traditions. Philo's discussions of the commandment and specifically his discussion of the henosis with God in his commentary on Deuteronomy 30:20, signifies a major innovation, one which must be taken into account as an important precedent and backdrop for the later developments of the idea of henosis in the Neoplatonic tradition and its later synthesis with Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Philo's allegorical interpretation of Genesis 2:24, Deuteronomy 10:20, and Deuteronomy 30:20 allowed him to articulate a spiritual understanding of the biblical commandment and consequently to create the category of mystical henosis. …Two of the main elements that constitute mystical intimacy in the Philonic commentaries analyzed above - contemplative vision and mystical union - became predominant in the Neoplatonic mystical tradition,81 and consequently in medieval Jewish theology and Kabbalah.82 …Regarding other, likely more direct influences (closer to his own time), one of Philo's discussions of mystical union and henosis - derived from his longer discussion of the men of God, who "stand" by cleaving to the "standing God - was developed later by Numenius and Plotinus, and suggests that Philo might have played a role in the later developments of the idea of mystical henösis.83 The two commentaries on Deuteronomy 30:20, the descriptions of the great souls that transcend the created universe and then unite with the One, are very interesting precedents and even possible sources for the Neoplatonic scheme of elevation and henösis with the One. 81. See: Enneads, IV, 8, 1; VI, 9, 9- 8o 81 u; v 317; V 3 34-37; V 5 10; Winston, Logos and Mystical Theology, 44, suggests the possibility that Philo's theory of mystical vision of God might have influenced Plotinus, who describes at the highest level of spiritual ascension a vision of the light of the One; see: Pierre Hadot, Plotinus: Or The Simplicity of Vision, trans. Michael Chase (Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1993),61-72. 82. See: Wolfson, Through a Speculum and Afterman, Devequt. 83. See the careful discussion in Runia, Philo and the Church Fathers, 199-200. Source: “And They Shall Be One Flesh”: On the Language of Mystical Union in Judaism, Adam Afterman, 2016, pp. 25-28, 45-47.

[@robinboroda7909]

Not so easy to learn the Perush of Ramban. Maybe kids learned it thoroughly in that day and time. I love Ramban but it is hard to stick with it. I guess that is why Rashi became so popular. Not to compare the two but it came to be that kids learn Rashi.

[@madsenketty]

Maimonides wrote the Zohar

[@SeekersofUnity]

What? Why?

[@madsenketty]

@@SeekersofUnity I sent you a comprehensive reply. Good grief. I’ll have to work it through all over again. I’ll send this one as a test. Aha! I responded to a comment a couple of months ago from a woman, who liked my comment to you and since then ALL my comments on KZbin get stuck in a loop. I received a message saying the problem was resolved.

[@madsenketty]

Where’s your ‘unlikely’ reply that demanded I puzzle out a response?

[@madsenketty]

Have you received my iMessages? It’s a Kindar Zohar. Whoever? claims to be you. I could try to duplicate what I wrote from memory if you want to read it.

[@madsenketty]

This site is fake