Assignment 7

Read Blumenthal, Understanding Jewish Mysticism, pages 34-46, and Scholem, Jewish Mysticism (E-Res), pages 67-79.

Refer to the Hebrew alphabet chart on the web site to visualize the letters.

These chapters appear to make connections among the following:

Pronounced sounds, body organs, constellations, moral qualities, cosmic time, and gates of various kinds (bodily, cosmic)

Discuss what associations these connections might indicate. What is the Sefer Yetsirah pointing towards? What kind of mysticism (if any) might it be? And is there any association with the Merkevah or the Shiur qomah?

Write up the results of your discussion in a 1-2 page typed paper.