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Jewish mysticism was very clearly born of a concern to enrich Scriptures
with new commentaries without either denying or abandoning their literal
meaning. Talmudic commentary, or midrash in Hebrew, claims that in order
to understand Torah, four levels of interpretation are necessary: literal,
allusive, allegorical and mystical. The last of these, mystical interpretation,
is supposed to reveal the mysteries of creation, revelation and redemption,
and to open the doors to the paradise of knowledge.
The Paradise of Knowledge Our Rabbis taught: Four
men, named Ben 'Azzai and Ben Zoma, Aher Alisha ben Abuya, and Rabbi
Akiba entered the Garden (Paradise). Rabbi Akiba said to them: When
you arrive at the stones of pure marble, say not 'Water, water!' For
it is said: "He that speak falsehood shall not be established before
mine eyes." (Psalms, 101:7) Ben Zoma cast a look and died. Of him
Scripture says, "The death of Saints, provoked by a view of the Eternal,
is precious." (Psalms, 115:16) Ben Azzai cast a look and was troubled.
Scripture addresses his case when they say, "Have you found honey?
Eat so much as is sufficient, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit
it." (Proverbs 25:16). Alisha ben Abuya mutilated the shoots (apostatized).
R. Akiba departed unhurt
Babylonian Talmud, Seder Mo'ed, Soncino, Hagigah 14b, p. 91.
This midrash suggests that only the rare initiate can master the mystical
meaning of the Scriptures without succumbing to death, madness, or heresy.
Another midrash tells us that the Bible presents 'seventy faces' and as
many interpretations. For Isaac Luria, there are 600,000 interpretations
of Scripture, one for each of the souls of the nation of Israel present
at the Revelation on Mount Sinai. This notion of myriad meanings encouraged
a loose interpretion of Scriptures linking symbol with allegory, and moving
from a literal meaning to mystical doctrines, each more extraordinary
and fascinating than the next. Known as the Kabbalah, from the Hebrew
Kabala, or reception of tradition, this production of interpretations
was ostensibly a pietist reaction against the rational interpretation
of Scriptures that had spread among educated men beginning in the 11th
century and threatened the fundamental doctrines of Judaism. |