The Tsadik and his soul's sparks: From Kabbalah to Hasidism

Moshe Idel*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study shows the continuity between the Safedian Kabbalistic view of the relations between the sparks of a certain soul, and the Hasidic theory, that was conceived of as innovated by and characteristic of 18th century Hasidism, as to the responsibility of the Tsadik for the sparks that belongs to his soul. In the two literatures, the rescue of a spark of one's soul is related to the beautiful captive woman that is conceived of as an externalization of an inner dimension of the righteous person, immersed in a shell.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)196-240
Number of pages45
JournalJewish Quarterly Review
Volume103
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Alexander the Great
  • Hasidism
  • Isaac Luria
  • Israel Baal Shem Tov
  • Kabbalah
  • Safed
  • Sparks
  • Tsadik

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