Gershom Scholem was a German-born Israeli philosopher and historian who is widely recognized as the father of the academic study of Judaism and Jewish mysticism or Kabbalah. He is the author of numerous books on Jewish mysticism, messianism, and esotericism.
Gershom Scholem was born on December 5, 1897, in Berlin, Germany.
He studied at the universities of Berlin, Jena, and Bern, where he received his Ph.D. in 1923.
In 1923, he met Walter Benjamin, one of the leading intellectuals of the time, and the two became close friends.
In 1924, Scholem went to Palestine for the first time, and he would later move to Palestine permanently in 1927.
In Palestine, Scholem taught at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and became one of the founders of Israel's Institute for Advanced Studies, where he remained until his death in 1982.
Gershom Scholem was a German-born Israeli philosopher and historian who is widely recognized as the father of the academic study of Judaism and Jewish mysticism or Kabbalah.
Gershom Scholem wrote extensively on Jewish mysticism, messianism, and esotericism. Some of his major works include 'Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism,' 'Sabbatai Sevi: The Mystical Messiah,' and 'On Kabbalah and its Symbolism.'
Gershom Scholem is known for being the father of modern Jewish mysticism scholarship and his extensive work on Kabbalah and Jewish messianism.
Gershom Scholem was instrumental in establishing the academic study of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah. His work helped to elevate Jewish studies to a respected academic discipline.
If you want to start reading Gershom Scholem, a good book to begin with is his 'Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism.' It is a comprehensive history of Jewish mysticism and provides a solid understanding of the subject matter.