Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World

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Mysticism
(6,001 words)

Jewish mysticism, which since medieval times has also been known as Kabbala (Heb. acceptance, tradition), is a variegated conglomerate of spiritual models, types of experiences, and modes of expression that developed in different countries and continents. kabbalistic writings have been preserved in thousands of literary works of various genres, mostly in Hebrew. Kabbala has developed since the medieval period over the span of almost a millennium, and was preceded by earlier mystical writings and…

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Moshe Idel and Avriel Bar-Levav, “Mysticism”, in: Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World, Executive Editor Norman A. Stillman. Consulted online on 03 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1878-9781_ejiw_COM_0016230>
First published online: 2010



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