EHE Book Reviews

EEs/EHEs in General ,Techniques Record Type: Review ID: 684
The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia Idel, Moshe
Report of research into the thought of Abraham Abulafia and his role in the development of the mystical Kabbalah. Abulafia was a controversial figure, and his book was banned and he was excommunicated; yet a leading figure of his day praised him highly. Idel answers two questions in the Introduction: "Who was Abraham Abulafia, and what was his uniqueness as a Kabbalist?" Abulafia wrote several books on mysticism in which he presented "a detailed, systematic path enabling the seeker to attain to mystical experiences" (p. 13). He was able to personalize various concepts of Arab and Jewish teachers so they could be experienced, not simply perceived by the intellect. Idel presents Abulafia’s system in four chapters: Techniques for Attaining Ecstasy; Music and Ecstatic Kabbalah; The Mystical Experience; and Erotic Images for the Ecstatic Experience.
Publisher Information:	Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1988. 246p. Bibl: 229-232; Chap. bibl; 3 figs; Subject & Name Ind: 233-239; Title Ind: 241-246

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The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia