ALANNA E. COOPER
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HOME > TEACHING > MEDIEVAL JEWISH HISTORY > SESSION 11

Medieval Jewish History
Alanna E. Cooper
Fall 2012

SESSION 11: 
Knowing God: Medieval Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism

READING

1. The Philosophical Approach

    Readings from Maimonides Reader, Isadore Twersky

  • From the Mishneh Torah, Book of Knowledge, Basic Principles of the Torah, pp.42-45 (If you’d like to read an additional text that expands on the principles set forth here, read “Eight Chapters” p.361-386)
  • From the Introduction to the Guide of the Perplexed, Pp.236-241
  • If you have interest, I recommend the Twersky’s introduction to the volume, found on p.1-29, for a general overview of Maimonides’ body of work.

2. The Mystical Approach

     Readings from The Essential Kabbalah,

  • Read the introductory chapter in its entirety (p.1-15)
  • For a taste of the Kabbalistic teachings, read at least of few selections from the chapter, “Ein Sof: God as Infinity” (which is found on p.24-35), and a few selections form the chapter, “Eiin Sof and the Sefirot” (which is found on p.37-63)

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