Gershom Scholem: Mysticism & the Philosophy of History
- All levels
- 21 and older
- $335
- Earn 3,350 reward points
- Online Classroom
- 12 hours over 4 sessions
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Brooklyn Institute for Social Research @ Online Classroom
Unlock the enchanting world of fairy tales as we explore their subversive power and timeless allure. Join us for an illuminating journey through canonical tales and contemporary retellings, alongside insightful analysis from leading theorists.
May 9th
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Friend to Walter Benjamin, Hannah Arendt, Theodor Adorno, and Leo Strauss, Gershom Scholem may be the best known scholar of Jewish Studies in the 20th century. Above all he is associated with launching the modern academic study of Jewish mysticism. However, Scholem’s study of mysticism was only part of his much broader, and far more engaged and systematic thinking, about questions of contemporary politics and the Jewish historical condition. An influential political thinker and social theorist, Scholem put forth a philosophy of history that gave theoretical structure to the nationalist Jewish project. His studies in mysticism certainly influenced his social and political thought, but it is equally evident that his engagement with the latter shaped his understanding of the mystic and his world.
This course will introduce students to Scholem and his broad intellectual project. We will focus on three central fields of Scholem’s inquiry that relate to, and are informed by, his study of mysticism: kabbalah, messianism, and history. Each receives a thorough theorization by Sholem, and together, they establish the central concepts around which the broad scope of his thought is organized. After introducing the biographical and intellectual-historical context of Scholem’s life and study, we will turn to his major works on these concepts and explore central questions regarding language, literature, and nationhood. Readings will include excerpts from books, lectures, articles, and interviews, as well as selections from Scholem’s correspondence with his close friend, Walter Benjamin.
This course is available for "remote" learning and will be available to anyone with access to an internet device with a microphone (this includes most models of computers, tablets). Classes will take place with a "Live" instructor at the date/times listed below.
Upon registration, the instructor will send along additional information about how to log-on and participate in the class.
In any event where a customer wants to cancel their enrollment and is eligible for a full refund, a 5% processing fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
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The Brooklyn Institute for Social Research was established in 2011 in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Its mission is to extend liberal arts education and research far beyond the borders of the traditional university, supporting community education needs and opening up new possibilities for scholarship in the...
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