The Sabbath in the Classical Kabbalah

Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations Note on Transliteration and Orthography Introduction: Classical Kabbalah, its History, and Symbolic Universe Section One: An Historical Outline of Classsical Kabbalah Origins * Gerona Kabbalah * Other Trends in Thirteenth-Century Kabbalah * The Zohar *Kabbalah from the Fourteenth Century until the Safed Renaissance Section Two: The Sefirot and their Symbolism Structural Overview * The Dynamics of Sefirotic Unfolding: the Sefirot as Stages of Emanation *The Sefirot as Stages of a Mystical Ascent *Further Thoughts on Sefirotic Symbolism Section Three: Reading a Zoharic Text Notes to the Introduction 1 The Symbolism of the Kabbalistic Sabbath: Motif Studies Section One: An Historical Overview The Sabbath in Antiquity * The Rabbinic Sabbath * The Sabbath of the Medieval Philosophers * The Distinctive Features of the Kabbalistic Sabbath * The Sefirotic Sabbath Section Two: Motif Studies Shabbat as the Source of Cosmic Blessing: Thematic Overview; The Sabbath as Sacred Centre * Sabbath Transformations * Sabbath as Perfected Time Divine Transformations: Sabbath as Hieros Gamos Rabbinic Precursors * Heikhalot Mysticism: The Evidence of Seder Rabba' di- Vre'shit * Medieval Understandings of the Marital Imagery Prior to the Kabbalah * The Impact of Sefer ha-Bahir * Marital Imagery in the Nahmanidean Tradition * Hieros Gamos in the Zohar * The Marital Motif after the Zohar Transformation of the Person: The Sabbath-Soul Pre-Zoharic Developments * The Sabbath-Soul in the Writings of Moshe de Leon and in the Tiqqunei ha-Zohar / Raaya' Meheimna' * Imagery Used * Reception of Neshamah Yeterah as the Existential Beginning of Shabbat * The Impact of the Sabbath-Soul During Shabbat A Cosmos That is Entirely Shabbat: Some Concluding Thoughts Notes to Chapter 1 2 Aspects of Meaning in Kabbalistic Ritual: With Special Reference to the Case of Shabbat A Programmatic Introduction to Chapters 2-4 A Typology of Kabbalistic Ritual Rabbinic and Kabbalistic Ritual: Some Contrasts * Symbolism and Magic: The Ontological Structure of Kabbalistic Ritual * The Multiple Consequences of Kabbalistic Ritual: Ritual as Sacred Drama * Ritual as Agent of Human Transformation * Ritual as Theurgic Act * A Concluding Example Notes to Chapter 2 3 Rituals of Preparation Projecting the Sabbath into the Spatial Realm: The Case of One's Home and Courtyard The Significance of Transforming One's Abode * The establishment of Courtyard- Fusions: 'Eruvei hazerot Internalizing Shabbat: The Body as Microcosm Nail-Paring * Bathing and Ablution * The Rite of Dressing: The Tola'at Ya'aqov's Account * The Significance of 'Dress' in the Zohar and Tiqqunei ha-Zohar / Raaya Meheimna' * Conclusion Notes to Chapter 3 4 Rituals of Separation: The Drama of Sabbath's Departure in Zoharic Kabbalah The Concluding Prayers: The Need for Apotropaics The 'Havdalah Over Wine' The Havdalah Blessings as Rites of Healing * The Symbolism of Myrtle * The Blessing over the Fire: The Re-emergence of Sitra' 'Ahra' * The Changing of the Cosmic Guards: The Empowerment of the Angelic Realm * Concluding Blessing, Concluding Thoughts An Epilogue (from the Zohar) Notes to Chapter 4 and Epilogue Appendix 1 Some Further Thoughts on the Transformation of the Person during Shabbat Appendix 2 Sabbath-Ritual as a Means of Furthering the Divine-Human Nexus: Two Examples from Zoharic Kabbalah Notes on Appendix 2 Bibliography Index