Circle in the Square : Studies in the Use of Gender in Kabbalistic Symbolism

This book deals with the issue of gender in Jewish mysticism showing the thematic correlation of eroticism and esotericism that is central to the kabbalah. "A tour de force in terms of historical range, analytic boldness, textual sources, and interpretive constructions. An important contribution in every sense to Jewish thought and interpretation." -- Michael Fishbane, University of Chicago "Wolfson has a knack for selecting particularly difficult texts and elucidating them for the reader." -- Daniel Matt, Graduate Theological Union This book deals with aspects of the gender imaging of God in a variety of medieval kabbalistic sources. It provides the key to understanding the phenomenological structures of mystical experience as well as the thematic correlation of esotericism and eroticism that is central to the kabbalah. The author examines the role of gender utilizing current feminist studies and cultural anthropology. He explores the themes of the feminization of the Torah, the correlation of circumcision and vision of God, the phallocentric understanding of divine creation as a process of inscription mythologized as an act of sexual self-gratification, and the phenomenon of gender-crossing in kabbalistic myth and ritual. Collectively, the studies explore in great depth the androcentric phallocentrism that is characteristic of medieval Jewish mysticism. Front Matter 1 Half Title Page 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication Page 6 Table of Contents 7 PREFACE 8 Content 12 FEMALE IMAGING OF THE TORAH: FROM LITERARY METAPHOR TO RELIGIOUS SYMBOL 12 CIRCUMCISION, VISION OF GOD, AND TEXTUAL INTERPRETATION: FROM MIDRASHIC TROPE TO MYSTICAL SYMBOL 40 ERASING THE ERASURE/GENDER AND THE WRITING OF GOD'S BODY IN KABBALISTIC SYMBOLISM 60 CROSSING GENDER BOUNDARIES IN KABBALISTIC RITUAL AND MYTH 90 Back Matter 134 Notes 134 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SECONDARY SOURCES 244 INDEX 264 Back Cover 280 Published by State University of Ne'N York Press,Albany © 1995 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the Unitd States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any Corm or by any means including electronic,electrosta tic,magnetic tape,mechanical,photocopying,recording,or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information,address Slate University of New York Press,State University Plaza,Albany,N.Y.,12246 Production by Marilyn P. Semerad Marketing by Fran Keneston Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wolfson,Elliot R. Circle in the square; studies in th,~ use of gender in Kabbalistic symbolism / Elliot R. Wolfson. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-7914-2405-7 (alk. paper) .. - ISl3N 0-7914-2406-5 (pbk. ; alk. paper) 1. Cabala-History. 2. God (Jud ~ism) 3. Masculinity of God. 4. Femininity of God. 5. Zohar. r Title. BM526W64 1995 296.1 '6-dc20 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 94·18316 CIP Published by,State University of Ne'N York Press,Albany,© 1995 State University of New York,All rights reserved,Printed in the Unitd States of America,No part of this book may be used or reproduced,in any manner whatsoever without written permission.,No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any Corm or by any means,including electronic,electrosta tic,magnetic tape,mechanical,photocopying,recording,or otherwise,without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.,For information,address Slate University of New York,Press,State University Plaza,Albany,N.Y.,12246,Production by Marilyn P. Semerad,Marketing by Fran Keneston,Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data,Wolfson,Elliot R.,Circle in the square,studies in th,~ use of gender in Kabbalistic,symbolism / Elliot R. Wolfson.,p. cm.,Includes index.,ISBN 0-7914-2405-7 (alk. paper) .. - ISl3N 0-7914-2406-5 (pbk.,alk. paper),1. Cabala-History. 2. God (Jud ~ism) 3. Masculinity of God.,4. Femininity of God. 5. Zohar. r Title.,BM526W64 1995,296.1 '6-dc20,10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1,94·18316,CIP __This book deals with the issue of gender in Jewish mysticism showing the thematic correlation of eroticism and esotericism that is central to the kabbalah.__"A tour de force in terms of historical range, analytic boldness, textual sources, and interpretive constructions. An important contribution in every sense to Jewish thought and interpretation." -- Michael Fishbane, University of Chicago"Wolfson has a knack for selecting particularly difficult texts and elucidating them for the reader." -- Daniel Matt, Graduate Theological UnionThis book deals with aspects of the gender imaging of God in a variety of medieval kabbalistic sources. It provides the key to understanding the phenomenological structures of mystical experience as well as the thematic correlation of esotericism and eroticism that is central to the kabbalah. The author examines the role of gender utilizing current feminist studies and cultural anthropology. He explores the themes of the feminization of the Torah, the correlation of circumcision and vision of God, the phallocentric understanding of divine creation as a process of inscription mythologized as an act of sexual self-gratification, and the phenomenon of gender-crossing in kabbalistic myth and ritual. Collectively, the studies explore in great depth the androcentric phallocentrism that is characteristic of medieval Jewish mysticism. This book deals with aspects of the gender imaging of God in a variety of medieval kabbalistic sources. It provides the key to understanding the phenomenological structures of mystical experience as well as the thematic correlation of esotericism and eroticism that is central to the kabbalah. The author examines the role of gender utilizing current feminist studies and cultural anthropology. He explores the themes of the feminization of the Torah, the correlation of circumcision and vision of God, the phallocentric understanding of divine creation as a process of inscription mythologized as an act of sexual self-gratification, and the phenomenon of gender-crossing in kabbalistic myth and ritual. Collectively, the studies explore in great depth the androcentric phallocentrism that is characteristic of medieval Jewish mysticism. -- Back cover