Judaism and Meditation

Jewish meditation encompasses a wide range of techniques and practices that emerged across different historical periods, each with distinct characteristics. This chronological overview traces major trends from biblical times, through Merkabah mysticism, Kabbalah, and Hasidism, to contemporary spirituality. The author highlights how modern subjectivity and secularization have shaped the evolution of these practices, and notes an inherent tension between meditative traditions and the Halakhic (Jewish legal) tradition.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The Jewish meditative tradition is a diverse collection of techniques and practices, originating at different eras and exhibiting varying characteristics. In the following a summation of the major trends of Jewish meditation is attempted, following a chronological scheme and aiming to underline the shifts in emphasis displayed by different Jewish meditative paths, from the Bible, through the Merkabah literature, to Kabbalah, Hasidism, and ending with contemporary spirituality circles. Special consideration will be given to the effects of modern subjectivity and secularization on the development of Jewish meditative practices and to the inherent tension they exhibit with the Halakhic tradition.