The Prophetic Kabbalah of Abraham Abulafia - Session 1

Описание: Session 1:
THE PERSON – The Extraordinary Life of R. Abraham Abulafia

This lecture is part of the course exploring the life, teachings, and legacy of Rabbi Abraham Abulafia (1240–1292), one of the most fascinating figures in the history of Jewish mysticism.
Known as the founder of Prophetic Kabbalah, Abulafia developed unique meditative techniques, philosophical interpretations, and spiritual practices aimed at attaining states of ecstasy and prophetic illumination. His thought not only shaped currents within Jewish mysticism but also engaged with broader philosophical and religious traditions, leaving traces that resonate across cultures and centuries.
Participants journey through Abulafia’s biography, the foundations of his mystical path in both practice and theory, and the profound results described by him and his disciples. The course also examines his influence on Jewish and Western thought, his dialogue with Christianity and Islam, and his bold vision of a universal spiritual practice.
Alongside close readings of Abulafia’s works – particularly Sefer ha-Ot (“Book of the Sign”) – the course integrates modern research on altered states of consciousness, offering fresh ways to approach his writings beyond strictly theological frameworks.

About the Lecturer:
Dr. Aryeh Krawczyk earned his MA in the Study of Religions at the Jagiellonian University of Cracow, Poland, and his PhD in Hebrew Manuscripts at Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań, Poland.
In 2018, he published a book based on his dissertation: Sefer ha-Ot, Book of the Sign – Endophasia, the Inner Speech and Heautoscopy, the Seeing of Oneself in the Work of R. Abraham Abulafia (1240–1292).
He is an associate scholar at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, Poland. Since 2019, he has studied at the Or Jonatan Rabbinical Kollel in Hamburg, Germany, and collaborates with the Maimonidean Centre for Advanced Studies at Hamburg University.