Jewish Studies 52 (2017) Journal of the World Union of Jewish Studies Special Issue: Early Jewish Mysticism Executive Committee of the World Union of Jewish Studies / Editorial Committee: Prof. Moshe Idel, President, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Dr. Yossi Chajes, Haifa University Prof. Jeremy Cohen, Tel Aviv University Prof. Aviva Halamish, The Open University of Israel Prof. Aharon Maman, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Aren Maeir, Bar-Ilan University Prof. Avigdor Shinan, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Haviva Ishay, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev JEWISH STUDIES Editors Yaacov Deutsch, Ithamar Gruenwald, Hannah Kasher, Israel Knohl Volume 52 • 2017 Journal of the World Union of Jewish Studies Jerusalem This volume of Jewish Studies, Journal of the World Union of Jewish Studies was published in cooperation with The Ministry of Culture & Sport of the State of Israel Manuscript for consideration should be prepared for publication according to the instructions published on our website (www.jewish-studies.org) and volume 43, and sent to the following address: World Union of Jewish Studies The Hebrew University The Rabin Center for Jewish Studies Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem 9190501 Israel Tel: 972-2-5325841 Fax: 972-25325910 E-mail: [email protected] Annual membership dues: $55 Students and senior citizens: $40 Institutes and organizations: $260 ISSN 0792-5964 © All Rights Reserved Jerusalem, July, 2017 Hebrew Style Editor: Tzophia Leibovitch English Style Editor: Ruth Clements Secretary: Lior Shapira Cover Design: Techiya Rosenthal Typesetting and print: Art Plus Ltd. CONTENTS Special Issue: Early Jewish Mysticism ENGLISH SECTION World Union News i* Michael Schneider Seventy Names and Seventy Books: Fourth Ezra and Hekhalot Literature 1* Don Karr Notes on the Study of Merkabah Mysticism and Hekhalot Literature in English 35* ABSTRACTS 113* HEBREW SECTION Ithamar Gruenwald Aftertoughts on the Study of the Merkavah Literature 1 Shraga Bar-On “The Lord of All” and “The Creator of the and Yakir Paz World”: Aleinu le-Shabeach as an Anti- 31 Binitarian Prayer Israel Knohl The Chariot, the Righteous Man and Satan: Towards Resolving the Puzzle of Sefer HaBahir 47 Gideon Bohak Neologisms in Hekhalot Literature 77 Yaron Zini The Different Layers of Hekhalot Literature: 97 Results of Linguistic Research Tzahi Weiss The God of Israel—a Prince before God: The Sources and the Meaning of an Early Medieval Jewish Mythical Tradition 129 Joseph Dan From Hekhalot Rabbati to the Hekhalot of the Zohar: The Depersonalization of the Mysticism of the Divine Chario 143t Moshe Idel The Heikhalot Literature, the Ecstatic-Mystical Model and their Metamorphose 163 The World Union of Jewish Studies The Rabbi David Moses and Amalia Rosen Foundation Are publishing a series of books entitled Sources for the Study of Jewish Culture The series is dedicated to bringing out critical editions of hitherto unpublished primary texts in the fields of Jewish History and Literature. The manuscripts should be edited according to accepted critical standards, and should be accompanied as required by commentaries and introductions (in Hebrew). Scholars who have such materials, and are interested in the possibility of publishing in the series, are requested to submit to the executive director of the World Union of Jewish Studies a detailed description of the content of their work. Proposals will be refereed, and responses will be supplied as soon as possible. Sources for the Study of Jewish Culture World Union of Jewish Studies and the Rabbi David Moses and Amalia Rosen Foundation Samuel Ben Judah Ibn Tibbon Commentary on Ecclesiastes (the Book of the Soul of Man) By James T. Robinson Price: $45 (2016) Leopold Zunz, Rites of Synagogue Liturgy By Avraham Fraenkel, Translated into Hebrew by Ze’ev Breuer Price: $35 (2016) Rabbi El’azar Berabbi Qillir: Liturgical poems for Rosh Ha-Shana Critical edition, introduction and cpmmentary By Shulamit Elizur and Michael Rand Price: $30 (2014) Moses b. Judah: Love in Delights (Ahava ba-Ta’anugim) By Esti Eisenmann Price: $23 (2013) Levi Ben Avraham, Livyat Hen: The Work of the Chariot By Howard Kreisel Price: $23 (2013) Responsa of Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg and his Colleagues By Simcha Emanuel Price: $50 2 volumes (2012) The Commentary of Rabbi Samuel Ben Meir (Rashbam) on the Song of Songs By Sara Japhet Price: $18 (2008) Wherefore Have We Fasted? “Megilat Ta‛anit Batra” and Similar lists of Fasts By Shulamit Elizur Price: $15 (2007) The Liturgical Poems of Rabbi Pinhas Ha-Kohen By Shulamit Elizur Price: $20 (2004) Levi Ben Avraham, Livyat Hen By Howard Kreisel Price: $15 (2004) Shem Tov ben Joseph Ibn Falaquera, Moreh ha-Moreh By Yair Shiffman Price: $15 (2001) Yehuda Ha-Levi and his Circle 55 Geniza Documents By Moshe Gil and Ezra Fleischer Price: $18 (2001) The Dawn of Hebrew Linguistics The Book of Elegance of the Language of the Hebrews by Saadia Gaon By Aron Dotan Price: $18 (1997, 2005) Targumic Toseftot to the Prophets By Rimon Kasher Price: $15 (1996) Shiv‛atot for the Weekly Tora Readings By Shulamit Elizur Price: $18 (1993, 2007) The Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture In Cooperation with the World Union of Jewish Studies Ephraim Elimelech Urbach Post-Doctoral International Fellowship for Jewish Studies The Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture in cooperation with the World Union of Jewish Studies announces the continuation of the International Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Jewish Studies in memory of Prof. Ephraim Elimelech Urbach, who was the president of the World Union of Jewish Studies as well as a vice-president of the Memorial Foundation. The purpose of the grants is to further the research of a limited number of outstanding scholars in a field of Jewish Studies, who have received their doctorate within three years of the date of application, and to assist them in publishing their first book. Recipients of the fellowship receive a stipend of up to $10,000 for the year. All recipients of the fellowship over the previous four years are required to deliver a lecture in special sessions at the quadrennial meeting of the World Congress of Jewish Studies. Applications are to be obtained and submitted by the institutions for which the applicants wrote their dissertations. Candidates may not submit their applications directly to the Memorial Foundation.. Applications may be obtained by writing to: Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture 50 Broadway, 34th Floor New York, N.Y. 10044, USA Or by e-mail: [email protected] UNION NEWS Jewish Studies: Journal of the World Union of Jewish S t u d i e s The Journal focuses on programmatic and methodological issues and on comprehensive, critical overviews of various fields of Jewish Studies. All papers are peer-reviewed and published in either English or Hebrew. You are invited to send your articles to the Editorial Board at the World Union’s address. Please make sure that they are prepared according to the instructions published on the Union’s website (www.jewish-studies.org) and in volume 43 of the Journal. The Journal’s Editorial Board consists of four members: Dr. Yaacov Deutsch (David Yellin College), Prof. Ithamar Gruenwald (Tel-Aviv University), Prof. Hannah Kasher (Bar-Ilan University) of Jerusalem), Prof. Israel Knohl (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem). Ephraim E. Urbach Postdoctoral International Fellowships for Jewish Studies The Ephraim E. Urbach Postdoctoral International Fellowships for Jewish Studies are a joint undertaking of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture and the World Union. The 2016 recipients are: Dr. Avishai Bar-Asher, Dr. Rachel Furst, Dr. Yoed Kadary, Dr. Yakir Paz, Dr. Oded Zinger. Best wishes and congratulations to all. For information about fellowships see our announcement in this volume. Reminder: Check the Web Site! You are reminded to check the website on a regular basis for updates on upcoming events, calls for papers, conference announcements, fellowship opportunities, and the like. Occasionally we post notices of special book sales or other events targeted to our members. You are very welcome to send us relevant announcements for posting on the Union website. ]i*[ .