#messiah #jewishmessiah #jewishhistory

In the final part of this series, David explores messiahs of the modern period of Jewish history and the dangers of mystical attempts to bring about redemption.

Among the figures David discusses are:

• Yosef Della Reina
• Rabbi Avraham ben Eliezer ha-Levi
• Shlomo Molcho and David haReuveni
• Asher Lemlein
• Rabbi Ḥayyim Vital
• Shabbetai Zvi
• Rabbi Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal
• Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov
• Jacob Frank
• Gaon of Vilna
• Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
• Hannah Rachel Verbermacher, the Maid of Ludmir
• Rav Abraham Isaac Kook
• Theodor Herzl
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Ideas that the lecture examines include:

• a return to the apocalyptic- this time with mystical magic
• the transformation of Christianity
• the concept of a ‘special time’
• end times
• prophecy
• redeeming the sparks
• the antinomian messiah
• redemptive consciousness
• kabbalistic efforts to bring redemption
• sexual practices to bring the special soul
• the redemptive spirit in the special soul.

David discusses the stories of these fascinating messianic figures and thinkers and unpacks their ideas, influences, and contributions to history as well as to the ever-developing notion of redemption and messianic fulfillment.

This talk was presented for Caulfield Shule in 2021as part of its scholar-in-residence program. Due to COVID lockdown restrictions in Melbourne at the time, it was filmed at home. Other episodes from the series can be found here:

Part 1 -    • The Messianic Idea in Jewish History ...  
Part 2 -    • The Messianic Idea in Jewish History ...  
Part 3 -    • The Messianic Idea in Jewish History ...  

There will be a break in the podcast until February 2022.

Explore more of David's Jewish History series here:

Jewish History in Six Parts:    • JEWISH HISTORY IN SIX PARTS [PART 6 -...  
Women in Jewish History:    • Women in Jewish History  
The Talmudic Period: Chazal in the Age of Empires    • The Talmudic Period: Chazal in the Ag...  
The Geonic Period: Jewish History of 6th -10th Centuries    • The Geonic Period: Jewish History of ...  
From the Rambam to the Zohar: Jewish History of 12th & 13th Centuries    • Rambam to Zohar: Jewish History of 12...  
Hope in Darkness: Jewish History of 14th & 15th Centuries    • Jewish History of 14th & 15th Centuri...  
Worlds in Transition: Jewish History of 16th Century    • Worlds in Transition: Jewish History ...  
Communities in Search of Meaning: Jewish History of 17th Century    • Communities in Search of Meaning: Jew...  
Revelation & Revolution: Jewish History of the 18th Century    • Jewish History of the 18th Century- R...  

Find David's additional podcast, with dozens of lectures on Jewish history, the Bible, Jewish philosophy, and Kabbalah at    • Podcast: Collected Talks of David Sol...  

Learn more at davidsolomon.online
Support David on Patreon:   / davidsolomononline  

Images used in this video

Youtube cover – comprising images below and a picture of David by Stephan Rohl under CC licensing http://www.stephan-roehl.de​

Other image in cover art: Sabbatai Zevi as a prisoner in Abydos. Unknown author - 1901-1906 Jewish Encyclopedia. From "Ketzer Geschichte," 1701. Public domain.