R. Itzhak Isaac Judah Yehiel of Komarno as a Test Case of Jewish Mysticism
J. Garb
The Journal of Jewish thought & philosophy October 21, 2025 DOI: 10.1163/1477285x-12341370 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Argues that the writings of R. Itzhak Isaac Safrin of Komarno clearly exhibit seven interconnected features of mysticism proposed by J. B. Hollenback, supporting the continued validity of the concept of Jewish mysticism against Boaz Huss's challenges. Proposes that Safrin's case, though unique, is not singular and has historical and comparative potential, and that such theoretical debates should be settled through textual analysis. |
Abstract
The article evaluates the validity of the term and concept of Jewish mysticism (in view of the challenges of Boaz Huss) through a specific test case: the writings of the nineteenth-century Hasidic master R. Itzhak Isaac Safrin of Komarno. The presence of seven distinctive yet interconnected features of mysticism (as proposed by J. B. Hollenback) is clearly demonstrated. It is suggested that for all of its unique-ness, the case of Safrin is not singular but rather has both historical and comparative potential. The wider methodological conclusion concerns the need to decide such theoretical debates through textual analysis.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |