The concept of “Magic” within the Jewish world is a complex and fascinating one. Many people when they look at the Western Esoteric and Magical tradition will say that many of the elements of it take much from the Hebrew alphabet and Jewish Mysticism like Kabbalah. But what of the Jewish people themselves, how did magic and mysticism play a role in their lives throughout time? Joining me on this episode is the one and only Dr. Justin Sledge.
My Guest for this episode is Dr. Justin Sledge. Dr. Sledge is a scholar of Religion and Philosophy. Seeking to share his knowledge of the Western Esoteric tradition in the best possible way, Dr. Sledge has started pretty much the finest YouTube Channel for esoteric content that you will find- ESOTERICA. If you find Justin’s work as amazing as I do, his efforts can be supported via his Patreon page. For all things Dr. Sledge, click the link below!
Show Notes
- All of Dr. Sledge’s Videos on Jewish Magic – Esoterica
- Dr. Sledge’s 14 Part Series of presentations on Kabbalah are the best place to get great info on this austere and fascinating mysticism – Esoterica
- Ancient Jewish Magic: A History by Gideon Bohak
- Jewish Magic before the Rise of Kabbalah by Yuval Harari
- Jewish Mysticism and Magic: An Anthropological Perspective by Maureen Bloom
- Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism by Howard Schwartz – This is a fantastic resource for learning about the many stories involved in Judaism
- Divination, Magic, and Healing: the Book of Jewish Folklore by Ronald Isaacs
- Scholastic Magic: Ritual and Revelation in Early Jewish Mysticism by Michael D. Swartz
- Wisdom of the Zohar: An Anthology of Texts by Isaiah Tishby
- On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture by Mika Ahuva – I can’t wait to read this one!
- Invoking Angels: Theurgic Ideas and Practices, Thirteenth to Sixteenth Centuries Edited by Claire Fanger
- The Book of Enoch
- The Book of Tobit
- Notes on Editions of Sefer Yetzirah in English by Don Karr
- Sacred Trash: The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza
- In an Antique Land: History in the Guise of a Traveler’s Tale by Amitav Ghosh – Part of this book deals with the Cairo Geniza
- Sefer Ha-Bahir
- Moses ben Jacob Cordovero
- Tanya, the Masterpiece of Hasidic Wisdom: Selections Annotated & Explained by Rami Shapiro
- Gematria and Ba’al HaTurim
- Safed Kabbalah and Renaissance Italy by Moshe Idel – Moshe’s Books are well worth looking into
- Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Jochanan Alemanno by B. C. Novak
- Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion by Joshua Trachtenberg – A little bit dated
- The Age of Secrecy: Jews, Christians, and the Economy of Secrets, 1400-1800 by Daniel Jūtte
- Kabbalah and Sex Magic: A Mythical-Ritual Genealogy by Marla Segol
- The History of Magic: From Alchemy to Witchcraft, from the Ice Age to the Present by Chris Gosden – I really love this book, it’s wonderful
- My Episode on Kabbalah
Music in the episode by Michael Levy
What Magic is This? 
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