Kabbalah and the Founding of America: The Early Influence of Jewish Thought in the New World

Kabbalah had a significant influence on the religious identity of early Christian Americans, as demonstrated by the letter of a Quaker thinker and the messianic theology of a Puritan minister. This led to the conversion of a Jew in Boston and the publication of the first kabbalistic book in America, which was read by an eventual president of Yale College. Key figures such as Cotton Mather and Increase Mather developed theological ideas influenced by Kabbalah, laying the groundwork for developing notions of American exceptionalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2021
Publisher: New York University Press

In 1688, a prominent Quaker thinker and activist residing in what is now New Jersey penned a letter to one of his closest disciples, delving into the realm of Kabbalah, which he referred to as the mystical theology of the Jews. Simultaneously, one of the leading Puritan ministers emerged with a messianic theology that drew inspiration from the mystical conversion of the Jews. This theological development ultimately resulted in the conversion of a Jew in Boston a few decades later, leading to the conception and publication of the first kabbalistic book in America. This seminal work was subsequently read by an eventual president of Yale College, who embarked on a profound study of Kabbalah that prompted him to involve prominent figures such as Benjamin Franklin. Furthermore, in 1781, he delivered a public oration at Yale, advocating for the infusion of Kabbalah and Jewish thought into the Protestant colleges of America.

Kabbalah and the Founding of America explores the profound influence of Kabbalah on the religious identity of early Christian Americans. It presents a fresh perspective on the intellectual exchange between Jews and Christians in pre-Revolutionary America, shedding light on how Kabbalah shaped the early American religious landscape. The book reveals that influential figures, including renowned Puritan ministers Cotton Mather and Increase Mather, as well as Yale University President Ezra Stiles, developed theological ideas that were deeply influenced by Kabbalah. These individuals sought to create a more universal Kabbalah, further developing their ideas during a pivotal period of national myth-building, which laid the groundwork for developing notions of American exceptionalism. Through captivating and often unexpected events, this unlikely inter-religious influence played a significant role in shaping the United States and the American identity.

Weight: 668g
Dimension: 276 x 252 x 194 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479807987