Eleazar of Worms was the son of an illustrious family hailing from Italy, known as the Kalonymides. Supposedly brought to Germany by the French king Charlemagne to strengthen the community, the family made up the ruling elite of Medieval German Jewry.
Germany of the time was not a good place to be a Jew especially given the Vatican legislated crusade which was in full force. In 1196 a mob of crusaders broke into Eleazar’s house, killing his wife and two daughters, and beating him and his son. Perhaps it was his pietism that prevented him from collapsing under his agony, and contrarily, prevail as one the greatest preceptors of the early Kabbalah.
The Hasidei Ashkenaz – Rhineland Pietists
The establishment of the Hasidei Ashkenaz, the Rhineland Pietists, initially stood opposed to the common populace of German Jewry, as a separatist elite, who would isolate themselves from the ordinary Jew who, it seems, was considered a negative influence to the holy. However, Eleazar Rokeach (the “perfumer”, the title of his book on ethics and law) countered this feature of the Hasidim and advocated an individualistic attitude towards the ideal of Hasidism. It was this turn from the sectarian attitude that transformed the Rhineland Hasidism into such an influential force.
The most common feature of Hasidism was its emphasis on extreme ascetism, perhaps inspired by monastic Christianity which was prevalent at the time in Germany. These practices would include fasting and mortification, as a penance for one’s sins. They would also practice elongated prayers and other such devotional practices.
The Hasidim made extensive use of the practices of numerology and letter permutation, and were foremost in the continuation and preservation of Jewish magic. The myth of the Golem, the semi-human creature that could be created through numerology and manipulation of the Hebrew alphabet, was attributed to the followers of the Hasidim. Eleazar himself, in his commentary to the Sefer Yetzirah, gives the instructions as to how one may use its methods to create a golem.
The philosophy of the Hasidim was strongly influenced by the Saadia Gaon, Egyptian born 10th century head of the Sura academy in modern day Iraq, as well as the earlier school of Merkabah mysticism.
Eleazar Rokeach’s Contribution to Kabbalah
Eleazar’s reach far exceeded the short reign of the Hasidei Ashkenaz, and while the German Hasidim were on the decline, a Spanish Kabbalist who was to have an enormous impact on the Kabbalah was studying Eleazar’s commentary on the Sefer Yetzirah, Abraham Abulafia.
Ezeazar is also thought to be the main conduit of the traditions maintained in the magical compendium, the Sefer Raziel HaMalach, the Book of the Angel Raziel.
Sources:
Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism – Gershom Scholem
Jewish Mystical Leaders and Leadership in the 13th Century – Ivan G. Marcus
Kabbalah – Avraham Yaakov Finkel
Daniel Gigi - Daniel Gigi is a UK based psychotherapist, meditation teacher, and author. He began the practice of meditation at the age of 14, at which ...
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