Contemporary Alternative Spiritualities in Israel

by Shai Feraro (Editor), James R. Lewis (Editor)

Overview

This volume is the first English-language anthology to engage with the fascinating phenomena of recent surges in New Age and alternative spiritualties in Israel. Contributors investigate how these New Age religions and other spiritualties—produced in Western countries within predominantly Protestant or secular cultures–transform and adapt themselves in Israel. The volume focuses on a variety of groups and movements, such as Theosophy and Anthroposophy, Neopaganism, Channeling, Women’s Yoga, the New Age festival scene, and even Pentecostal churches among African labor migrants living in Tel Aviv. Chapters also explore more Jewish-oriented practices such as Neo-Kabballah, Neo-Hassidism, and alternative marriage ceremonies, as well as the use of spiritual care providers in Israeli hospitals. In addition, contributors take a close look at the state’s reaction to the recent activities and growth of new religious movements.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781137547415
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	11/10/2016
Series:	Palgrave Studies in New Religions and Alternative Spiritualities
Edition description:	1st ed. 2017
Pages:	249
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x (d)

About the Author

Shai Feraro is a PhD student at Tel Aviv University’s School of Historical Studies, Israel. He acts as Secretary of the Israeli Association for the Study of Religions. His scholarly interests lie in the connection between new religions and gender issues, and he specializes in the study of Neopaganism in North America, Britain, and Israel.

James R. Lewis is an extensively published scholar in the fields of new religious movements and religion and violence. He is currently Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Tromsø, Norway.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Shai Feraro and James R. Lewis.- Part I. Jew Age Spirituality.- 1. A Sacred Time in the Sacred Land: Authenticating the Past in New Age Judaism; Rachel Werczberger and Ben Gurion.- 2. Kabbalah through the Utilitarian Prism: Contemporary Neo-Kabbalah in Israel as a Form of Consumer Culture; Tomer Persico.- 3. Body and Soul in Yemima Avital’s Teachings and in her Students’ Testimonies, Philosophies, and Practices; Einat Ramon.- 4. Individualization of Jewish UnOrthodox (Alternative) Wedding Rituals in Israel; Ana Prashizky.- Part II. New Age Culture in Israel.- 5. The Incorporation of Spiritual Care into Israeli Medical Organizations; Nurit Zaidman.- 6. Inherent Paradox in Cultural Change: New Age Rituals as Case Study; Dalit Simchai.- 7. The State And New Religious Movements; Masua Sagiv.- Part III. Some Popular Currents in the Israeli 'Scene'.- 8. Theosophy and Anthroposophy in Israel: An Historical Survey; IsaacLubelsky.- 9. Messages for the End: Eschatological Thought in Twentieth Century Channeling; Adam Klin-Oron.- 10. The Menstrual Discourse in Israeli Yoga for Women: An Alternative to the Hegemonic Discourse?; Carmit Rosen.- Part IV. On the Fringes.- 11. Ritual Adaptations and Celebrations of the Mabon Sabbat (Autumn Equinox) by Israeli Neopagans; Orly Salinas Mizrahi.- 12. Pentecostal Ethiopian Jews and Nigerian Members of Olumba Olumba: Manifestations of Christianity in Israel; Galia Sabar.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Much has been written on traditional Jewish religion, but little on present-day alternatives in Israel. This volume is a fascinating and lucidly written collection of essays spanning a range of new forms of spirituality and new expressions of ancient faiths. The anthology is a highly valuable resource, both for the general reader and for subsequent researchers who decide to explore the field further.” (George D. Chryssides, York St John University, UK)

“This volume is an important contribution to the study of New Age in Israeli society. The anthology, the first of its kind in English, includes studies of diverse topics such as New Age Judaism, Spiritual care in medical organizations, the attitude of the state to New Religious Movements, Channeling, and other aspects of contemporary spirituality. The volume highlights the transformation, adaptation, and reaction to contemporary western spirituality in Israel and offers an important contribution to the study of the local andglobal aspects New Age culture.” (Boaz Huss, The Goldstein-Goren Department of Jewish Thought, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel)

Editorial Reviews

Its strength is in providing a valuable resource both as an introduction for interested readers as well as a starting point for deeper scholarly explorations. Its regional focus on Israel might serve as an example for the production of similar volumes focusing on other social, political, and cultural contexts.” (Dominic Zoehrer, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 45 (2), June, 2019)

From the Publisher