Gershom Scholem Library

The Global Center for the Study of Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism

הספרייה הלאומית

The Gershom Scholem Library is the world's leading center for the study of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. The collection is based on the personal library of Prof. Gershom Scholem (1897-1982), considered the father of the academic study of Kabbalah.

Who was Gershom Scholem?

Gershom (Gerhard) Scholem was born in Berlin and immigrated to the Land of Israel in 1923. He devoted his life to studying Jewish mysticism through a critical scholarly approach, laying the foundation for all modern research in the field. As a professor at the Hebrew University, he trained generations of scholars.

הקבלה אינה רק ספקולציה תיאולוגית, אלא עולם שלם של סמלים, דימויים ורעיונות שעיצבו את התודעה היהודית לדורותיה

The Collection and Its Contents

The collection includes approximately 35,000 items: books, manuscripts, articles, photographs, and letters. It covers the entire history of Kabbalah from its beginnings in the Middle Ages to the present, including topics such as Zoharic literature, Lurianic Kabbalah, Hasidism, and Sabbateanism.

The unique classification system

Scholem himself developed a unique classification system for the collection, based on chronological and thematic order. This system reflects his historical understanding of the development of Kabbalah and allows researchers to trace the journey of mystical ideas through the generations.

The library is open to researchers and the general public, offering an inexhaustible resource for anyone seeking to delve into the wondrous world of Jewish mysticism.