HISTORICISM AND/OR PHENOMENOLOGY IN THE STUDY OF JEWISH MYSTICISM: IMAGERY TECHNIQUES IN THE TEACHINGS OF RABBI KALONYMUS KALMAN SHAPIRA AS A CASE STUDY

In recent years, the phenomenological and comparative approaches to the study of Jewish mysticism have come under criticism. This critique has been focused upon the very concept of ''mysticism,'' calling into question whether or not different mystical elements in different religious faith traditions may be compared with one another. This article will challenge the exclusive quest for historicization in the study of Jewish mysticism.