ב"ה
Jewish Theology and Mysticism
Chabad at Oxford
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An open culture of learning does not automatically lead to relativism
In the Jewish tradition study and knowledge has always been seen as open to all, regardless of socioeconomic status or lineage. But where is the line between intellectual openness and anarchy, between interpretive licence and relativism?

Two processes of personal worship that integrates G-d in the lowly world
G-d has an inner longing to be made at home in the lowest levels of existence. It is the mission of man to achieve this through two complementary processes of personal worship, first drawing inspiration from above, and secondly raising the world up from below.

An overview of the work Sefer Hachakirah
A detailed look at Sefer Ha'chakirah, a book of philosophy by the third Chabad rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek. Examining how the Tzemach Tzedek uses his own ideas as well as the works of other Jewish philosophers such as Maimonides and Joseph Albo to prove divine creation.

A classic example of the Tzemach Tzedek’s synthetic approach to Kabbalah and Jewish thought
In the classic discourse known as "Derush Shalosh Shitot" the Tzemach Tzedek synthesizes three different interpretations of the sefirot and their relationship to the divine essence, as quoted in the thought of Rabbi Shneur Zalman: The sefirot as tools, as divine essence, and as divine names.

What did medieval Jewish philosophers think about G-d and the nature of existence?
How Jewish thinkers, including Maimonides, Josef Albo and Chasdai Crescas, related to the Greek philosophical tradition on theological and cosmological topics, and articulated a path to a personal relationship with G-d.

Three phases in the development of Chabad educational theory and philosophy
An overview of the theories of education articulated by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, and of the educational philosophy of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, respectively the first, sixth and seventh rebbes of Chabad-Lubavitch.

The roots of Chassidic mysticism (devekut) in the writings of Maimonides
Maimonides is often thought of as an ultra rationalist. But several scholars of chassidism have shown that his views on how a human being can become attached to G-d were a seminal influence in the development of chassidic thought and practice.
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