Jewish Mysticism in Islamic Persia

Jewish mysticism has often been defined as limited to Spanish Kabbalah and Eastern European Hasidic dynasties, while mysticism in Asia has usually been associated with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islamic Sufism. This class will look at sources from Persian Jewish history to answer the questions: How did Jews in Persia participate in Sufism before and after the appearance of Kabbalah? Is Sufism a fundamentally Islamic form of mysticism? And what Sufi influences are still tangible in the practices of Persian Jews today? Join Alan Niku and My Jewish Learning to find out.