Idel on Abulafia @ Hartman

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Moshe Idel’s article on Abraham Abulafia appeared last week on the Hartman Instistute‘s website’s  “reflections” section. The opening paragraph servs as its abstract:

The kabbalist Abraham Abulafia journeyed to the Land of Israel at the age of 18, following the invasion of the Mongolians, risked his life attempting to meet the Pope, declared himself a prophet and Messiah, and was ultimately banned and isolated. Professor Moshe Idel’s survey clarifies how even amongst self-declared messiahs, the 13th century Abulafia was a unique figure; his thought focused on individual rather than national redemption and his techniques integrated intellectual and physical elements, some of which recall Eastern schools of thought.