- Israel
Gal Sofer
Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Arts, Faculty Member
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Arts, Faculty MemberBen Gurion University of the Negev, Goldstein-Goren Department of Jewish Thought, Alumnus, and 3 moreadd
- Jewish Magic, Ancient Jewish magic, Kabbalah, Sabbateanism, Western Esotericism, Occultism, and 25 moreMedieval Magic, Solomonic Magic, Hermeticism, Henricus Cornelius Agrippa, Grimoires, Daemonic Magic, History of magic, Astral Magic, Hebrew Manuscripts, Golden Dawn Tradition, Christian Kabbalah, Cairo Genizah, Magic, Grimoire Tradition, Western Esotericism (History), Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations in the Middle Ages, Demonology, John Dee, Renaissance magic and astrology, Jewish - Christian Relations, Witchcraft, Religion and Magic, Magical Practices, Count Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Marsilio Ficino, and Renaissance Italyedit
- MD. Ph.D. My research focuses on demonic magic from the late middle ages to the modern period, focusing on Solomonic ... moreMD. Ph.D. My research focuses on demonic magic from the late middle ages to the modern period, focusing on Solomonic magic and its reception. Currently, I am pursuing research on Kabbalah and magic in Renaissance Italy.
Lecturer in the Department of Arts at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Adjunct lecturer in the Department of Nursing at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, teaching cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology.
Teaching general surgery, neurology, and endocrinology for the government licensure exam for nurses.
Intern at Soroka Medical Center (2021-2022).edit
Recent advancements in studying the Ars Notoria, notably through Julian Véronèse’s critical edition, have provided insights into its manuscripts and various interpretations. This progress sets the stage for exploring a less examined area:... more
Recent advancements in studying the Ars Notoria, notably through Julian Véronèse’s critical edition, have provided insights into its manuscripts and various interpretations. This progress sets the stage for exploring a less examined area: the Jewish reception of the Ars Notoria, a topic ripe for investigation in the current scholarly landscape. This article explores the Jewish engagement with this Christian text, particularly through its Hebrew translation Melekhet Muskelet, as well as a notable discovery that links the Ars Notoria’s notae to the Kabbalistic ten sefirot. This connection suggests an early Jewish interest in this Christian magical text. The study, using textual and visual analysis, offers insights into the interplay between medieval Jewish Kabbalah and Christian magical texts, underscoring the need to reevaluate their mutual influences during the 13th and 14th centuries.
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In his Summa Sacre Magice, Berengarius Ganellus had a special place for Hebrew, which he described as superior to Latin, Arabic, and Greek. Although Ganellus was not fluent in Hebrew, and there is no evidence that he read Hebrew sources,... more
In his Summa Sacre Magice, Berengarius Ganellus had a special place for Hebrew, which he described as superior to Latin, Arabic, and Greek. Although Ganellus was not fluent in Hebrew, and there is no evidence that he read Hebrew sources, he surely draws upon Jewish sources. This article examines how Ganellus used some Jewish texts in his summa, especially the text Shi'ur Qomah. Shi'ur Qomah is a text known from at least the tenth century, in which a lengthy description of the body of God, its organs, and their divine names. As will be shown, Ganellus's unique use of Sh'iur Qomah underlines his eclectic approach and creativity.
Research Interests: Philology, Jewish Studies, Medieval History, Early Modern History, Magic, and 12 moreManuscript Studies, Demonology, Jewish - Christian Relations, Jewish Thought, Occultism, Kabbalah, Medieval Magic, Jewish Magic, Solomonic Magic, Research Medieval Judaism and Jewish Christian relations in Late Antiquity and Medieval age., Ritual Magic, and Demonic Magic
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Within Max Théon's circles – The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor and the Cosmic Movement – there was great interest in ritual magic. Some of the works associated with these movements reveal a theoretical and practical approach that had been... more
Within Max Théon's circles – The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor and the Cosmic Movement – there was great interest in ritual magic. Some of the works associated with these movements reveal a theoretical and practical approach that had been adopted from medieval and renaissance grimoires, which they used for different purposes. The methods of The Key of Solomon – perhaps the most influential medieval magical text – were reborn in Theon’s circles where they were transformed into psychological and spiritual practices. Gal Sofer’s chapter explores the reception of ritual magic by Alma and Max Théon, as well as by members of the H.B. of L., in order to reveal how these figures participated in the revival of ritual magic and how their interpretations influenced practitioners in the twentieth century and beyond.
Research Interests: Magic, Demonology, Alphonse Louis Constant (Eliphas Lévi), Golden Dawn Tradition, Western Esotericism (History), and 11 moreNew Age spirituality, Medieval Magic, Western Esotericism, History of magic, Solomonic Magic, Aleister Crowley, Max Theon and the Cosmic Movement, Goetia, Grimoire Tradition, Clavicula Salomonis, and Magic and Kabbalh
Yohanan ben Isaac Alemanno (1435-1505?) was an Italian kabbalist, philosopher and physician. In his less known autograph, Paris, BnF héb. 849, he incorporated contemporary Christian magic sources with kabbalah, providing a practical... more
Yohanan ben Isaac Alemanno (1435-1505?) was an Italian kabbalist, philosopher and physician. In his less known autograph, Paris, BnF héb. 849, he incorporated contemporary Christian magic sources with kabbalah, providing a practical method to ascend to the upper worlds for gaining prophecy. This article brings together Alemanno’s autograph and contemporary magical works, in order to demonstrate a radical change in Alemanno’s approach towards demonic magic, and the way he interpreted it using a cosmology he developed. Then, Alemanno’s cosmology will be used for reconsidering a concept of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494): The Triplex Merkabah.
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The figure of the Italian kabbalist, philosopher and physician Rabbi Yohanan Alemanno has been known to the scholars of Jewish studies for some decades. Nonetheless, his autograph in the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris MS 849),... more
The figure of the Italian kabbalist, philosopher and physician Rabbi Yohanan Alemanno has been known to the scholars of Jewish studies for some decades. Nonetheless, his autograph in the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris MS 849), has not been studied thoroughly.
This article describes this manuscript and discusses certain kabbalistic and magical themes in it. The purpose of this discussion is to shed new light on the figure of Alemanno, while emphasizing his aspirations to lead the Jewish nation, like Moses, and to bring about the redemption. Furthermore, I argue that Paris MS 849 is a literary autobiography, in which the author used the literary frame of Dante’s La Divina Commedia, and that this untitled manuscript might have a name.
This article describes this manuscript and discusses certain kabbalistic and magical themes in it. The purpose of this discussion is to shed new light on the figure of Alemanno, while emphasizing his aspirations to lead the Jewish nation, like Moses, and to bring about the redemption. Furthermore, I argue that Paris MS 849 is a literary autobiography, in which the author used the literary frame of Dante’s La Divina Commedia, and that this untitled manuscript might have a name.
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presented at the workshop “Beyond Doubt: Prophetic Language and Esoteric Knowledge in Renaissance Kabbalah” (June 2022), Maimonides Center, Hamburg.
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Although it is one of the most famous and influential works of demonic magic, the history of Clavicula Salomonis is still vague. Scholars of Solomonic Magic usually favor the hypothesis that places a Greek text as the original source of... more
Although it is one of the most famous and influential works of demonic magic, the history of Clavicula Salomonis is still vague. Scholars of Solomonic Magic usually favor the hypothesis that places a Greek text as the original source of the Clavicula, known in fifteenth-century Italy under the title Υγρομαντεία (Hygromanteia).
However, an examination of unpublished Hebrew and Aramaic texts, as well as already known Latin, Italian, English, and Greek texts, suggests otherwise.
presented at 'Magic and Language – Jewish and Christian Magic in Early Modern Europe' (2019), University of Leipzig, Germany.
However, an examination of unpublished Hebrew and Aramaic texts, as well as already known Latin, Italian, English, and Greek texts, suggests otherwise.
presented at 'Magic and Language – Jewish and Christian Magic in Early Modern Europe' (2019), University of Leipzig, Germany.
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Presented at the 5th INASWE Annual Conference.
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The teachings in Max Théon's circles – The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor and the Cosmic Movement – reveal a great interest in Magia Sexualis. Yet, some of their works show a theoretical and practical magical approach that had been adopted... more
The teachings in Max Théon's circles – The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor and the Cosmic Movement – reveal a great interest in Magia Sexualis. Yet, some of their works show a theoretical and practical magical approach that had been adopted from medieval and renaissance demonic magic texts, for different purposes. The methods of The Key of Solomon, one of the most influential medieval magical text, reborn in Theon's circles, and transformed into psychological and spiritual practices.
This presentation aims to explore the reception of ritual magic by Alma and Max Théon, as well as other members of the H.B. of L., in order to understand how those figures played a significant role in the revival of ritual magic, and how their interpretation of magic has influenced practitioners in the twentieth century and beyond.
This presentation aims to explore the reception of ritual magic by Alma and Max Théon, as well as other members of the H.B. of L., in order to understand how those figures played a significant role in the revival of ritual magic, and how their interpretation of magic has influenced practitioners in the twentieth century and beyond.
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We will be diving into demonic magical texts in which demons are summoned to assist magicians in their work. From the late medieval period onwards, such texts present the demons as deceptive and malicious creatures, while introducing the... more
We will be diving into demonic magical texts in which demons are summoned to assist magicians in their work. From the late medieval period onwards, such texts present the demons as deceptive and malicious creatures, while introducing the magician as a powerful figure who is able to bend them to his will. Thus, even though they represented pure evil, the demons could also be quite helpful, for the “right” practitioner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHscA2hGtEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHscA2hGtEE
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Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of "DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY"