Comparative Analysis of the Views of M. Laitman and P. Polonsky on Jewish History

Abstract

The article was performed a comparative analysis of the historical views of M. Laitman and P. Polonsky on Jewish history. The main purpose of the article is to reveal the characteristic features of the modern religious-mystical view of history. The common features of the biographies of thinkers and the general ideological doctrine their historical views are the basis for the comparative analysis. The Laitman’s and Polonsky’s approaches to Kabbalah determine the originality of historical views of thinkers. The Kabbalah of Rabbi Ashlag is the basis of approach of Laitman. The central concept of Ashlag’s Kabbalah is antithesis “giving/influencing — receiving”. It is “altruism — egoism” in Kabbalah of Laitman (or “the path of the Light” and “the path of suffering” in his historical concept). World history is described as the development of mankind determined by the growth of egoism. The history of ancient Jews (history of Kabbalistic development) is an alternative way of development of mankind. The Kabbalah of Rabbi Kook is the basis of approach of Polonsky. The central idea of Kook’s Kabbalah is dialog. In views of Polonsky Jewish history is presented as a dialog between God and the people. For example, the idea of the dialogue is manifested in views of Polonsky on the history of Zionism and on the history the emergence of State of Israel. The views of thinkers on Jewish chosenness and on the role of religion and tradition in the fate of the Jews are compared.The authors conclude that historical views of Polonsky are closer to the scientific approach to Jewish history and the Jewish tradition that the historical views of Laitman. Polonsky forms the image of history, in which there is a connection between the Jewish tradition and modernity. Laitman forms an alternative history. The main idea of Laitman’s historical concept are to argue the historical role of Kabbalah and to induce Jews and mankind to develop on the basis of the Kabbalah of Laitman.