Abstract

In recent scholarship, the Book of Splendor (Sefer ha-Zohar), the masterpiece of Castilian Jewish mysticism, has been considered the result of a literary movement, whose goal was to enhance a «spiritual Renaissance of the Jewish religion». In this regard, scholars have suggested a parallel with the Italian Renaissance. This intuition has been further developed through comparisons between Dante’s and Saint Francis’ ideals of reform, and those of the Jewish Castilian masters. My article will discuss these perspectives, showing how the drive that led to the creation of the Zohar has prompted both a development of original elements of the character of Judaism, and a resurfacing of its traditional identarian values – two contrasting attitudes, which Jewish mysticism has been able to combine