The Roots of Jewish Consciousness. Revelation and Apocalypse

«The Roots of Jewish Consciousness, vol. 1: Revelation and Apocalypse» — the first volume of the fundamental research by Erich Neumann (1905–1960). This work, which includes detailed scientific commentary, is being published for the first time. The work on the book was conducted from 1934 to 1940. During this period, Neumann, a young philosopher and doctor trained by Carl Gustav Jung, left Berlin and settled in Tel Aviv. The second volume was completed by him at the end of World War II. Although neither part was ever published, the author carefully preserved the manuscripts throughout his life. At the core of Neumann's work lies the existential problem of Jewish survival. He emphasizes that it is not only about the physical preservation of the people but also about the necessity of its psychological and spiritual revival. In the first volume, «Revelation and Apocalypse», Neumann asserts that contemporary Jews need to rediscover what was lost after the Babylonian exile. This refers to a capability that was inherent to the ancient ancestors of the Jews: to directly address the sacred, to receive revelations and prophecies. In his work, the author combines Jung's depth psychology methods with philosophical and hermeneutic ideas. He interprets sacred scriptures and apocalyptic literature through a Jungian lens while also referencing the works of thinkers such as Buber, Rosenzweig, and Auerbach.