Steiner's Impulse in the Holy Land: The Jewish-Israeli Reception of Anthroposophy
Publication information:
Abstract
Anthroposophy has become a significant presence in contemporary Israeli society. Two branches of the Anthroposophical Society operate in Israel, along with an Anthroposophical kibbutz in the Upper Galilee. Waldorf education, based on Steiner’s pedagogical principles, is highly popular, with hundreds of Waldorf kindergartens, schools, and training centers across the country. In addition, several Anthroposophical remedial homes and villages support people with special needs. The widespread success of Anthroposophy in Israel raises intriguing questions. How did the spiritual teachings of Rudolf Steiner, rooted in Western esoteric traditions and incorporating numerous Christological themes, resonate within Israeli Jewish society? How do Israeli Anthroposophists engage with Steiner’s negative views on Judaism and Zionism? This lecture will explore the reception history of Anthroposophy in Israel, from its beginnings in Mandate Palestine to the present, focusing on the efforts of Israeli Anthroposophists to reconcile their Jewish and Israeli identities with their Anthroposophical commitments.
Presenter Biography
Boaz Huss is the Aron Bernstein Chair in Jewish History in the Department of Jewish Thought and serves as the chair of the Goldstein-Goren International Center for Jewish Thought at Ben-Gurion University. His research focuses on the history of Kabbalah, Western esotericism, New Age culture, and new religious movements in Israel. Huss's recent publications include Mystifying Kabbalah: Academic Scholarship, National Theology, and New Age Spirituality (Oxford University Press, 2020), The Cosmic Movement: Sources, Contexts, Impact (Bialik Press, 2021, co-authored with Julie Chajes) and The Secret Doctrine of the Jew: Jewish Theosophists and the Kabbalah (SUNY Press, 2025).