The Qabbalah of the Hebrews and the ancient Wisdom religion of Asia: Isaac Myer and the Kabbalah in America

In 1888, Isaac Myer published, in Philadelphia, a book entitled Qabbalah—The Philosophical Writings of Solomon Ben Yehuda Ibn Gabirol. Myer’s book was the first comprehensive book on Kabbalah printed in the United States, and the most learned and up to date book on Kabbalah in English at the time. The article presents Myer and his works and examines his unique scholarly-esoteric approach to Kabbalah. The article investigates Myer’s sources, his intellectual and esoteric networks and his connections with scholars of religion, Jewish rabbis, and occultists. The article sheds light on the interest and perception of Kabbalah in America in the late 19th century, and contributes to understanding the development of Kabbala in America in later periods.