A University in Zion: Max Weber and Gershom Scholem on Jewish Eschatology and Academic Labor

In his “Science as Vocation,” Weber equates rational academic conduct with Jewish ethics. For Weber, the tradition, which separates moral from messianism, is emblematic of scientists’ strenuous distinction empiricism metaphysics. The emergence a Zionist university in Jerusalem, an institute that was positioned part nation-building project, complicated this parallel. This article examines Gershom Scholem's activist approach to studies fundamental revision Weberian model scholarship significant role destines tradition. vision at constitutes eschatology pillar scholastic national portrayal messianism insular tradition overturns Weber's ethics lesson for Western academia. Reading Scholem shows enterprise founding Jerusalem ran counter European liberal conceptions Judaism. Moreover, reading them together notion labor reinstitute separatist theological ethos formative scholarship.