ABSTRACT
The expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 brought to public awareness among Jews and Christians alike the existence of a Hebrew esoteric mystical theology, the Cabala, that included cosmogonical and psychological doctrines, as well as methods for discovering supposed hidden meanings in the text of the Torah. Christian humanists, with their interest in ancient languages and their respect for ancient wisdom, were drawn to the Cabala seeking evidence to support their faith. Aspects of the Cabala appealed also to the Renaissance penchant for magic, and it continued to appeal to occultists into the twentieth century.
