Gershom Scholem

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Records

Scholem's achievements are remarkable for their foundational impact. He essentially created the academic field of Jewish mysticism, training a generation of scholars at the Hebrew University. His books remain standard references, and his interpretations of messianism and Kabbalah have influenced countless thinkers. He was the first to treat Sabbatianism as a serious historical phenomenon, and his work continues to provoke debate and research.

AwardsScholem received the Israel Prize in Jewish studies in 1958, the Bialik Prize for Jewish thought in 1977, and the Harvey Prize in 1970. He was elected president of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and received honorary doctorates from Harvard, Yale, and other institutions.

Honours & Distinctions

President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities

Israel Academy·1968

Served as president from 1968 to 1974.

Foreign Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

American Academy·1966

Elected foreign member.

Honorary Doctorate

Harvard University·1967

Awarded honorary degree.

Honorary Doctorate

Yale University·1970

Awarded honorary degree.

Fellow of the British Academy

British Academy·1974

Elected fellow.

Records & Feats

First professor of Jewish mysticism in the world

Academic·1925

Appointed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1925, establishing the academic discipline.