Sigmund Freud and the Jewish Mystical Tradition

David Bakan challenges the common perception of Freud as a purely secular thinker by revealing the profound influence of Jewish mysticism, particularly Kabbalah, on his psychoanalytic theories. This 2024 reprint of the 1958 original presents a detailed examination of how Freud's Jewish heritage shaped his intellectual development, blending cultural history with psychological insight. Bakan's study highlights the tension between Freud's identity as both a Jew and an "infidel", offering a nuanced perspective on the roots of psychoanalysis and Jewish identity itself.