Yitzhak Ibn-Latif: A Mystical Philosopher or a Philosophical Mystic? A Commentary on Tzror Ha-Mor Chapter Five

Yitzhak Ibn Latif was an ambiguous figure throughout medieval Jewish thought, yet his writings influenced kabbalah and philosophers alike. His scholarly identity is constantly debated upon--he is often considered a philosopher in the eyes of the mystics, and a mystic in the eyes of philosophers. While the question of Ibn Latif’s scholarly identity is debated at length in modern scholarship as well, this is not the focus of this paper. Ibn Latif’s writings, given his twofold identity, raise questions about the relations between philosophy and theology, or, more specifically, Jewish mysticism. Does Ibn Latif write in his mystic voice to contradict philosophy, providing a mystical- internal-Jewish alternative to philosophy? Or, as this paper suggests, Ibn Latif legitimizes philosophy, thus explicating philosophical notions into mystical terms. My commentary and analysis of Sefer Tzror Ha’Mor decodes the mystical symbolism used by Ibn Latif and provides cross-references through Ibn Latif’s own language, writings and methodology in an attempt to “reverse engineer” this text and trace it back to its origins and meaning. This paper highlights, through a close reading of one of Ibn Latif’s most esoteric writings, Sefer Tzror Ha’Mor, his ambivalent use of philosophical terms in the service of Jewish mysticism.