Walter Benjamin had a strong leaning towards the mystical which only in later life moved towards
Marxism. He was in the Zionist Youth Movement. He and Gershom Scholem remained close friends and intellectual
interlocutors even as Scholem deepened his mystical Zionism. What I found most interesting in this book
by a friend about his friend is that Benjamin was unable to finally choose between his leanings towards the
mystic and his desire to fit in as a secular intellectual with Marxist leanings. It is really a fascinating insight into
a time and a world through the story of a friendship of two very different men.
Marxism. He was in the Zionist Youth Movement. He and Gershom Scholem remained close friends and intellectual
interlocutors even as Scholem deepened his mystical Zionism. What I found most interesting in this book
by a friend about his friend is that Benjamin was unable to finally choose between his leanings towards the
mystic and his desire to fit in as a secular intellectual with Marxist leanings. It is really a fascinating insight into
a time and a world through the story of a friendship of two very different men.
