liebes is considered a leading scholar of kabbalah. his work is said to be representative of "the hebrew university's new wave of kabbalistic research". liebes explores the mythic and messianic dimensions in judaism and kabbalah, and christian and sabbatean influences on kabbalah. he has written extensively on "the zohar, lurianic kabbalah, sabbateanism, breslov hasidism and the gaon of vilna and his disciples". he studies the links between judaism and ancient greek religion, christianity, and islam. his work is often cited by scholars.