History of the "Sefer Yetzirah" Compiled by Robert Zucker (c) All rights reserved. "Sefer Yetzirah" Home Page

The original "Sefer Yetzirah" is believed to have come from the "Oral Law" which the Lord gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Moses was said to have received the Oral Law along with the Written Law, according to Jewish tradition.

In several manuscripts it is called "Otiyyot de-Avraham Avinu." the "Sefer Yetzirah" possiblitility The attribution to R. Akiba appears in the 13th century onward, derived from the late Midrash "Otiyyot de-Rabbi Akiva." (Scholem, "Kabbalah," p. 28)

The "Oral Law" was passed from mouth to ear generation after generation until it was finally written down by Abraham, the patriarch. He is considered the original author of the "Sefer Yetzirah" who wrote the book upon his conversion from idol worshipper to the religion of the True Gd.

According to a statement in "Rokeah (Hasidut Zakuyyut 'Arum)," at age 48, Abraham was moved by the deeds of the generation of the Tower of Babel to reflect on Gd and the universe. He first studied for three years by himself,. Afterwards, by the command of Gd, he was taught by Shem, until he became so wise he composed the "Sefer Yetzirah".

Then Gd appeared to him, took him unto Himself, kissed him, called him His friend, and made a covenant with him and his descendants forever. ("Legend of Jews", Ginsburg, 210 "Sefer Yetzirah" 6.)

The "tradition" (Qabala) was then passed down orally to his sons, then to:

• Jeremiah, who passed it on to
• Joseph b. Uziel, who passed it to his son,
• Ben Sira who passed it to his son, Uziel.
• It was transmitted until the sages of Jerusalem put it to writing at a time when the Jews were at a period of destruction, sometime in the first or second century AD.

1st Talmudic Passage
The first mention of the creation of a golem, or an artifical being, is found in the Babylonian Talmud passages of Sanhedrin 65b, Sanhedrin 66b, tratsie Erubin, p. 63.
"But, alas, your iniquities have separated between you and your Gd."
Sandhedrin 65b, in reference to Isaiah 59:2, LIX.2. This section is preceded by a discussion on ba'al ob and conjuring the dead to foretell the future.

"Raba said: If the righteousness desired it, they could [by living a life of asbolute purity], be creators, for it is written, 'But your iniquities have distinguished between, etc.' (ed. ibid to above quote. Raba understands mabadilim in the sense of "draw a distinction."

2nd Talmudic Passage
"For Rava once created a man (ed. by means of "Sefer Yetzirah"*) and sent him to Rav (Z'era) Zira (Zeira) (Sira??) Rabbi Z'era spoke to him, but received no answer. The man, being unable to reply when spoken to, the Rabbi said to him,

'Thou art a creature of the company (initiated in the mysteries of necromancy) (ed. in Sanhadrin "magicians") ("You are [coming] from the Pietists] return to thy dust.' "

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