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"Sefer Yetsirah"
and Jewish Mysticism Time Line
Compiled by Robert Zucker (c) All rights reserved.
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The history and origins of the manuscript "Sefer Yetzirah" is unknown prior to the beginning of the 1st Century AD. Most authors over the centuries have numerous speculations about how the book on creation actually was created.
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" possibilities The attribution to R. Akiba appears in the 13th century onward, derived from the late Midrash "Otiyyot de-Rabbi Akiva." (Scholem, "Kabbalah," p. 28)
Qabalah, 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.
The Letters of Abraham the Patriarch
 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.' "
Follow the timeline year by year of the development of Sefer Yetzirah:
2007-2008 R. Zucker. Copyright. All rights reserved.
These contents cannot be reproduced, distributed, posted or stored without the authors permission. EMOL.org
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My Top Choice Sefer Yetzirah Books
These are the most popular, and available, books on Sefer Yetzirah. Although other editions have been printed by other authors, it is getting harder to find them.
The authoritative text on the study of the "Sefer Yetzirah" or Book of Formantion (Book of Creation). Kaplan's explanations are easy to understand and make sense. A must have manual for anyone ready to decifer this ancient manuscript.
• Paperback: 398 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books; Rev Sub edition (May 1997)
• Language: English
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by R. A. Gilbert (Foreword),
Arthur Edward Waite (Editor, Introduction),
sKnut Stenring (Translator)
Stenring has made a word-for-word translation from several texts, choosing only those parts which he believed to be authentic. He reveals the text’s secrets in his diagrams, tables, and extensive notes. His "Master Key to the Theoretical and Practical Kabala" is a diagram of the correspondences between the English and Hebrew alphabets and is not found in other translations of the Sepher Yetzirah. Also unique in this translation is Stenring’s assignment of certain tarot cards to the paths on the Tree of Life. Several authors have done this before, but Stenring asserts that he arrived at his correspondences on his own. The introduction by Waite surveys the historical background of the Sepher Yetzirah translations and the import of this foundational Kabbalistic text.
About the Author
R. A. Gilbert's foreword provides background information on Waite's interest and involvement with Stenring's translation.
Knut Stenring was a Swedish Hebrew scholar. He published this work in 1923.
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by W. Wynn Westcott (Author)
A selection from INTRODUCTION: The "Sepher Yetzirah," or "Book of Formation," is perhaps the oldest Rabbinical treatise of Kabalistic philosophy which is still extant. The great interest which has been evinced of 1ate years in the Hebrew Kabalah, and the modes of thought and doctrine allied to it, has induced me to translate this tractate from the original Hebrew texts, and to collate with them the Latin versions of mediaeval authorities; and I have also published An Introduction to the Kabalah which may be found useful to students. Three important books of the "Zohar," or "Book of Splendour," which is a great storehouse of Kabalistic teaching, have been translated into English by S. L. MacGregor Mathers, and the "Sepher Yetzirah" in an English translation is almost a necessary companion to these abstruse disquisitions: the two books indeed mutually explain each other.
Sepher Yetzirah (Paperback: 48 pages)
Publisher: Kessinger Publishing (December 30, 2005)
Language: English
Sepher Yetzirah (Kindle) (Format: Kindle Edition)
File Size: 226 KB
Print Length: 112 pages
Publisher: Oak Grove (March 20, 2008)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
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by Charles F. Horne (Editor)
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Kessinger Publishing (December 30, 2005)
Language: English
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(Paperback)