Overview of the "Book of Creation"

These pages are from the new book on the legends and history of Kabbalah and the Book of Creation, Kabbalah's Secret Circles, Read some of the chapters and download a free PDF sample of the book to preview.

Sefer Yetzirah Book of Creation Book of Formation By Robert E. Zucker

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" possibility 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.)

Kabbalah Shoppe- Books & Items

The history of the Sefer Yetzirah– Book of Formation

This is an excerpt from the new book, Kabbalah's Secret Circles, Read some of the chapters and download a free PDF sample of the book to preview.

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 artificial 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 absolute 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.' "

Next: Sefer Yetzirah Time Line. Travel across history year by year of important events in the history of Sefer Yetzirah the Kabbah.

Explore the Kabbalah and make your own Kabbalah Wheel

In "Kabbalah's Secret Circles," learn how the ancient Jewish mystics would combine the letters of the Hebrew alphabet to produce wonderous miracles. Get the instructions to construct a Kabbalah (Qabalah) Wheel similar to the description the chapter 2 of the Book of Formation, Sefer Yetzirah. The author is also the publisher of this web site section on Kabbalah. Available on Amazon.com and other international online book distributors in both print and digital formats. Purchase a signed copy by the author directly in the US. Read sample chapters from Kabbalah's Secret Circles.

Most popular and reliable books about "Sefer Yetzirah"

These are the most popular books on Sefer Yetzirah, the Book of Creation (Book of Formation). All of them can be purchased through these links at Amazon.com. Check for free shipping eligibility on some books. Print paperback and Kindle versions available.

Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation

By Aryeh Kaplan. This is the most authoritative text on the study of the "Sefer Yetzirah" or Book of Formation (Book of Creation). Kaplan's explanations are easy to understand and make common sense. Hebrew with English translations in great detail and insight. A must have manual for anyone ready to decipher this ancient manuscript. Paperback: 398 pages. Publisher: Weiser Books; Rev. Sub edition (May 1997). Language: English.

Book of Formation or Sepher Yetzirah: Attributed to Rabbi Akiba Ben Joseph

By Arthur Edward Waite (Editor, Introduction), Knut Stenring (Translator) and R. A. Gilbert (Foreword). 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. The introduction by Waite surveys the historical background of the Sepher Yetzirah translations and the import of this foundational Kabbalistic text. Knut Stenring was a Swedish Hebrew scholar. He published this work in 1923 and it is regarded as a major resource, although some translations are dubious. 78 pages from Ibis Press (June 2004).

Sepher Yetzirah

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 (Format: Kindle Edition). File Size: 226 KB. Print Length: 112 pages. Publisher: Oak Grove (March 20, 2008). Sold by: Amazon Digital Services.

Overview of the "Book of Creation"

Kabbalah Shoppe- Books & Items