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Aryeh Kaplan Sefer Yetzirah The Book of Creation
Aryeh Kaplan Sefer Yetzirah The Book of Creation
/In Theory
.and
IPractice
, Revised
IEdition
I ARYEH KAPLAN
-------------------
Copyrighted material
The Book of Creation
Revised Edition
ARY~H KAPLAN
WEISERBoOKS
60s ton, MN'Yo rk Buc h, ME
~iltd edition pobl» ' ~ i. 1m by
Reel \\'h«L/'WeiMr, u.c
VOlt. Beach, ME
\\-l1li otrk:a l1li
368 eo.,r- s_
il'n,., MAOUI O
_ ,....1tNIwftMr, ~
I 0 09 011 01 IllS os 04
loS I~ LJ 12 II ]0 9 8
SEFER YE77fRAH
3 Cbaptcr One
93 Cbap!" Two
'"
'"
Chapter lbrtt
Chapter Four
APPENDIXES
'"
319 NaTES
389 INDEr
Copyrighted material
Introduction
The ~fn Yrt:l'rah. is w;thoU! question I~oldest and most mysteri-
OIlS of all Kabbalislic le~l5. The fi rsl comment;uies on Ihis boot we~
wril1en in the 100h cenlu1)'. and the lUI itself is QUOIN as early as
the si1th. Rtfe~1ICC'5 to the work appear in the first century. while
traditio"' rtprdinl ils ux allnt 10 ils existence c"cn in Biblical
times. So ancienl is Ihis book Ihat its orisi ns a~ no LonjeT accessable
10 hiSlori.ns. We a~ lotally dependent on tradi tions with reprd 10
ils aulho~i p.
Equally mysterious is the meaninl of Ihis book. If the I U11>or
meant 10 be obsc ure:. he ..-a. cm ;""nlly 5uCttqfuL Ii is only Ihm ... '"
the most arefuI analys;$, sn.d yinl every word with ils parallels in
Biblical and Talmlldic literalure, Ihat its hau of ~ri l y bqins 10
be ~nCll1ued.
There have been many inlcrpreunions oflhe &1" YMz;roh. The
earliest commentators tried 10 in lcl'J'lret it as a philosophical 'll'llise.
but their efron. lhed mOK light on their 0" -'" ,y.tems than on th~
te~t. The same: is true of efrons to fit it into tM systems of the Zobar
or Iller Kabbalistl. Efrons 10 view it IS a book on srammu or plio-
""tio I~ even more unsUCttSsfui.
In ICr>eral, the Kabbalah is divided into three cat~ri<"$. lhe the-
om ical. the mtdi tative, and the magicai. ' The theoretical Kabbal ah,
..'hich in it. prncnt form is based larzely on the Zobar. is oon.cemed
frIOStly with Ihe dynamics of th~ spiriuu.l domlin, np«ially the
worlds of the Srfirot, souls and Inlt'll. This branch of Kabball h
reached ils zenith in the wrilinp of the Safed 1ChooI in the 16th cen-
tury. Ind Ihe Vast majority of publ ishM texIS bdOOI in this
catqory,
Med illtive Kabbalah deals with Ihe use of divine names, letter
permutation., and similar methods 10 reach hiiher Slates of oon-
sciousness, and as suclt. rompriw::! a kind of yap, Most of the main
te~t s have never been published, but remlin K1ltterro in manuscriplS
in the JIl:II libraries and museum •. Some of these methods enjoyed
I brief renaiWln.ce in Ihe mid 1700', "'i th th~ rise of the Hasidic
mo"em~nl . but within a half century Ihey were 00« apin Ja'lely
fOl'lOtten,
,.
• SIO F~R Y!:TZIIlMI
" ,
"
tileimplications of such 3 readin, all' di$CU~Kd in Ihe
commentary_
What ""C therefore have In Sefer VelIitah 'pIXat$ 10 be an
instructional manual, describin& tenain mediUlt;ve exercise>. Then:
is some evidence Ihal these exercises were melnt 10 strenJlhen the
initiatc's oon«ntralion. and were panicuLtrly helpful in Ihe develop-
ment of telekinetic and telepathic pOWer$. It ""as with these pOwers
Ihal onc ,",'OuLd Ihen be able 10 pcri"onn feats Ihal outwardly appeared
10 be maJjcal. This is su pponed by the T almudical ref~nca, which
appea r \0 compare Ihe UK ofSefer Vctrirah \0 I kind o(wllite ma&ic.'
An imponant 13th "nuury commentator wrilCS thaI students of
Serer Velzirah were liven a man~pt of tile book Ruiel, a mlgia!
text containing seals, mqic:al ftgUTeS, di ... ine names and incantationl.·
The Text
The Sd"er Yeuilllh is a vny lI11all and concise boot. In its Shon Ver-
sion, it is only """'" 1JOO ""'Of'tIs Ion" "nile the I..on& Venion (lOII\.ains
approximately 2500 words. The Gra Version used in this lransblioo
cornairu; IIrQIJnd 1800 ..."Qrds. So lhort is the text. thaI one of the earliffi
fragments appean 10 have 1M entire book "";t1efl on • si"lle pqe. '
Tbc'n: is speculation that the oriainal souroe may have oonuoined as few
illi 240 worm.'
The present tut contains six chapten, and in I()me editions. I~
Ire said to paraUtlthe six orden of 1M Miiiblllh.' Some an<;~nt soum:s.
howe"er. state that the book contains five chap~1'$, and it $Cclli,likely
thai the pl'tXflt fifth and si~th chaplI~n ~ combined as OM in t~
texts. '0 The earliCSI commentator. Saadil Gaon, in I somewhat diffeml1
"""ion, divides lhe book into ciaht chapterS. "
The text is pn:5Cnln.l dogmatiaolty. without substantiation or e~pla
na\ion. [n the fint chapter in particular. it il solemn and IOII<)fOU$, rf3d.
inllikc blank""",, pOcIry. Vny few Biblical P'''''Ign all' quot«!. and
with the uccplion of Abrallam. no namt or aulhority is menl~.
The book oeeTnltO be divided inlO four buic porU. The lim chap-
In in\roduccs the Sefinx, spealin, of them . 1 Ien&th. Aftn thi~ how-
evn. lhere is no mention whatsocvcr rcprdina the Sefinx in sub$equccnl
chap!en. This had Ird to oomc speoIlation that the Scfn Yeu;irah miahl
actually be a combinalion of lWO (or~) earlier lUll.
The scamd chapter oonsists of a acncral discussion about the 1cnen
of the alphabet. II dearly appe. n to be inlroo:illCinl their use in a medi-
tative oontul. AJso inlrod..:al in this chapler an: the fhc pbonetic ram-
iJie5 and lhe 231 Gates. Apin, ncilhcr the phonetic families nor the
Gat .. are cver apin mentionrd in the lcxt.
Chapters three to fi,l' di!C\l!oS the three divisions of the letters,
"mothe", doubIQ. a lld elementab. ~ ~ are related 10 the ~uni\'tTSC,
soul and )...ar.~ pl . .ntinl_ fairly <kwled 11'5trologiC1ll s~em. In thc:se
clutpten.. the entire Ihrusl of lhe \look is o:I!ancflI, and they c:ontmi vir,
llIally no hint whatsoe~er of its meditative aspect..
Thi.. 1'oovo"VC1'. an he explained by a principle fOlind in many later
KabbaiiSlic le~1S. In order In focus spiritual and mental J'iO"'eo .. one
must take ;nlo acrotInlthe lime and 11'5trolotiaol environment "
The .i.• th doapter apin doe! not appear 10 haw: a '*ar c:onnection
10 the earlier pam of the book.. altbou&h in the Lona Version , it is jlIb-
temed a1JTi(l51 11'5 a commentary. Here. for tl>cc first time. are introduced
theroncepts of the "vis. C)~ and hean.~ ideas which are not discus5ed
any plac:.: e!oe in HebQ.i(: or Kabbalistic liteniilure, with the e,'CCplion
oft"" Bah ir." Ofall the chapt~ this one ~s the II>05t obscure. and
il is diffICUlt to decide if its emphasis i~ theotrtical or meditiltiw:.
Th is chapter ODnd~ with _ stanza linking the &fer Yo:u.i~ 10
Abraham. It is this Quote that serves as a source to the I~ition lIut
the book w"" authortd by the Patriarch.
Authorship
The arlic!.t sounx to which ~~r Yetzirah is anributed is the Patriardt
Abraham. As early as the 10th century, Saadia Gaon writes thai. "the
ancknts say thaI Atnham WT<)(e it.~" This Opinion is supponed by
alrroost all of the early commentaton.. " Such ancient Kabbalistic texts
1$ the Zohar and Razid al$(l a\tribute Sefer yetziBh to Abraham. " A
number of very old manuscripts of Serer Ycuirah likewioe be&in with
• ooIopbon calli"8 it "tl>cc letten of Abraham O\Ir Father. whidl i. called
Sefer Yctzirah.~"
Thi, does not mean. however. tMt the entire boot; as we haw: it
no .... waS wriuen by AbQham. As Sudi. Gaon ClIpiain •. the principles
ClIpotInded in Sefer Yctzirah .."re first taUJht by Abraham, but the)'
""re not aaually asxmbled in booIo:: form wlIil much lat~r. " Another
autllorit), OOIes that it could 001 ha,'e aauaUy been ...Titlen II)' Abr1ham,
5ino-e if it had. it 5hou1d haw: been incorporated into the Bible. or at
le<ut be mentioned on ICriptllre." Similarly. ",hen the
Zohar speah of boob antroatinl the Torah. il does not inc-lude the
Sefer Yel2inh il/tiQJII them. 1O
T he attribution of Abraham is supported by the final stanza of
Sefer Yetzirah: "When Abraham ... looI<ed and probed ... he "'as ~
ful in cn:ation .._~ This PO'"'" clearly Sl'aesl! that Abraham aauaUy
made use of the methods fO\lnd in Ih is text.
If"" ' ...... . 11;
,.
•• j SEFU YI!TZIIlAH
H~w lan&u.a&e. even in his daily convenal ion." Ray Y~hlldah abo
mainl.ined Ihal pr;oy~r ~uld ~ yoiad in H~brew, and nOi in Ihe
Aramaic y~mac\llar,"
Th~ Talmud relal~ Ihal R... Y~f knew Ihe mYSlmn of Ihe
Marhva . .... hile the ~elden of Pumpadila" _re versed in the mysler-
i~ m ereation. Ra,· Y~fgolille elders 10 leach him Ihe mysleries
of creal ion. bul would nol enll1lSI them with lhe Marhva mysteries
in return."
This indicaleS Ihat the my'l~rin of Ihe MarkaYi. Bnd lhose of
Sefer Yelz;rah .... e,.., ta""'l by different ..::hools. and lhal members of
one school did nOI know tile leachinp ofille olher. "The lWO involved
di ff~nt discipline., and nre was taken 10 k~p tllem scparale. This
also ans"'iers the Queslion as 10 wh y Ihe Sd"er Yelzirah is ne"er men_
tioned in Ille lIrld!aIOl. lhe classic of Marbva lilerature.Ol The
Marhv. lilenllu", !k~1oped in a schoollhal mi&ht have not had
.callS to xfer Ye!rirab, even lhough ce"ain of ils members_re
definilely ~ersed in it. In Ihe same (:Onlext, xfu Yelzirall is men·
tioned hut a vcry fno' timn in IIIe Zohar. and then. not in the main
lexl."
In Ihat period. Ihere were some saln who nclle",-w thl':lC m~
teries complel~ly. Such an ind ividual was Rabbi Elazar ben Padat.
" '1\0 beaded the aeadem)' in Tiberiu. after the dealh of Rabbi
Yachanan in Ihe year 279 CL When Rabbi Yachanan h<ld offered 10
leach him lhe Madaya m)'l1erio, Ite defCI'l"Cd on Ille around. Ihat he
"'as 100 youn&. After Rabbi Yachanan's death, wilen Rabbi Assi
wi5hed 10 impa" Iht'SC mysteries to him, he apin defem:d, sayin&.
~ Ifl would have been ....orthy. I would have learned lkem from R.bbi
Yachanan )'Ou r master, -
Instead. Rabbi Elazar adopted a posilion somewhal opposed 10
Ihe CSO\erk schools. a<:ttplina Ihe "icwpoinl of Rabbi Yosi ben
Zimra. Oenyi lli lhat IIIe Serer Yelzirah could be used 10 actu.ally C~
ale life. he said in the name of Rabbi Y05i. "If aU the prople in Ike
world cam~ 1O&Clhcr. they (:Ould not crule a J1IB1 and imbtle it wi th
a soul."'" 11 was not that Rabbi Elazar doubted thai weh po_rs
e~isled, Rather. he felc llIal tl>ey " 'el"(> no 10lll"r known. 'fhae po ....-
ers. howe" er. d id CIisl in Ihe Tonh. Rabbi Elanr thus said . ~The
I'"u",,,,,"phs of tile Torah II"(> not in order. If Ihey were in [correct[
order. an)'One . '1\0 read lkem would be . bk 10 [cl"(>ate I World.} mur-
reel III-e dead, and perfo"" miradt'S.. -
A generalion later. "'C find IWO impo"ant sqes aCli~dy enpaed
in Iht mysteries of Sefer Yetzirah. The firsl was Rava (29'J-lSJ <'I).
founder and fi~1 ma51er of tlte Babylonian ~ad~my in Mechuza •
... ho is crcdiled wi lh oa yin" ~If Ike n,htcous desired. lhe~ could cre-
lie a world,- Hi5 pa"ner was RaY Zein. who was known III the
"'
"yin! of Bab)'lon ..... So great _rc: Ray Zeira's meditative po",-ers
Ihat he was able 10 place his feel in fire without buminllh.em. He
would test him~lf each month to see if this pOlIo-er Willi unabated. On
one ~sion, Ihe other s.a&n distracted him. a nd he failed, where.
upon he wlU cailt(!, ~The litlle man witl'lth e burmd f«t .....
An ancient tradition stain that Rava and Rav Zeira worked
tQSether for three ye"n, medila!;n, on tile Sefer Yctzirah. When they
finally mastered it, Ihey created a calf and 5I.aullncm;! ii , ..,!'Vi"" ;1
at a feast ceJcbralin,lhcir accomplishment. Thcy then 10$1 their pow.
en and had to work for an.otlier th= yean \0 rnion: them. "
Tile Talmud ..,latn that " Rava c""aled a man" and sent bim \0
Rav Zein. When lhe laller Sal',' that this android would nOI ans""cr
his questions. he realiud thai ;1 was a Golcm, and told ;1 \0 "return
10 Ihe dust.· ··, The Bahi r remarks Ilia! the GoJcm could nOi speak
becau"" Rav....... 1>01 completely f= from Ihe !lint of si n. and as
long as man sins. he cannot partake of the po""rs of the (realor.'OI
Only God can make a man who can speak.. This is tile first mention
of the creation of a GoIem in Hebraic literalure , but in the middle
ail's. several other jnstan<:... a"" reponed.''''
E'"n the expression. ~ Ra"a created a man," has mystical conno-
lations. [n I~ oriynal. it is RaBM BoRA GaBhRA (I<"UI "1) ,.:n ).
and, as an tarly Kabbalist nOI .... Ihe second word is nothin, ot her
than Ihe ...,velY of Ihe first.'O< The third word adds a Gimmel. the
third lener oflhe alphabet. to lhe word before;1. This yields a ph~
consisting of len letters. with a numerical value of 612. one less than
6 13. t~ number of bon.es and blood ,,,*Is in Ihe human body. '"
The man crealed by Ran WI'! Ihus somelhinl less Ihan human. In
many ways. th ;s exprenion is reminiSCtnl of Ihe word Abracadabra
(ABNA K'ADaBRA-II'O'VO >n;III), which lilerally means, " I will create
as I speak. -'OO
During the Talmudic period. Ihere well' man y sap who rnPlCd
in thne mysteri ....'''' With the dose of Illis era, 1I0,",'(v(r, a blankel
of silence was cast over all occult aC1 ivitin.. It appears Ihat a number
of mystical books were written during Ih e SU~lJoOnt Gaonic period,
but Ihe;r orilin. are .hl'OYded in mystery. Still, kno..-IedJt of thne
practices clea rly existed as late IS the 10th century, and H.i Gaon
(939--103 8) speaks of JXOple cn&ased in tile mystical permulation
(1:,...,1(Jl of Ieners.,..
,.
.. ;; S EFE~ V£TZtRAH
Table l. HiSlorical opi nioo§ as to .... hen Srfrr r froirllir .... a~ .... ritten .
Before 100 .... Lazarus GoIdsmidt. [)as Buch dtT ScMpfimg,
FrankJun, 1894. p. 12.
Is~el We il1$tocl<, nmiri" I , Jeruill!em , 1972,
p. 21 . (for earliest pIOn s).
100 ..... 100 0: Adolphe rranck, Oit Kabbdlilh. Leipzi&,
1844, p. 6S.
Israel Weinstock. loe.cit. (for IIC'COnd layer).
1·100 co Adolph Jellinek. Inlroduction 10 Oit
KabW!"Ir, pp.6-9.
Yo hann Friedrich von Meyer, [)as Bwch
YnirtJlr, Lcipzi&, 1839, p. v.
Heinrich Graetz. GtIIJSliciJmus. Krotoschin.
1846, pp. 102-103.
100-200 co Isadore Kal ish. Stftr YrllirtJh. New York.
1871. p. 3.
David C.sldl i, Commrnli di Don% ,
Firenze, 1880, p . 14.
Abraham Epstrin, Brilragr zlIr Judi:v:hrn
A!ltrllrllmsic.ulttir, Vienna. I 887, 1:46 49.
!dtm .. Rnchrrrhr SII' It StftT Y/'('ira. Rro-ur
dn EdlIl n Jlli_ 29:7S-76 (1894).
CXrshom Scbolnn, Ur1pnmg und A'Ifil~,
Berli n, 1962 . pp. 21 . 2S (note 4 S).
Avraham Mcir Habermann. Sinol 10: 141
( 1114 7).
200-<00 • Louis Gi n"be .... Jt't<'iJlr EItQ'IOpft/iQ. New
York. 1904, 12:60S.
CXnhom Scllolcm, EncycIoprdi" Judaial,
- .
600-800 •
Berlin. 11132. 9:109.
Leo Baed, Aus drri J"lrrlQusrNir, Berlin.
1938. p. 382.
Hermann L Strack. EI" lr ltllng i" Talmud
lI"d M idFlu , Munich. 11121. p . 22 1.
Sh. Mo.... Sir"", Kt!,,!OI. BGD KRl'T. !it! "
Th, Si nol. Jerusalem . 1960. pp. 233-236.
Nehem ia AlonL H/slOriSt:hr GrammaliJc..
Hali. ]1122 , p. 112.
Idt m., nmjrim I , p. 116.
...ii
I'OC'm ,",'riuen by Rabbi Eluar Kalir, who li~ed in the fifth or shth
centul}'. and perhaps even earlier. He write5: '"
Then, from eternity, with Ten Sayinp You IOU,ro
With Scribe, SoCript and SoCf(lIl- Ten.
You finished them in si~ directi"""
Ten words.
There are also allusions to the [e.chinp of Serer Yetlirah in
Brrrila drShmurl HaKalan, which, acrording to internal e~idence,
was wriuen in o r around 776 <:<."" There is also a mention of Ihe
-Ten Sefif(lt of Nmhinf,lln;!- in a late Mid rash. wh ich could lIave
been rW.acted around this time.' "
The absence of any unambilllOus references to Serer Yetzirab in
carl ieT' litera lure h.. led some hiotorians to $ptt\llale whether or not
the Talmudic citltions are referrin, 10 our teu. Some maimain thai
our venion "'III wrilten much laler than 1~ Ta lmud. A lisl of such
estimale5 in given in Table I.
'The me:.! carefl,ll analyail. no...~,.t'T. reveals a number of suata in
tile teu 'The artiest parts of the book IllIHIT vet)' ancient, )!OUibly
antedating tile Talmudic CT1I. III A oomiden.bIc amount of the tnt
Ipptlr1 to .... ve been added later 011, ]XlUibly as a &Jossary orrommen-
tal}'. As some mtlle earliesl commenIlU:... on SefeT Ycttirah OOIe, c0m-
mentaries and marJinai notCli _re occasionally inrorporated into lhe
Int.'" In 1M 10th ~tury, Rabbi Yaakov ben Nissim wriles. - People
wnle Hebrew comments 011 tile book. and 0!ht'T fooli$h people come
later and commenl on !he commentary. Between \bern, lrulh is 1o&t.-'"
This is not SU!']lrWn" sinr.:e in Talmudic limes, such marginal ootes
were even common in Biblical seroUs. a1\ho1l&h eDOU&h Will known of
IMiT text, WI !he comments were not ir.rorporated into it.
Se~cral strala are cvi<knl in WeT Yetrirah. some apparenlly
added in the late Talmudic p"riod, and OIIier1 in llie G,onic era,
'"'' Sf.FU VETZIRAH
Since the Gra Version was considered Ihe most aUlhentic by Ihe
Kabbal i.li. Ihis is Ihe one thaI we have eboscn for Ihe initialtran,I __
SEFER \'ETZI IIAI!
'I' ate
,.
Copyrighted material
CHAPTER ONE
Copyrighted material
,
With 32
As the nu.t stanu will ex plain, lhesoe 12 paths are mlnifest as
the 10 diajts and the 22 kmers ofille Hebrew .lphabet. Tile 10 diails
are . lso manifest in the Ten Sefirol, which are the most basic ron-
""PiS of U;S1entt.
The ~Iers and diails arc Ille basis of tile mO'iI buk i~nll
of c",uion. qualily and quantily. ' TlIt: qualities of Iny Jiven Ihinl
can be described by words fonmd out of tile letten, whik all of its
• .sociated q WLntilies can be expiC ' m by numbers.
Numben, however, canDO! be defined until there eJlisu some
element of plurality in creation. The Creator Him5l:If il absolutely
• SHEll Y~IR,o.H
"'~""
D. God !;lid. ki the urth he Sefinh 5
~&eUlcd
Elemental II
30. God said. be {",itflll and Malkho,u Scfirah 10
multiply
,
• SEF!;R Y ~ T~JRAH
•
Silllir~lio!I
..
N~m-
Final F,~
R~prrYn led
b,
H' .... Sounded
name
,""'
~~
ena.1
~I~
",
,
Silent
.,
;,., A './lpll
BO' '"
H_
1
2
,
,
.'"
b. '"
d.dll
h
.""
0,, '"
n'!~
GHnl!./
DIJ'· /Irlr
C...
"""
Wi!\doW
,,
}
, •,
, ,• 0
V<h'
Z4)t ..
Hook
W~"'"
"0 ,
'h
""'" ''''
Clrl lir F=
Snake ,•
r ( i)
, ,, '."'
•
-q, "'"
~
~ "ph
H...
The haM bent
10
20
, 1 /.d '·mld "'..."
.,
30
0
1
, ••
,
0
m
•"
Si~nl
"
"
'""
.\Inn
Nillf
$4'·mlklr
j.y{"
WIler
"~
'roo
E,.
.."
10
r •
p
.
P. ph
k (q)
"''" " 1:t.WhI' F~
Q<»h
Month
Back of tile
SO
90
...,'" .'"
.. hod 100
, , Hood 200
• ~ .... SMn T~h
<roo
300
" I. Ih ~
'" <00
" Lar aspecl of cn:al ion . Man ;$ Sttn .. a mic"x:osm. wilheach thinl
in hi5 bod)' p,arlllLel ilII $CK'IIethin, in tile fOfttS o f creation . T hus, for
namplc. the 5jx days of creation h....·c pan.llels in man's 'wo arms.
IWO lep. \01'10 and suua] <»pn. This is the siani1klln« of the
To nlh's 5!alemcnt lhat God fornted man Win Ihe im'leof God w (Gen-
esis 1:27). Note that the word for wOOO· licK ;1 ElQhim. This is
b«au!oe man's form parallels Ihe 5lruclure of the dclinealin& forcno
that ddine creali,m.
Th~ Kabbali.tl note thu the 32 paths of Wisdom hav~ th~ir par_
an~l in the human neT\'Olls system ,' Thiny-on~ o f tllne pu hs tl!.m
'I' ate
•
paraJlelthe )1 rIe ...·e!l Ihal emanate from the spin~l cord. The thiny-
serond and hiJ,hes\ path corrcsponw \0 the entin: complu of cranial
ncr.es, which an: twelve in number.
The rlervous s)'stem serves a double pu.pose. Finl , illranomits
mesuiCS from the brain 10 all pans of Ihe body, allDwin, Ibe mind
\0 oonlrollhc limbs and organs. Secondly, tbe nervous system trans-
mits information from the various s.eme5 to the brain. Four of !he
senses. siabt, heariDI. taste and smell, come directly Ihrouch the era-
0;,11 r\ervn, ""hieh are entirely in the brain. The impulses Ihal come
from the 10",cr Jl nerves deal primarily wilh Ihe sense of touch and
feelin&-
Like the nerves. each of the )2 p.:Ilhs is a '''"0 way strttt. Fin! it
is tile ehanrle]throuJ,h .... hich the Mind euns conrrol over creation.
Secondly, ho·...ever. it is also Ihe path through ",hieh man caD Tueh
lhe Mind. If an individual wishes 10 allain a mystical experience and
approach Ihe Mind, he mUll Ira,-el .tI<)llJ, the )l palh,.
In Hebrew, the number 32 is written Lamed Bet (n). This speDI
Lev, Ihe Hebrew word for hean. ' [I is in the bean that the action of
Ihe Mind i. manifest in Ihe body. A. soon as the influentt of Ihe
mind ceases, the hean cea$t:S 10 function, thi, beinl the definilion of
death.
The heart a[so provides lifdorce 10 the bnin and nervou •• ys..
lem. When the he~n stops pumpin&. Ihe nervous sySlem caD nO
Ionler function, and the mind no 10llJCr exem influeno: 00 Ihe body.
The heart therefore serves as ~ causal lin k be!w.,.,n mind and
body. '
It is for this ...".son Ih31 S.fer Yetzirah calls lhe hean Mlhe kinl
over Ihe soul M(6:3). It also dciiCTibe. the m~"lical e1~rknec as a
Mrunoing of tbe heart M(1:8).
The Torah is seen 1$ Ihe hea rt of creation. The firsl letter of lhe
Torah is the Bel ( ~) of BernJri/ (l"n'I<"U}-Mln lhe bqi nni ng. MThe llllli
letter of Ihe Torah is Ihe Lamed ~j of Yisraei 1'* '" )--Ml5raeL. M
Toselher, thew two leuCTl also spell OUI lev (n), meaninl hean.'
The 32 patlls are contain ed in lhe TOrah . which is Ihe mraos through
which Ihe Mind is revealed. It i. also Ihe link helWttn the Mind and
Ihe ph)'skal universe. The Torah is Ihen:fon: e1pO\1nded in 32 differ-
VII wa~. as taughl by Rabbi Vasi ofGali!;.
T he lWO letters u.mcd ('» and Bel (~) also shan: anolher unique
d istinction. As a prefi1. Larned mean. MIO.M and Bel means Min.M The
Ihrtt letters of the Telragrammaton, Yud ('j, Heh (~j, and VIV N,
can Ilso serve IS suffixes for personal pronouns. The .uffix Yud
mean. Mme,M Heh means "lIer,M and VIV means Mllim.M
'I' ate
SEFEI!; YETZIIlAH
In the entire alphabet, tllere are only two kners to which tbete
s"ffi~es can br joined, Ind tht'1e Ire limed and Bet. These tbeo speU
out the words:
.., 10 me Hi ,~ 10 me
:n 10 her H'" :t:I in her
" 10 him &> 1:1 in him
"The IWO le\1~rs, l:amed and Bet, are the only ones in the entire alpha-
bet which combine wilh the kiters of the d ivine name in Ihis
mannn, 1O
"The n... mbeT 32 is !be fifth po .....,r of IWO (2'). As tile Serer
Yetzirah uplains (1 :5), the Ten Sefirol define a five dimensional
space, "The 32 palbs correspond to Ihe number of apexes on a five
dimensionAl h)'P"n:ube."
This is nol as diffieu.h as it mi&hl 5eem. A line, whiclt has o ne
dimension , hll'll two (2 ') lpexes 01" ends. It. ~ .... re, havin, IWO dimen·
sionl, has fOll r (2' ) ape~es or.:omen. A cube, which has Ih= dimen·
&ions, hiS ei&hl (2') a>rTII'R. We thus see thll wilh the addilion of
each dimension, the n... mber of ape~es is doubled. A four dimen·
lienal hyprrcube hll'll 16 or 2' apnes., while I fi~ dimenlional
h)'P"reube hll'll 32 Of 2' lpeXes.
Paths
"The Hebrew word for -paths- here is Nni1lOl (1Ta'/U), a word lhat
oocun only rarely in script ... re, M ... ch more common il lhe word
fNrddr (1'"'). Allbe Zohar ItalCl, however, there is an importanl dif.
ference bet .......:n Illne IWO worth. It. Do~ is I public mild, a route
used by all people. A Nali., On Ibe other hand. is I penonal mule, I
path blued by the individllli for his penooal usc, " It is. hidden
path. wilho ...1 markers or lilllp05tS. wb ich one m .... t discover on his
own. nd tread by means of his own devices.
TIle J2 patbs of Wisdom are therefore called Netivo\. They Ire
privale pathl. wbich must be blued by each individual. There is 00
open hi&bway to the m~teries cadi iodividual must disco~r bis
0...." palb.
The numerical value of Noli. (~ru) il 462. Th il iltwice the num-
ber of the 23 1 Giles discussc<i below (2:4). Tbesc ptel are I means
tbrou&b which One Iscends and descends alan, the 32 pathl.
'Y' ate
"
Mystical
TI\tte p;uh.s ~ ~id 10 be mystical. hljyot (mr'>.) in Heble • .
This comes from the root Pula ('""). which hQ the wnnot.lion of
bein, hidden and separated from Ille world 111'!"Je." NOt only are
Ihe'l<' paths indivldual. bUI they are hidden, concealed and
Iran'l(:enckntaL
This is ~ery closely ...,lalN [0 Ihe won! Pd~ (""-j. mean in, •
miracle. A miracle;s uparauri and indeprn<kn l from tile laws orthe
physic,l world. It is also influenced by llidd"n (OIttS. As such, il is.
link with Ihe myst ical and transcendental plane. The same illllle of
Ihe PIIlhs of Wisdom.
Accoroin,10 the Zohu. Ihe worn Pdrlr specirl{;a!ly rdales \0 tile
palh~ of Wisdom." The tylX of miracle dmoled by the word hlrlr
is specifically one lh.1 is acoom plish(,d throuKh the manipulation of
these paths. The mt'tllods of manipulatinllhne paths is one of lbe
imponanl teachinp of Sc:fer YClZirah.
The Sdcr Yeuirah later calls the three Mothen, Ma iJIl'll mysti-
cal (mwPhLA) Iottret~ (3:2~ The firs! of tt.e \hree Mothers is Akpb
(M). When '1"'1Jed OUI, Akph (.,.,..) has the ume ktten IS Pekh
(M'>D~ "
A~rdi nl 10 the K.hbalisu, the kUeT Aleph ""'not" Keler
(Crown). the hi&hest of the Sefirot.'° lt is wilh reprd 10 Keter Ihll
Ben Sirah uid. "In what is mystcrious (muPhU ) for )'0\1, do nol
KCI<.· "
The KahbaJisls call Keter the le"el of Nothinsness (Ayill). " It is
on Ih is le\'eI thai the la ...·• of nalure teaSC to exist, Ind can lherefore
be altered.
AS the book Raziri point. out. the Ihree !etten of Prld (..... ) rep-
T1'5Cnt increasin,:iy hidlkn "a/ues." Accordin,to the phooClic fami-
Ii" defined hy Sefer YClZin.h (2:3), the fint leller. Pel! (. ). il pr0-
nounced wilh lhe lip&, the ~nd kiter. lamed ('I). wilh lhe middle
of Ihe too,lIe. Ind the final Akf (II). with tile throat. ThUs. the first
kiter is pronounced wilh lhe OUlenDOlt rcYClkd par! of the mouth.
while the LI<1 i..... iced with the innermost roncealed part. The word
PrlrlI thUI denoles tile lransition from the revealed 10 lhe
conccaJcd.
Wisdom
Thnc: 32 pal h, arc uid 10 be paths of Wisdom (Cllak)u",m). In
I Kahbalislic sense, Wisdom is 5flCn as pure, undifferentiated Mind.-
It is pure thou&ht . .... hich has not yet been broken up inlO differenti-
"
SEFER Y£TZIRAH
"lIed ideas, Wisdom is 1M levet abo"" all division, .... here everyt hinl
is a si mple unity.
II is in r«'OI"ilton n fth is thai the Talmud Itlles, ~Wllo is wise
(ClrakIrQmr. He who leams from every m.n.~" It is on the level of
Wisdom that aU men arc one . Hence, if one is On th illevel, he mus t
learn from every h umin bein" and indeed. from all ~.Iion .
"crordin,io the Ibll Shcrn Toy, this mc,lnS that I ~rson on the
levd of Wisdom must even In.m from Evil. " h i. only on level.
lxlo .... Wisdom thaI people Ire sep,aralcd into different individe.b.
Ooty On kl_r levels does tM division belWl't'n &ClOd and evil
ui.\.
The Talm ud li kewise Slales., ~ Who is wisc? He who pcll:eives the
futu"" ~ u This is beaux Wisdom is the pure mind force thaI lran-
Kt'nds lime. On the level of Wisdom. P;Ut, present and futun hive
not yet been ",plraIN. Hentt. on this level, one can Sft' Ihe fulure
jusl like the pasl and pte ... n\.
The anl ilhesis of Wisdom is Undersl.ndiIIJ.. The Hebre .... word
for Understandin, is Bi"ah ('U'~). which cornel from lhe root Br}'"
(r~). meanin, "be1ween.- "
Underslandin, i. lhe level immediately belo...' Wisdom. It i. on
Ihe level ofU nlknundin. \h al ideas exist sc:~ratc!y, where lhey can
be ICnilin ized and compn:hended. While Wisdom i. pun: undiifen:n-
tiJted. Miod, Undenlandin. il the level .... here division exists. and
""here Ihinp are delineated Ind defined as separated ob~s.
On lhe leve! of Wisdom. all men arc included in J sin..., world
soul. Undcntandin, is the level of Nn hamtJII, where the iOUl of eacb
ind ividual ... umo. dislinct idenlity. • nd each one i. seen as a sepa-
rale enlily.
The divine name • ..,.".i.ted wilh Understandin, i. Elohim."
This is • plural word , since Undentand in. implies a plurality of
forces.. It is lhe nlme Elolt im Ih.1 i. used tb!'OllJhOuI the rnli re first
chapter of Gennis in dcsaibin,the act of clUtion. The 32 timn
that this n.me occun cot. upond to the 32 p.ths of Wisdom.
Thi s raoh 'n ;on imporu.nl d ifflC1l.lty. If Wisdom is • simple
undifferent iated Mind, how an it be manifest as 32 distinct palhs?
Bu t K tually, Wisdom is undifferentiated. and it il only th!'Oll'" the
power of Undentandin,th.t it i. divided into sep;ll1lled palhs.. These
paths an: lhen:fore dniJIIlled by the name Elohim , the name 'SIOCi-
.ted with UndCl'1t.ndillJ.
An eum ple would be water flowi n, throu'" • S)'Item of pipes.
Waler itself is In undi fferentiated fluid. havillJ no ,""""nlil1 (macro-
KOpic) lInK1un: . Siruciure i. only impOSed on il ....hen ;1 flows
IhrOll'" lhe S)'Slem of pipes. In lhe Inlqy. Wisdom i. the water,
while UnderstandiiIJ repments Ihe pipes Ihat chJnnd it.
, ••
The 32 pa1hs an: c1prnscd U Ihe kllers and numbers. Since
"
t~ repr<':Senl division, Ihey a", manife5lalions of Understandin ... "
Hence:, Wisdom rtJIrescnu nonvcrballhouJhI, while llDlicntandm,
i. ;ts vcrbalizuion.
In Ihis mopec1, Wisdom and Undenu.ndin, are _n as hem,
male and female res.pecth"c!y. In Ihe Kabbalah, Wisdom is seen as
Ihe Falher (AbbI), while UndentandiltJ i. Ihe Mother (Immah). The
male rtJIresenl. uncllanneled creali..-e force. Thil elll. only be 1II'(I1I,Iu
into fnlitian when delineated, enclosed aDd channeled by Ihe fem.alc
womb. II i. for Ihil rusan Ihllthe Sefer Yetzirah (1:2) ~lIllhe pri.
mary te11ers - Mothers.-
This also rnoIvn another difficult y. Earlier. we said IMIIIIe J2
pith. represent the llean , since Ihe Hebrew word for hean, W, actu-
ally spt'lls out the number 32. The hu rt , ho_,~r, ;1 normally associ.
aled with Undel'3t1lndin&. while Ihex I'&lhl an: said 10 penain to
Wisdom." BUI lhe po1ho merdy dianne! Wisdom, while the sub-
siance of the !lIths Ihem!lelve5 is Understandi ..... '"
Engraved
~ ten states thlt the C~lto r used thew 32 paths to MeltJ1l ""M
so IS 10 ~reate His universe.
~ H eb~ _rd hC"K is Chn/W:(ppn). This usuaUy has lhe con-
notltion of moovin, mllmll. IS in lhe velV, "Enpa'·c (clwlwk)
yourselfl dwem", in I rock (Isaiah 22:16). Derived from Ihis root
M
I~ lhe _rds Cirok (tm) and Chuko.h (:om), meanin, " nde and
M
"dttrtt. M since TIlles and la ..~ ~rve 10 ~mo'·c .some of \be
individull's frttdom of IClion.'"' ThUl, lhe word Cilnlwk is clo5ely
~Jned 10 M ll-dIak (pn:I), mClni", MIO erase," IS well as to the root
La·kDcil (~), mean in, 10 Mremo,·e" Or Mtlke.""
The _rd Chakak is very closely ~latrd to the ooncepl of wril_
in .. " The main d;lTc~nce ilclWttn enpvin, (..hakak) I nd wrili", is
Ihat when one ,,·ritn, o~ adds material such IS ink to Ihe wrilinJ,
surface. while wlleu one cnpaves, one ~'-n mlterial. When the
Bible uses lhe _rI< Clwko.k 1(1 de,i",.!c wrilin .. il is ~fcrrin, to
surn Iystem, .s cunc:ifQl"l1l, whe~ Ihe lext was wrilleD by removinJ
wedses (If clay from a tahlel.
To undentnd ,,·hy the authQl" uses the tenn Menpved" hc~,
we mUSI undentlnd the idea of crealion. Bd"QI"e a UniVcrK roukI be
created. empty spaoc hid 10 exist;n which it could be made. But ini_
tiaUy, only God exillrd, and.n exi$\cnce was filled wilh Ihe Divine
,
S~FE R VET£IRAH
"
Essen«. 11M: LiIJ/lI of the Infinite (Or Ai" Sof). II "":1.5 ()Ut of thi.
\lndiffCll'nlialW Euence III" a VllCillM Space had to be envaved.
The prOt'e>.S, tno"-" 10 the Kabbali.l. as the T:imlzum (Constric-
tion ). is clearly described in the Zohar. l1
In Ihe bq;nn;nl of tIM: Kin,'. authorit y
The Lamp of Dark"" ..
Enaraved a hollow in the S... ~mal t..umin=nce ...
The ItoIlo .... e naravr<! in 11M: Supernal Lurn in~nce ""lIS the V.Cllled
Space, in which aU c rt'alion sub5eql.lCnlly OtturW.
The und ifft'Tt'ntiatcd LiBhI of Ihe Infinite .... hid! existed before
Ihe Constriction is on the level of WiMlom, which is pure uAdelin&-
aled Mind. Tile pO~ o f oonstrietion i. that of Undersulndinl. Ihis
beiR' .... hat the Zoo.r nils lhe "Lamp of OaI'kl>rQ.- It i. Mplive
li",l. or nq.otiv., a ;i1enoe, which can enara~" hollow in Ihe Divi~
Entnee.
This Constriction or IIoI10w;1II of 11\(0 Di vi ne ~nce did no\
()ttur in physical space , bul rather. in conceptual SPlIce. It i. -hollow·
in!lOfu as it rontai ns Ihe possibility for inform~lion, bUI not actual
in formation. As such, it is the ~CIlaos and Void~ ( Th/ru and BoIIu)
men tioned in the acoount of crealion. wile..., the Scriptu", '\.ates, ~tlle
eal1h ,... ou c~ and void" (Gene.is 1:2). Chaos is a state .... here info ...
mation can exi,., bill where it docs nOi ex;s!. "
1M hollo.... ,,-a5 made Ihroll'" tile 32 path s. sina: klten and dil-
il' are: the basic bit' o f informal ion. While random kiteR and num-
ben do nOI actually C(>nvey information, as 10niIS Ihey niSI. il i.
al!ll) possible for infonnalion 10 (list. The v.tated Spiltl% iSIIlere:fnre
lhe stale wllere il i. pOSSible for informat ion 10 uisi. but wllere Ihis
possibili ly has nOI yel b«n realiw1.
These Jellen were ... bstqlH:ntly combined into words. form;",
the Ten Sayinp o f (:realion. Each o r tllne sayings brouPI in forma-
t ion into the Vacated Space. throop which ,,"ca tion ooukl lake pliltl%
Ihere.
The order """1IS Iherrlore fin;! ~engravinJ, ~ and then ~crealion. ~
T he Sder Yelzinth therefore: states thai the Crclllor ~enaraved ... and
cre:.ted His unh·enc:.~
Engraw.'d Yah
Many of Ihe KahNhSlic rommen\.ariQ lranslale \hi, as ~ He
enaraved Yah . . .. ~ In Hebrew. tile word ~he~ is often not wrillen
OUI, but underslood from Ihe \"erbal form. Tlte ~ H e~ here refen 10
lhe Infinite Beinl ( Aill SojJ who is above .lIlhe divine Names. "
,
"
Acrordinl \0 Ihis. the Sern- Yetzirah is sa~inllhll the Infinite
8eil\j began creation by envavinJ the d ivine Names throuJ,h the 32
palhs of Wisdom. Tile Names an: .,.,riuen with leiters, and they could
only come inlO ilri"l after tlte kll.,,,, had been created.
It is in the same vei n that some of the early KabNtiS\S interpret
the first v~ in 0<:,,";, \0 1'Qd, ~ I n the beainnin, He cruled
EIoh im. alon, with the heaven a nd Ihe ean h.- " The fint thin, 1hal
Ihe Infinite Bei", created "'U Ihe name EIohim. which is associalt.:l
"" itl! Ihe Constriction.
The di vine Names abo parallel Ihe SefirQl. Once Ihe Vaeated
S~ had b«n (nva'·W. the Scfirot could br created inside il. The
-"n""vin," of Ihi, Space w:a.. therefore intimately rel.led \0 thnc
Na~,.
This Can alII) br rud in the im~ralivc. -Wilh 32 mystical paths
of Wisdom, en,,,,vc Yah . _, and creale His world.- The term
"ens,r:avc" hen: wwld mean 10 fonn a clear mental image of the
Name, 50 as \0 meditate on it, as we ...·ill discuss later ( 1:14). The
metl>od is . lluded to in Rav.'s sayin&- ~ I ftlle ri&llleou5 desired, lhey
could Cll'ale a world .~ "
Yah
Saadia Gaon u"nslates this as. "the Eternal."
TIl~ K.lbbalists normatively associate tile name Yah (11') with
wiwom (Chakhmah). Actually, ho....e\'cr. only tile firstielter ofilli'
name. Ihe Yud ('). desianales WiwOln. The 5eOOnd lener. Heh (~) des.
ianates Understand inc, th(, feminine principle,
Tile reason .... Ily Ihi. name U a ....Ilole is used to desi,nalC Wi..
dom is bttaus.c Wisdom cannOI be JI"lI.ped ucepi WMn il is cloLhed
in Understand in&- For tllis reason, tile Yud alone is not used I i Ih(,
na""" for Wisdom. but rather. tile Yud combined witllth(, Heh.
There are a number of rel50flS why Ihex two leiters ~t
Wi..rom and Understandin, respect ivdy. Yud hu tM primary form
of a si mple point. This alludes to the fact that Wisdom is sim ple and
undifferentiated. The numeri<:aJ v.luc of Vud i. 10. indiatinllhat
all Ten Sdirot all' included in the simple nature of Wisdom.
At the belinnin, of a word. the lener Yud indiClites th(, mascu-
line future. Thi. i. relaled 101M teachinl. "Who is .... is.c? He ....ho
perceives the future,"n
AI the end o f a word. when used IS a suffi~. t~ leiter Vue! mnns
~mc- or ~my.- Wisdom is the essential nature o f the individual,
belon,in, to him alone, As such. il i. the ullimate "my," The same
is lrue o f the Sdlrah of Wisdom (ChakhmahJ with resp«110 the Infi,
ni le Bring.
S[f'ER YETZIItAH
"
Helt has I numerical ""lue of S, aUudin, 10 tbe five fillFn of
tlte lIand. AI such, ;1 reprHenl1 Understandin.. Ihe hand thl' holds
Wisdon, distributina and ehan nclinl il .-
At the ~nninl of . word, ~ prefix Hclt nu:an. "tbe.~ It is the
dc:finite artide, that specifon and delineales an obj«l. Uke • hand,
Ihe definite anick holds and specifies. ronapr thaI is specific rattler
than Ic~noL AI t he end of I word, Hclt indicates rhe feminine ~
sessive, ~hff.~ This is because Undentandil\l is tile dom.in of tbe
Feminine EsKnce.
Helt is one OOlite 1_ldters in the Hebrew alphabet thaI is writ.
ten as IWO disjunct par'll. This allI.ldes 10 !he fit('[ Ihal Understandins
rep~nlS Ihe bqinninl o f ..,panllion.
n.c.re is some di~nl in Ihe Talmud as 10 wbelher or 1101
Vah i •• divine name. " n.e Sdft" ¥clZirah cJntly takes the position
thai it is.
El Shaddai
These 1....0 names are usuilly lransilled as "Almi&hIY God.~
Saadia Gaon, howe' ·rr. Il1ln$lates them a. ~Omnipolenl Almi&hly.-
Here the Sc:fer Yetzirah bqins desi&natinl the Stfiml in an
upward mO<.k . In lhe Babir. the disciples thus ask. " From above 10
below we know. BUI from below 10 .bo~ ...., do 001 know.-"
SErER YETZJRAH
" TIle dni&nation El Shaddai is also I'dated 10 Ihe pr«l'QItivc
rom: repr_me<! by YC'tOd (F01.Indal;on). and rorrapOndilll lO Ihe
sauII orpn in man.
We therefore have two desianalions for Yesod (Fou ndation).
Ml ivinl God~ (E/ollim ChQlm), a rK! EI Shadd_i.
"Livinl God" i, the desi&nllion of illi. Sefirah from a God's eye
view, ,,;hile EI Shaddai i. its desia,nalion from a man', eye view. God
thus loki MORS, " I appeared \0 Abraham, hu e and Jacob as EI
Sh addai- (Exodus 6:3 ).
The fin! five desil/lltions represenled Il'1e downWllrd procc'l1.
from God 10 Ihe universe. through which Ihe creative fo= i. elLan-
neled. The IUlhor, 1m_vcr, i. now de.il"atinllht: lIAnmJ tha i ..,IaIC
to the upw;o.rd pl"Ol':eU, thTOUJ,h which man approaches the Divine.
"Kinl of the Universe,- the lowest ~e, Ippl ies 10 bolh d irections.
, ••
"
"His Name;s Holy" alludes to Ihe level of the Crown (~Ier),
lhe hiJhest of the Sefirot.
The Kabbalists nole thaI the expression, " His Name," which ill
Hebrew is SI! '''10 ('I;)lI'). has • nllmerical value firma/rill) of 346. This
is the ume .0 Ihe value of Ral~on (ri:M). meanilll -will."" Will i.
even hi&her than Wisdom. since it is the impluSoe lbal Jives rix to aU
lhinp. even thoulhl. In Kabbalistic terms, Will is desi&nlted as
Crown (Keler), Just as I crown is worn above Ihe head. so is Ihe Will
abo'-f and out$;de all ~nlll p~s,
The word Holy (KJuic.1h) deDOles ~liQn, and iu aencnJ
KnK impl ies 5epal1l1ion from Iht mundane.- The exprnsion, "His
Name is Holy," indicates tbilihe em.." is a levcl that is separated
and UlIl<)ved from every imq.ilLlLbie "",""'"'pl. Since it i. a bove Iht
mental proccsses , it canOOl be vasped by them.
The Last upression, "lofty and 1IoIy" is II(lI f0un4 in many ver·
sions of Sefcr Yetzirah. It possibly relates \0 the Infinite Bein, (Ain
Sot). ....hich i. lofty a bove all concepts, even Will.
Thr lasl five dnianationslhl,lS ,..,fer 11,1 the runp whid! man ml,lsl
climb tu ,..,ach the Infinite. These a,.., the Sefirot in their upwan;l
mod.
Thr impulse uf cfeatiun first .... ent duwn .... ard thf'OllJb the Sefirot.
and ~n il went upward apin. re\l,lmill& 11,1 t~ Infinite. Only thm
ool,lld creation I. ke pl~
,
SEFER Y£TZIRAI!
"
Table: S The: numerical "aluc of !euen; .
.. .. ""'""
PhoneIM:
Lct\er Name Val"" Dcoipllion Family
•, ,,,, ,, -~
.....
..... ."nul1Il
oilent
B.Bb
, OimrMI "' G,Gh
, '" D.'"
,
•, ..... ......
Iabill
""
~, Ii"",..
., N,' ~N elemmtaJ ."nural
, •, .1e_RIaI
."'"
""
, Zoyin
• V (\\I)
", ""',.
, 0,,,
,,, ,
~ Gomu~
•, "'~'"
ek ....... t,1 lutlural
0
,
.
~
.....
.1e....... ta1
"''''''"lal ...
lill&UaJ
......
'''''
- ,," "
.". Y(1l ",
", ...""
~ Mom
~"
~""
_
"'" "'-'"
'".,'" "'-'"
... JinawJ
labial
"" _s
", ,,-" "" eIe!n(1ltal
Ii.........
0
E~in
"
oilent
"'" "" ...
elemental ""''''
lun"ra1
V
''''
, ",.,,,
,., """ Q labial
.....
ole_nUll
P
"«QJ ~
"
,.,
'00 ric_nlal ""''''
palatal
-.
~
,
,.,
.....
, ." ...., R.Rh
,
,
SIIin
T..
'"" Sh (5)
~n T,n .., """'
""'" li",....t
,.
"
Ten Sejirol
The Sd"~T Yetzirah no .. dcfinn; Ihe J2 poolhs as conSiSlillj of 10
Sefirot and 22 letten.
The word S¢ral! lileT'llUy means Moountin...M II is thus <l i$lin.
lui~ from the word Mispar, meanin, MnumbeT. Altbouab the
M
Sefirol are said 10 repT~nl the len basic diaits. they an: nol act\lal
number$. Rather, they are the iiOU~ from whkh the numbers oriai-
IUIle. Al\hou&h the Serer Ye\zinh don not name the Ten Sefirot.
their IlaJtIeS are _0 known from the da5'lliaol Kabbalah. They are
aiven in Tlble 6. The Sefirot are usually p~nled in an array 000-
sislin, of three columns, IS in the fi,ute.
The names of the Sdirot are all derived from scripture. In
recounli", Betzakl'. qUalifications, God SII~ -I have filled him wilh
the spirit of God, with Wisdom, with Undemandi!\L and with
Knowledae- (Exodus 3] :3). As lite Sefer Yelzirah Il ler 'ltales (1 ;9),
the ·spirit of God- refers 10 KeItt (Crown). the first of the Sefirot.
Wisdom and Untkntandillllhen rder to the next lWO Sefuot.
The fint tWO Scfirol are likewise alluded 10 in tbe vc:rx, "With
Wisdom, God established the earth, I nd wilb Undentllndin&, He
eslablished the he.~n$, . nd wilh His Knowledge, the depth. were
broken UpM(Pro~rbs ) ;19,20). II is likewise written. -Wilh Wisdom
a houK is b\Jilt, wilh UndcrsUlndin, il is established, Ind with
Knowledp: il' room. a re filled~ (Proverbs 24:3,4).
•, """'"
Gevurah
uw•
SlrtIlJlh
6. Tirem Beauly
, Netucb Vinory
Hod Splendor
••
9. y .... Foundation
'- / "
•
,. ~
"./
'-
'"
FjR~" I , TM StfirQf .
,.
"
All of Ihes<: SOI,l!'Cn list three qualities-Wisdom. Undentand-
in&, and KIIO" 'I00,,,. Kno" -k<i&<,, h(IWc'-cr, is not a Sefirah, but
merely tile pOint of oonnuentt bctw«n Wi$dom and UnderlitandiJl&.
In many ",aya, IIowever. ;1 behaves as a Sdirah. a nd il is thus often
included a mong them.')
Tile nU l se"en Sdirol ... ", namM in the "c"", MYoun; 0 God
arc Ihe Greatness (4), tile Strength (~). Ihe B<:auly (6), lit" Victory (7).
and the Splendor (8). for All (9) in llea,-en and in earth; YQUrlj 0 God
is lit". Kingdom (10) .. ," (I Cllronicles 29:1 1). " II is lien: Ihal III<:
names of all Ihe lower Sefirol arc defined. See figure 1 on illite 24.
In most 5QUK~, ho"'~ver, Ihe firs! of Ihne is calk<! Cb~ (love)
inslead o f Gedulall (Greatness). Similarly. Ihe si~th is called Yesod
(Foundation) rallter Ihan "AII,M In older Kabbalistic te~IS. hov."e"er.
both desi&nalions are used.
Acrordingio some Kabbalisls. tile Ten Sefirol also paraJlellhe
10 Hcb~ vowels." n"ether wilh llIe 22leners, Ihey llIen comprise
Ihe 10laIiIY of Ihe Hebrew lan,~.
0/ Nothingness
The Hebre,,' ,",on:! lie... is Ikli· mah (~). This word can also
be lranslaltd as meaninR dosed. absmaci. absolute Or ineffable.
This word occurs onl~ once in scripture. in Ihe verse. ~He
SlIl'tches lhe north o n Chaos. He hanp Ihe earth on NOlhin,neu
(Brii.maJrr (lob 26:7 ). Accordin, 10 many commentaries. the ..-on:!
[kli-malr is derived from Ihe 1,",0 words, Brii. meani", ·wiihout:
and Malr, mean ina ~whal~ or -an~thinl-~ The ,",ord Bni·malr would
Ihen mean ~wi lllOU I anYlhins. ~ or ~nolhinIflO:SS.~ "
Acoordin, 10 Ihis in!e'1'""'1ion, 1M d~i,"alion ~Sefirol o f Noth-
; n&neSS~ is used 10 indicalc thaI 1M Sefirot are purely ideal oonoePI S,
wilho<Jt any lUbslance whalever. Unli ke letlers which have form and
sound , Ihe Sefirol have no intrinsic ph)'sical properties. As such. lhey
are purel y conceplua l.
Other sources state that Btdimalr comes from the root Balam
( ="~), meanin, ~to bridle. ~ This is found in the ' ·erse. ~Do not be lite
a h~ Of mule, ",,110 dO 001 understand, ""hose mouth muSI be bri-
dled (/:tQfam) with bit and rei n~ {Psalm. 32:9)."
This s«ond inlerpretat ion seems to be indicated by the Serer
Yellinlh itself. since ;t laler says, "Bridie (/:tQ/om) your mouth from
$peak ing o ftMm~ (1:8). AcoordinR 10 this. 8elimalr would be trans-
lated as ~ineffable. " TM Inl is speakin, of ~Ten Ineffable Sefirol,~
indiealing thaI they cannol be described in any manner ...·batever.
SEffR YETZl RAH
"
Similarly, Ille Biblical "ene, " He banI' the earth on the indT.blc,·
would mean lhal the fOf'teS which uphold tnalion canllOt be
<.kscribed. "
Accordi", 10 both inlel"llll:talionl, the Sefirot are d istinlJllilhed
from Ihe leiters. While the letten Ill: primarily modes of explftlion.
lhe Sefiml are inexpressible by tllei. vel'}' nature.
A leadin, KahbaJill, Rabbi ]SAO;: of ACOIO (12SO-1340). pOint. OUI
that Bn i lflulr has. nlimeri<.:aJ value of 87. God's namC ELohim, 00
the olhu band. bas a value of 8~. BdimQh thll$ ",pmenls the stqe
immedilldy follo...-in, lhe pure cuen.,., of the Divine.. ..
11 Foundalion utters
In Ihe simplest sense, these are called Foundation lelten because
il "'-as throop Ihe leiters of Ihe Hebrew alphabe1 \h.l !he u.n ivene
_ cre,ned."'T1'Ie Sefer Yelzirah ilself tbem~ "')'1 of the letters,
"with them He depi<;ted all thai wllS formed, and aU that would ever
be fortJ\ed" (2:2). This is also alluded to in what the Talmlld uys of
the builder of the Tabernacle:, -Beuakl knew ho'w to permute lIIe let-
tel'1 with whic;h helOven aod eIOrth were made.~"
With ad! act of <:n:ation, !he Torah reportS Wt ~God uid.-
Thus, -God uid: let there be li&ht. _ arKI -God uid, let then: be •
finnamen!.- ~ decrees throtllh whic;h God brouaht creation into
beilll consisted of uyinp. These in tum con5i$\ed of words, IIId
these words wen: fanned OIIt of klten. Hence, it wu lIIrou&h the
lellen of the alphlbet that the universe Wit created.
,
These Icll~n of ~ation were not only TnJ)Onsible for the incep-
lion oftm: world, bultm:y .Iso constantly sumin it. It is thus ....Tillen,
~Forevcr, 0 God, Your ""rd siands in the heavens" (Psalms 119:89).
The very words and letten with which the universe .... s created are
.Iso the ones which constamly suslain il. If Ih~se "'"!)rd • .nd letten
were withdl1l...·n for even an instant, Ihe universe would ~ase to
uisl."
Thus, if one knows how 10 manipulate lhe 1c11~'" OOrT«tly, one
can .Iso manipul.te lhe motOt clemental forces ofcuation. The meth-
ods of doinJlhis comprise 1M main subje.::IS of &fer Yetzirah.
In Hebrew. ~Foundation wten" is OtiDl }f!:sod. This can also
be ' B n.lated, "I.ett(n of Found. lion."
In tile Kabbalah , Foundation (Yrwd) is the &firah Ih.t corTe-
sponds to tile sexual orpn. It therefore has the connot.tion of ooup-
li n, Ind pairin" usually for the pUl poK of procreation.
The tencn Ire said 10 peruoin to FourKIation (Yo:sod), .ina i1 is
only Ihrou&h Ihe klten 1MI Wisdom and Undentlndin, can come
losctMr and be coupled. As discuued cartier. Wisdom is pure non-
verbal thou&h t. Undcntanding, on the other hand, can only be VeT-
bal. since if an idea cannot be ~1preosed verbally, it cannot be under·
stood. The only link between nonverbal Wisdom, and verbal
Unde ... tandina. consists of the klle ... of Ihe alphabet.
This is also evidenl from the .bove m~ntioned Talmudic leach-
in&- The Talmud states that. -Betul el knew how 10 permute the LeI-
t~n with which hea "en .nd eanh were made," This is derived from
the verse wht:re God says of &ttalcl, " I will fill him wilh tbe spirit
of God, with Wisdom , wilh Underslandina. and with KnowIedJe"
(Exodus 31:3).
we th~rore sec that the .bility 10 manipullte the Lelle", of cr-e-
.tiondepends on "Wisdom,Undentandin" and Knowledp'." Know!-
ed&e (DIlIll). ho .."(Cver. is lbe point at which Wisdom aDd Unde ... tand-
ing come tOlCtm. If M. the oonnotation of .ioining and intercourse,
as in the vene, "Adam kn~his " 'ife E ve~ (Genesis 4:1)." Knowled&e
th~fore sen'es in Ihe place of Foundat ion betWttfl Wisdom and
Undentand;nl- It il in thil same conl",,1 Ihat Ihe ~fer ¥e,zirah
sp!'aks of ~I.etters of Foundation. ~
In a mou I('IICT&I $ClUe, the kiten serve to pair off and connect
all the ~firol. This is panicularly lrue in the ~Tree of Life" shown
in filure I fpalC 24) , " 'hleh shall be di$Cus~ in detail.
Three Mothers
Thes.e are tile three leiters, Akf(II), Mem (II). and Shin (" ). They
will be di'cus~ 11 lenglh in OI.pler Three. These letten are c:aJled
,
S ~ FE R Y~IRAH
"
Po,nlO Horizo."." Vnti<.h ,~,
• •
, , • • "
, ,
" " "
Aa:on:Ii", ' " ,I>< Sof<"l ScbooI. l»1<d OIl .1It Zo/Ia, (I :S9b).
cr. I'uTdio lIi""",i", 1:1.
' fl"
,
• o.. khmah
• •
T,r<f'<'
• ,
''"' ,
NtI'''"'
'"
Molkhu,
S ~ FEIi YE"nIIV.Ii
,
8 i""h
, , ,
T,fc •••
• ,
G.,·urah
, ""'"
, .".,
• ,
• ,
N.".<I,
"""
,.
~M o!~.,~ becau~ Ihey arc primary. Essentially. Aid is the first let-
"
In Or lM al phaMI, Me m i. the middle leller. and Shin i. the S«Ond
from Ihe laSI." The ~a50n wily Tav (n) - the lut len .... ofllle al pha-
bel - is nm used i. beeau"";1 i. One oft"" Doubles.
One nason why thew Idte", a~ ('ailed ~ Mothe.,w is because, in
,eneral, the lellers " "' derived from Understandin& (Dinah). As di'J-
cussed Hriier, Undentandi", is the pri mary feminine pri nciple, and
is therdon ..... lIed MOlher. This ;$ alluded 10 in Ihe verse. "For ~"OU
shall call Underslandinl a MOlher" (Proverbs 2:l)." Since these aIT
the primary lel1e~ Ihey art calkd the "Mot!>ers. ... '
These iellers are also called mothe", (lmnl) in th e same Sl:n..,
1ha1 a crossrmd is called a "mother of the road" (Ettk ieI21:26)."
These 111.« letlers aIT called · crossroads.. - since Ihey form Ihe hori-
zonta l lin ks between the $(,firol in the T ree of Life d ialram. On it
more bui.: level. these are "molhers." because Ihe number of hori.
zonlal links defin es the order of the alTlY. as d iscussed below.
Sel'ell Doubles
Th= a ~ the sc"en leiters that can uprns IWO sounds: Bet ()).
G imel (I) . Dale! {' ). Kaf (3), Peh (,). Resh (,). and Tav (n).
The Elementals a~ Ihe \weh'e ~main in, lellrrs . ....hich ha" .. a
.ing1e sound. These ' ....0 IfOUPS .... ill be discussed in chapters four and
five. resP'X,i~dy,
•
"
F;g'''~6. TM "",'hr dtfill~d b)' Ih~ GT!' , aJ 1M)" aPf"'"r i~ 1M W" •.•dM'.
ISSJ tdiliOft. /p. 161> of Pd" r"'"j,
'I' ate
" SEI'ER VETZIRAH
tr""e dr.llw Itn points in three coh.mnl in the sim plest manner.
we see that they are automatically linked by 22 lines. Ofthne, Ihltt
are horizontal, seven are venical, and twelve are diqonal as sllown
in fi,ure 2 on pase 26. The division presented by Serer Yeuirah is
therefore .1. nalUral consequcn« of Ihe am y. This fi,u", call lelll-
Illy be looked upon I i a member of. family of diaantms. The order
of the dialram is then determined by Ihe number of I\o"zool.ll
liolu.
In practice, for re.U(lns deaJ illl wilh the basic nature of lbe
Scfirol, Ihe)' are nol arnnJCd in th is lI.I\ura] order, but 1I....e 1M mid-
dle li ne Io... ered somewhat. There IfC s.everal different ways IIIaI the
Kabbalists assi", Ihe letten in IlIne dial'l'ms.. Th.,.., are "'own in
('IU= 3-6.
un S<jirol 0/ {I/()/hillgMSJ
in I"~ "uml¥r o/WI fi"~1
fi'~ opposite floe
,.,;/h Il J;llgIllar <O.. 'WII/
pr«imy in /~ middlt
in /Ir, rimJlncWon ojtlr, tonK'"
and in lit, rircllmcisi<m oj/lrt mtmbnlm.
Altltouch the Scfirot arc: usually di vided into three columns. Ihey
can al .... be arn.n,ed in two arrays, one to the ri&hl, and Ihe olher 10
the left. The ~maSC\lJine~ Scfirol On lhe fishl .ilk WQUld Ihen be all
tl>osc normally on Ille fisht. as weI! as Ih e upper two ""01.... Scfirot.
TItc ·remininc~ Scfirol 011 the left would include the three normally
on 1M left. IC'I.,ther wit h the 10.....,' two ernler $dim'"'
Tile fhe masculine Sefirot are often refen-ed 10 a. the fl,'" Ulves
( Ch~im). since they are on the side of Chesfti (Love). The live
femini ne Sefirol are similarly called the five Stn:ngth.s (G...I/rol)
b«au"" \My an: on lite side of Gcvurah (Slren&lh). S« lilure 7 on
page l4.
When Ihe Scfirot are in lbeir normal stale. arrayed in thrtt 001-
umns, they lilT- in :0. .Ulte of (quilibrium. BUI when the Sdirot of the
central column a re moved to the fi&hl and left, SO as to divide lhe
Sefirol inla two array'S, a pO'lmfu[ tension is produced. When they
are in such a mode, powerful .piril~a1 foras can hi' directed and
chan neled.
Therefore. in many placa whc", God interfc"," directly with the
ph)'Sical world. the script~re speaks of God's fin&en or hands. The
most obvious case OCCUR with reference 10 creation ilself. which Ihe
Psaimisl calis Mlhe work ofYo~r finsef3. Mas quoted abon. we simi.
larly find. KMy (left] hand has founded the earth. and My ri&ht hoand
has ",,",ad oUllhe heavensM (Isaiah 4&: 13). Before such a creative act
ro~ld take pl.ce.• U the Sefirot had 10 be polarized to male and
female sides, sencnotin, tension and fom:. JU$I . S h~man procreation
involves male and female, so don Divine creat ion.
Very closely related to this.,.., Ihe various actions that use Ihe
hands 10 channd spiritual forca. These include Ihe layin, of hands,
Ihe lift;n, of Ihe hands in the Printly Blessin" and the spreadin, of
the hands in P'1Iyer. In aU lhex cases, the inlent is 10 channd the
power of Ihe Ten Selirol through the ten Ii"","." In makiDJ thcm
oolTQPOlld 10 lhe IWO hands, the Sefirot are polarized, creatillJ spirit.
~al tension, See liiu", 8 o n "'"'" 34. Once. s~ch tension exists,
Ihro~Jh meditation ~n d eoncenl131ion, the po~ of the Selirol taO
be focuoed and channeled,
\« 1<'
8inah n.akhmah
o..u ",h
"'" """"
Tif<tt\
Nrt,ach
'''''''
Malklm'
I
"'"
T il«",
Fomalt Goal
'.m
,
•
5Criplu~ (Numbers 6:22-27). TIle pritslS must raise thei' hands SO
Ihal (hey aK )lrttiKly level with the mouth, as it is wrillnt, "Aamn
lifted up his hands toward the people, and he ble!.Kd thcm (leviti- W
cus 9:22 )." n.e cohen-priest must oorn:enlralC on tile ract lhat lIis
Icn linlers represent Ihe Ten Sdlro(. A•• mull of tile focus of • pin 1-
\Illl (0= ~ .... ~n hi51WO hand!, hi, tonlue is ·cireumcised." and his
blessin, has its proper effccl.
11>e $Arne i. lruc of rai5ina onc', hands in prayer. Here apin.
the two hands focus sprilua1 power SO at to "tirC\lmcise w the !0D.&Ut.
allowin& the individual 10 pray effectively_ In 50'"" Kabbalistic medi-
tative syslems. th.e raised hand ~tion ...... li kewise uSood 10 focus
spiritual (""flY." Ii was for a vcry similar reason Ihat tile cohen-
priesls had 10 ...·ash thcir hands and fect before CIIPlinl in !he divi...,
service.'"
This also provides insiJht inlo the 5it,nifiau>cc oftt>e tWO <:he ......
bim Ihat ,,~ on the Ark of the Covenam in lhe Holy of HoIie •.
These two Cherubim were the sour(e of all prophecy. Prophecy
involvo a panicuJarly intense focusin, of spiritual ene'D', aIJowint
the prophet to actually Sp('ak in God". na"",. Prophecy WU Ihul the
ultimate level of ~circumcision of the ton,ue. ~
In dcscribin, the Ark. God Ioid Moses, ~ I will commll ne with
you. and I "'ill 5P"ak 10)'011 from abo"e Ihe ari<-a'>ver, from between
the two Cherubim. which .'" On th e Ark of Testimony~ (EJtoclUI
lS:22)." What was true of Moses was also true of the Other prophets.
and the inflll ~ of prophec)- was chan ~1ed primarily IhrouJ.h these
two Cllerulls in lhe Holy of Holies. ~'" is some eviden~ lhat II
least in so"", cases. tl>e prophetic uperience was Ihe resull of intense
medila1ion of Ihese two Cherubim." When the Cherubim we",
",moved fr(lm the Holy of Holies with the destruction of tl>e First
Temple, proph«y n such c:uMl!! 10 exist.
Accordin, 10 Ihe Zohar. lhe tWO Cherubim reprnenled the
Sefirol divided in10 a masculine and feminine array ." These were
placM on Ih e Ark, which contained the orilinai Tablets of Ihe Ten
Command"",nl$. There ....,re fi ve Commandmenl. on each tablet. SO
lhe IWO represenled I .imilar array of the Sefirot. This CTeated. per.
manent state of tension. IhrouJ.h which the spiritual force associated
wilh prophecy could be focused.
'I' ate
"
In ord~r 10 undel");land the siJllificance o f this circumcision, one
mu.' realize ",-hy God C(lmmanded Iha\ il ~ done on the ciablh day.
The Torah stain.. ~On 1M eiihlh day. Ihe llnh of his faustin must
~ circumciioW (uvilicus 12:3)." The ro~cnanl of circumcision "''3S
M
'I' ate
SlF~R Y£n:!RAH
,
a~ ' ~n Sefirot. then even Will is notl'li"l more than I Sefilllh, and il
"
is !IOmell'lil\j Ihal is inferior \0 Ihe Crulor.
Tile Serer Yelzirah alw warns, ~Ien and 00\ ele\·en.~ This is \0
!Hctl thai God Himself. the lnfinite Brill&. is not 10 be inclll<kd
.monllh~ Sefirot. If He WCf'e. then there would be eleven f1I~ IlLan
len."
God bclonp 10 • totally diffcreol c:altl')'-}' than the Sdin:I I, and
i. not to be ooumed among ttlem. As a result. ",e cannol even
describe Him by such purely abstract qualities as will. '"'isdom. love
or nn:llJl h. When the Bible make'S usc of any of Ihex qualit ies in
relation \0 God, ;1 is speakin, of the Sefirol crealed by God, and nOI
of the Creator Himself.
Th is is panicularly impol1ant for Ihe mystic. As a peBOn reachn
tile hi&hesl levels. he mi&hl think thaI he is actuaUy reach in, God
Himsclf. The Serer Yelzirah therefon: "'"ams Ihal ...'hen one climbs
the Ladder orille Sefi ml. 11Ien: are only len steP'. and not elevrn. The
Creator is 11"'111),1 bc.yond our iV'IS{I.
It is for Ihis reason tlilt God is calkd Ain Sof, literally ~the Infi-
ni te.~ One can dimb hi",er and hiB,hcr, "'achin. lo .... ard infini ty, bllt
one can neYff aUIin il. Infinily mly remain a 1611, but il is only I
p i IIiIt poinls to I direct ion, bul not I . oal that acually can be
reached. The ume is ITlIC of Ille Infinite Ain Sof."
,
Table 1 . 1M roor u~ive"",", .
judeement are the base (mokllQfl) of Your Throne~ (Psalm. 89: 15).
In other places. the Bible speau of the Temple as bei", the ~ba.e~
upon which God sits."
The word MaUCI' h=) comes from the root KOfl (to ). wbich
is also the root of the word IfrieJrifl (r:lo'). meaninl -to prepare .....
Hence. Moklron refe", not merely to a physical bl.e. but to one
that is specifica ll y prepared for I special purpose. T he Scripture
thu s .... ys. - He founded the eanh on its base (mokJrOll)~ (Psalms
J04: S). Th is verse indicates th at every thin, in the physicaJ world
hal a specifie spiri,ual eo unter!>'l" and buis, throu", whieh it can
be ele .. aled."
In lene"'!. the anthropomorphism "sit.~ when used with ""peel
to God. inditato a ~"" oflowmn ..." When a person sits down . he
lowen his body. Similarly, when God "sit~ ~ He - Io...·c"'" His e_nce
SO as to be concerned ...·ith His creation. When the Bible speaks of
God' s Thron-c. ;t is speakin, of the vehicle Ihrough ""h ich He
e>:preues such ronten!.
In Kabbalah. there is lCfle",] n.J1e that every "awakenin, from
below~ motivatn an "awakenin, from above." Thus, when I penon
mentally elevltes each thin, to its spiritual essence. he also brin"
spiritual wstenance (;hda) down to that !>'In icular obj«t. This suste-
nance can then be. channeled and u..cd by the individual. Under SOme
conditions. this can be u..cd to actually brin, about physical chaDJeS
in the world."
The term Ma/dtoll is also inle'l'relW by the Talmud to indicate
a pa ",lklism bctWttn the spiritual and the physical domains. IOII The
" p"'pared basis~ (moklwII ) throuJl! which God ~$its' and cbannels
His spiritual influence to the world is preci",,]y thi. Mald!c_l he
parallel ism between the spiri lual and the physial. This is Ihe aspecl
throuJl! ",hi-ch God ·sils, ~ and the scriptu~ therefore speaks as lhe
~ba"" (maklwn) of Your sillin&- ~
'I' ate
"
In Ihis contut, Ihe ~fer Yetzirah herecall$ God the lOtz..... We
have IranslltN th is as ~11le Creator.~ but a Il1OI'e accurate rendition
would be ~Ihc Formo:r.~ or Ihe ~Onc " '00 forms."
In Hebrew, there are tlllft words ""hich have similar meanin&-
-n..,y a.., Bartl. mcani na ~IO creale," YO/zar, meanin, MIO form.~ and
,bah, meaning I O make." Accordin&lo tile KabbaliS15, Bam ind i-
K
,.
o.,..~
"
Good Keler (Crown)
Evil Malkllut (Kinphip)
U, NetUICh (Victory)
The Ten Scfirot an: Ihus secn as consislin, of five selS of oPlX'6iles.
Th"" an: 1M ~fi"e oppoo.ile fl"c" dise ... ned above ( I:). The oppo-
sites parallellhe five fincers on each of Ihe two hands,'"
Wisdom is always defined as lite betinnillJ by Ihe Kabbalisu.
This is based on such verses as ~The bqinninlls Wisdom" (Proverbs
4 :7 ).'00 This correspOnds to 1M bqinni"l of exiltc".,." before cre-
ation "'..s ddined, Irticul l ll,d , o r verbalized.
God Ihen created the world with leo Iollyinp. Thi. rt'P~n IS the
power of Undersl.l.ndin& (Binah). which is 1M UP«"' of "c rbal
thoUJ.b t. As discussed earl ier, Ihe na~ Elohim, used in Ihe account
of creation. rcprnenll Understandio&- "Sayinp" can only rome
abou t Ihroulh Undentandi na. denoted by Ihe name Elohim.
PSycholo&ifally. Wisdom 31110 reprncnts the past in aoollter
manlKr. MemO<)' is nOi verbal, but is non<! in tke mind in a nonver-
bal mode. It is only ...·hen one bri n&, I memory to the surface that it
beromes verbaliled. Sintt pure ImmOl")' is completely nonverbal. it
is in the c:at<:JOl"Y of Wisdom.
Tke future, on the other hllnd, cannol be imqined.t all, execpt
in verbal terms. One can re"",m""r the put, but not !he fmure. lbe
futu re can only be contti"ed when it is dexribed. The main way in
which ""e kno.... tM future is by C11r3pOl.or:ing from our knowled,e of
the pa01. or, in the laDJu.,., of the Talmu d, ~Unde ... tandin,one Ihin,
from anotber.- 'Of
Pa.t and fUlure au also Ibe C<.lUnterpllns of Wisdom and Under_
standinl insofar that tlley an: respectively male and female. The past
is 5IIid to be mm, sina: il dirtUly innuen<:a Ibe future. In this man-
ner, it is .. if the feminine future is imprqnated by the paSI.
Keler is said to be ~JOOd,- sina: it is the Sdinlh clOS"'s;l IO God.
For the sa"", rca1Oll. Malkhut, the Sefirah fun besl from God, is sa.id
to be evil. Th is does not mHn that Malkhut its.elf is actually evil.
si nce all the Sefirot are completely and absolutely 1000. However,
~ SEfElt Y('f'll lAH
An' Ruvad'
,-
1M Blind' .. ~~
&Jinn;n,
End
."."""'"
Dinah
."."'''''''
Binah
Chakhmall
Binlh
""a
M alkhut
Good Keltr Ch<xd ChakhlNh
I"""'" I
Evil M l lkhll! (;evII..h IMllkhu,) Dinah
Up NCI~ach Kelc. IKelt.) NCIza(:h.
W~,
.
,""'",. Hod
Tifc~
V",",
Malkhul
T ifem
V",",
V_
Ti fcret
Nelzadl
Hod
Tifcl'el
V"""
NMh e..,,,,, N..- Qt,Vllrah GcvlIlSh
S.,,,h
""""
, SOC_ICW ......L
Hod Hod
""""
..... ••..h· m Or:w Hd? ,,, .. "'"~ ,.,.. Jr."
)~ ~
r,,_ "" 1>'.
~ --. .11_. . l:,..04.""" m....:r....-
Sqo , , _. "" /cJ<.
L s...~ . 7O( 1 1""~
,
4 KeteT Chakhmah 0 , _ Yood Hod
•
KeItT
Kele r
Chakhmah
Olllkhmah """'.,
Ckvurah
"""'.,
Tiferel
Tife",'
NClrach
Hod
7 Ketn
8 Keter
Chakhmah
Chakhmah Gevurah
y"""
Yood N""""
Hod
"" K eitT
K eItT
Binah
Binah Gevurah
y"""
y,,",
Nellac!!
Hod
a,...,
"" Malkhu!
Malkhut
C'ltakhmah
Chakhmah
"''''''
a,...,
Tiferet
T iren:1
Nctuch
Hod
" MaJkhut
20 Malkhu!
Chakhmah
Chakhmah a.-
Gen,,,,1!
y,,",
y,,",
Netuch
Hod
" Malthul
22 Malkhut
23 Malkhut
Chakhmah
Chakhmah
Chakhmah
Gc:vurah
(}e"ural!
Tifn-el
Tifem
Y"OO
Netzach
Hoo
Neuach
Chakllmah Gevurah Hoo
" Mallchu! y"""
,
. SEffll VETZIII."H
A depth Qjbeginning
The Sefer Yet~iJ1lh don not speak of d irect ions. but of depths.
In gene .... l. the C1)ncept of depth indic.ateo IIOmethin& al a lfC'al di..
lance... ....hen one Jook. down I. deep """II, p zin, al ill ~depth. · Ii
the~fo~ denotes ~al d iSlana, both physical I nd mental. There-
fo~, In idea that is difficult to understand. and far from one', C(lm-
pKhen sion. is 11110 said to be deep.
ThcK aK many e umpJer. ofthi. in scripU,IK. We thus find. ~The
heavens for l>ei&ht . the earth for depth . and the hean of killJ$ ha, no
probin,~ (Proverbs 2S: l ). Reprdin, Wisdom. Kollelet li kewise said.
" II i. deep. deep . .... ho can find it" (Eccle.i.stes 7:24). In panicu lar.
the word "depth" is used in ~Jation to the Divine. as in. " How ~at
aK yoor works, 0 God. Your thooJ,hts are veT)' deep" (Psalm s 92:6).
These ten depths lheTefoK ~presenl the len directions extended 10
infini l)'.
II i. ",rineo. "Coo n...,1 in man', hun i. li ke deep water. but a
man ofundeT'Standin, ..·ilJ draw it OOt" (Proverb'l20:S). AllhouJ,h Ihe
deplh of lhese d irections is in fin ite. it can be described Olema1iy. The
first I«hnique invo/ves verbal thouJ,ht. thllHlJ,h bein, - a man of
UndemandinJ. - G .... d ..... lly. then. one can 31 ..... learn to depict these
infinite depths nonverbally .
The firll u ercise is 10 Iry 10 depict the "depth of bc&inninJ.-
Attempt to piCtllK an infinity o{ time in the palIt. ttl the mind t.. vel
t>.ck 10 a minUle 1110. and hOllr a&O, a day alO •• ~ar '110. rontinu in&
until you reach a IC'O·el where you aK tryin8 to im2&ine an infini ty
alO. T hen dO the same with Kprd to the {muK.
,
The nnt eurcise involv<"1 tryi1\l to imqine infinite aood and
infinite evil. The limits are PUrl: ideas, which unDO! be verlWized.
Finally. nne: must imasine: the limits of the spacial dimensions.
One mull perceive the ~i,ln of the sky and be)'Ond ttoe sky. the
deplh of lhe eaMh and be)'Ond the eaMh."·
In this manne:r, one: ""dual!), lrains Ihe mind to depict the infi-
ni le. Since Ihe Srfirollhemso:lves .re . lso infinile. this exereise can
help one attain communion with the &firot nl
Th e individual can then learn how 10 climb the T= of Ihe
Sefirot. Ind eventually .pproach Ihe loflies! spirilual hei,hls. This
is lC«)mplished thrOUlh Ihest depths. It is wrillen, -A sol\j of
steps, from Ihe deplh s I can You 0 God M(Pnlms 130: I). One c.lls
out to God by medill lin, on the deplhs, and then (lne can as«nd
throuah • series (If steps. The psa lm is therefore c.lled Ma OQn, of
Ileps. ~ " .
Untilelernily of elerniries
In Hebrew, Ihis is Adl')' Ad ("111 -W), and Ihis upression occurs
numerous limes in Ille Bible.'"
TlH:n: .re two synonym. which denote eternity. The firo' i.
lLOlllm, usually lranslatt'd as "fo",vcr," which indical" the end
point of the time rominuum . Often used ;1 Ihe upression ~am
~aEd ("1)11 c'>1V>), which means "rore,-n and etemily." The npression
"etem iIY." here del1(lles tile realm OUlsi<.k Ihe lime continuum, whe..,
the ooneqn of lime does II<)! uist al all.
Even in such a timeless domain, however. Ihere is still I kind of
hypertimc. where even\$ can occur in a l(llical sequ.ence. The Mid-
"",h calls such hYP"rtimr, the · orner of time w (Stdn umollim),m
The upreslion "eternity of etemitin (Adey Ad) denOln a domain
W
Their vision
The word for "vision~ here is Tzafiyoh, which I,Isuall y denaln a
prophetical or mystical vilion. The Hdhalot, an ancient mystical
lext which miJ-ht be rontemporary to Sefer YetullIh. sp"au of the
"vision (II<{fiyoh) of the Mar1<llvll.wUJ The MarbYll is the divine
SEFER YETZ!II;AH
"Chariot in Eukid', vision. and 1m term i. u~ 10 <.knott the
5«"
mystical experienoe on its hiJ,hesl levels.
The Serer Ycu irah is now dcscribin& how the Sod"i rol appear
in a m~stica] vision. In earlier $ttlions, the texi spoke of the exu-
c;su ", oed 10 visualize the Sefirot. Ind no .... ;1 describes their
appearance:.
The BahiT. another very andem lUI, explains Ihal the word
ntifi)'llh. derived from II...: rool T:a/alr. indicates Ihl1 one is Iookin&
down from. hiP. plllC<'_ '" In the p",vious """lion, the Sefer YClz;noh
.poke of the Sefiroc as ICn "<.kplhs. - Wilen one Ioob inlo a ckpth .
ho ...~vcr. one is usually Iook in, down .....rd. In the Hckhalol. Ihe m y5-
li"J fJ,peric~ is often dncribnl .. :0. <kIanl in a downward direc-
lion . and il ;' called -descendi", to the Marta"• ."·"
One rU$On why plin, at the SdiTOI is called a "dC'SCcnl" is
bo:auoe, in order 10 acromplish thi •• 0"" must fil'litlllain CIIakhmah
oonsciousncn, IS d iKU~ carlkr_ In the arr:ay of the Sdirot, ho..·•
ever. Cb~khmah it the hi~t. u Ira.t of thooe which a.., app11)l.cha-
bk. In climbinl the T..,., iifthe J2 path. of Wisdom, one muSI beain
by altacliinl himxlf 10 Chakhmah (Wisdom). When Ihis i. lK'COm·
pliihed, one Ihen looks down allhe other Sdirol. Only Ihen does one
beain climbinl the Serirot. I>rJinnins at the Iowe..t.
'I' ate
SEFt.R YETZI RAH
'I' ate
"
Ihe leneric ~speech~ \h.t Ihe Sdiro\ OKillale, ~l'\Innjnl and return
in,.- Bm when Ihe.., is " Ma'amar, " s~fic "'),in, or edict, they
no. Iontef <»ciliate, but ""h - like a whirlwind.-
AocordinllO ,he ..,adin&. - His speech in li1em run. and "'tums,-
this entire Kniop iii speakin, of Ihe &firol. One normally KQ the
Sefirol - runnin, and retum;p" - like Oasbn ofliJ,htnin&- But wilen I.
panic".] •• edi<:l from God is prc:5n1I. Ihey no Iona<:T oscillate, but pur.
sue it - like" whirlwind.-
Accordin, 10. the commentaries who interpret Ihis line as -they
s.peak of Ihem !'\Innina and retumin&. - the enlire ICJ;\ is speak;n, of
"llley.- namely the maslers and prophets. A1thou&h Ihey normally
only visuali2c the Sefirol -runnin& and relumifl&,' when" specific
edict from God .... s heard, Ihey would pursue it like" whirlwind,
goin& rar beyond Iheir normal bounds.
The Hebrew word forwhirl";nd here;1 Slifalr, ,, lerm thaI occun
many limes in the Bible.'" The word Sll/ah (;""CI) comes from the
root S<l/alr (:tW). meanin, "to annihilate.~ ThIlS, acoordin, to many
commentaries. it is tile most powerflll and destnlCtive wind possi-
ble.'" It is atloO related to the word s.:.{(,-.;>). meanin, a limit or
boIindary. As one authority e~plains. a Sll/alr is a wind that e~~ds
tile normal bollnds of natural v.-catheT. ,.
This teach es that when there is an edict from GOO , the mystic
can ,0 far beyond th~ normal bounds to punlle it_The fact that he
is pliTSuinl a d ivine "sayinl" allows him to have access to milch
hi,her SlUes of consciousness thin the normally un IlIlin.
It is for this realoOn that many mystics would topac in medita-
tions related to the ob5ervallCC. of various commandments. They were
makinl lise of God-. "sa)"in8" I nd edict, Ind in this manlleT, were
able to Il'lch much hi&ller levels than usual. The divine "sayilll" ass0-
ciated with the: command~nt would alloO serve to alllllCl tile Sefirot
Ind make them more accnsibk.
T he.., are two typtS of storm wind, a Sa·a'alr and I Sll/alr.'·' It
Sa '",air is a wind that me..,ly _"tltes (Sa"",), while a Siifalr is • hllrri_
cane that .~vs away everythinl in ils path.'''
At the betionin, of the m~tical experience, Ezekiel says thai be
saw a "Slorm v.ind (sa·a,ah) cominl from the north~ (Eukiel 1:4).
Accordinlto some commentaries, this refen 10 Ihe aaitation of the
mind when one COlen the In.nscendcntalll'alm.'''
The vehicle throu&h ..·hich one rioes Ind ente ... Ihe mySlicaI
realm is called a Marteivi (chario!). and the art of enaaginl in Ibis
practice is uned "workin. in lhe Olariot" (Ma ·am MarI«mJ).'.. 1t
i. therefore bi&hly sianincant that the scripture states, " His Chariol
(ma,kaWlj is like I whirlwind (sll/ahr (Isaiah 66: I S).''' This ind icales
that the Sll.fa~ wind Xl' lik~ a Chariot. IVnveyin,<me into the m~sti
c.l ~.Im. II is a fortt Ihal carries one be)'OIId the normal limit (wJJ
inlO t~ IranKcnd.en t.aL
Sudia Gaon imerp~t' SII./a~ 10 denOle Ihe dU~1 devils Ihll One
sed in small ".-h irl ...·ind ...... hue Ihe dust OHSUmeo many ~hape$ and
forms. Th~ form. con~t~n\ly chanll\'. and a di~linct form la.ts only
for a mornent. Si milarly, when one vi~ualiu's t~ Scfirol. one can ~
them in many form,. bUI like ,.,nd devils, they la.1 only for an
inSlant. and lhen dissol,·e.
o
F;Kwr~ 10. A rin:l~ ...';Ih 0 and N a$ I....... ''''Ii"""lal PO;Tl/t.
Ihin, else. God ~~aled Ihe roll«'Pl of ~Cause.~ This i. the !;efi.... h
of KeteT (Crown). KeteT is Ilso often identified " 'ith Will. This, how_
ever, i. an an lhropomorphism, .illCC in man. will iSl he C4U.U' of all
action .'"
Thc Sefer Yetlirah therefore .tales Ihat "'tbe MUlcr i. Sinlular,
He has no seoon.d_~ The s"firot may be inlcr&pcndent. but this don
nOI ilKludc thc Infinitc Bein... Since God is ab500lulely unitary, He
cannO! even be called lhe Cause, ,,;nu Ihi. would imply an effect 1$
a ~second.M
When we " iew Ihe Sefirot as bein, len direclions in a five-
dimensional continuum , _ Cltn also intc~ Ihis in anot.hcr man-
ncr. Every ])IIir of Sefirot defines an infinite line, ""Iended infinitel)
in bolh dim:tions. The end points of such an infinite line, however,
come 100000her and meet 01lCC lIPin al the ~point II infinit).~ This is
a fact ' ecosn ized by mathematician" and considcnoble usc of lbe
Mpoi nt II infinit)~ ;. found in complex analyus, tlte calculu. of rom-
piCK numben.
AlthouJ,h th is i•• hishly ab$t,*,1 concept. it is not Ihat difficull
to understand. Imagine a circle, ... itll two antipodal poinlS. 0 and N.
Obviou!.ly. two lines CKlendin, outward from Owill onu qain come
IOJClller .t point N. B UI then what happens if we make the circle infi-
nitely II,...,? The laller Ihc circle. Ihe closer the curve approaches I
ItraiJht line. In Ihc limit whcrc the circle becomes infi nitely larae,
the lines extendin, outward from poinl 0 actually bocome lIraishl,
But still. tlte) oomc 10000her a1 poinl N. This point al infinit y is where
alt endpoinlS meet. '" See filure 10.
In ou r Ihr~imcnsional conlinuum . ...-e can likewise extend all
lines outward infinitely. The end poinlS of all these linel WQUld th.cn
be an infinite sphc~ Iurroundin, all $paU. Ho....ever, each opposin,
])IIiT of lines would m..,\ at the point a' infinily. and Ihcl-er~, all
outJOin8 linc:s mu" m..,t at this po;nt. '"
"
Thus. in one sense. Ihe entire three..:l imensional space contin-
uum can be secn as surrounded by an infinite sphue. In anOlher
sense, I>o",-c' -c '. Ihis entire infinite sphere can also be reprnenled by
a sinale point - Ihe poinl al infinity. A point. however, ;s in finitely
sman. Thus, the pOint 1I infi nity can be 5et:n as bein, both infinitely
la1'JC and infinitely 5./TIall at Ihe ilarm lime.
The same 4f1ume"1 can easi ly be utended \0 Ihe five.
dimensional lIypcnpacc discussed in Serer YelZirah.
Thus, if c"cry pai r of Sdirol defin es an infinite line , Ihe begin-
nin, of each line is ~imbeddedM in ils end . This is true of all the
Sefirol. All opposites, in tlleit extreme case, berome joined as one.
One en uSC this as II medi tation. Try 10 imq.ine Ihe sphere al
infinity a nd the point al infinity. and al1em pl In pereeive !>ow Ihey
are actually one. You win Ihen see Ihat your usual conception of
space and e ~len5io n I~ nol as simple IS you believe.
In plmicul.r. Ihis is IllIe oflhe Keler-Malkhulline. ln Ihe dir«:-
t;on of KeteT, th i. li ne en ends infinitely toward God, the ul tim. te
Good. In the Malkhul dim:tion. it utends infinitely .way from God.
tOward ultimate evil. The.., tWl) end points elIn abo be viewed as the
uhimatdy spirilual and tl\e ultimately physical. In this ..,n.." _
must Ihc~fo~ ""y that the ultimately phY'ical and the ultimately
spiritual a~ Mi mbedded " in each other.
In order to understand Ihis mo~ deeply, ...·e must first ask some
quest ions. T he most buic que.tion is: Why did God CJ"C3.te a physical
.... orl d? God c~aled lhe universe to beslO .... 800d 10 His CJ"C3.lion, but
Ihis &ood is pu~ly spiritual. This bcillJ true . .... hal need is there for
a phY'ital world? Ikfo~ "<I"e can ans~r Ihis question , ~ muS! finl
ask another qUMtiOll. What is 1M difference between tl\e material
and the spiritual?
w e speak of the male rial and the spiritual as IWO different oon-
Thus. fore!lample. God and man are worlds ap.art-~a5 11K brav_
ens an: hi&her Ihan Ihe eanh." On a purely spiri tual plane. il would
be totally impossible for the ',,"'0 ever 10 be brou&lu taðer. It ....as
for Ihis reason Ihal God en,aled the eon""pl of spa<:e. Spiritu.o.llhinp
can be bound 10 tl>c materi.l, just as. for a.mple, lite soul is bound
10 the body.
T ...·o opp05i les ('lin then"" brol,lJ.hl !(!tether by beiDI OOllnd 10
ph ysical objec'" In t he physical WOrld •• pace n iSI', .nd two oppo-
sites can literally be pushed losether. FunMrmore, 110'0 spiritual
opposilt"$ can even be bound to the same mlterial object. '1IJ
Thus, for example, min has both." UI'JI' for 10<)<1 and an U"iC'
for evil. the Yflur 10., and the r..tu.. HaRtl, In a purely spiritual
sense. these are poles lpan. Without a physical world. lhey could
never be brou"'11~her in a sinale entity.
The arclletype of the spi ritual be;", ;1 t he allie!. Sirttt an an",l
has no hody. il CIIn never contain bolh sood and evil in ilS bein..
Ou r u.ees lherdore leach us lhal anacls have no Yt'fU'l'J/aRa.'''
II is only in a ph ysical bein, lhal bolh sood and evil can UiSl
tOictiltr. Ahhou*" Ihey .re . 1 opposile pooks spirilually, ll>ey can
(:Orne 10000lher in t~ ph)"oic:al m. n. One reason .. hy God treated m. n
in a physical world ...-as to allow him 10 have full freedom of choice,
with both &ood and evil a. pan of hi. makeup. Wi tlK>ul , physical
.... orld. Ihese lWO concepls could never niSI in lhe same beiJ\l. '"
The fact Ihal &ood and evil c.n exist in the same ph)"oic:al space
,1.0 ,110...., &ood 10 overa)lTlC evil in Ihi. world. Here apin , this i.
only possible in a physical world . In a purely spiritu.1 aren•. &ood
(:Ould ncver (:Orne dose enou*" 10 evil 10 have any innucn« over iI,
In Ihc physical worid, however. &ood and evil can exisl logether, and
&ood can Ihemore overcome evil. Our IIF$ Ihu. leach 115 thaI one
of Ihe main reaoon s why man ..-al placed in lhe phy~ical world ......
to overoomc Ihe forces of evil.'" The lohar a presses il by slatin,
thaI we are here - 10 turn dar1r.ness inlo li*"I,- '"
The enlire concept oflhe nonphysical is very difficult to oomp!"e>
hend, and may be clarified by a ...,marbble leachilll of O<Ir sqes.
The Midrash Iclls us. "One ansel cannot have 1"'-0 missions. Neither
CoI n 1"'0 ansels share the same minioo.- '"
Th is teachin, brinas our enli re diKuuion into focul. The ansel
i. Ihe arehetypc of the non physical bein,. When we .peak of an ansel,
"""c • ..., ~akin, of an entity Ihal e~is1S purely on a spirilual plane.
Alliel. can be differentiated only by Iheir minion, thaI ii. by Iheir
invol vemenl and a1lachmcnt 10 oomc physical thin ..
Two IJ\lels therefore cann(K share lite same mission. It i. only
their differenl missions tllal make the two a",cis different entilies.
They cannOI be separaled by space li ke physical objects. '" Therefore,
"
if t~y both had tile same miMion, lh(,~ "wId be nothin, to dilfeT-
cnliate them. Ind Ihey would be one. Similarly, onc an~1 cannot
llavc 1""0 mission!. On I JH,Irdy spirillllll plalle, twO d ifferent con·
cepll a nnot rxis\ in a sinpe entity. If an an.,1 had (\to'() missions.
then it would be 1..0 In.,ls.
We can also understand this in terms of tbe human mind. 10 •
Knse. tbe mind is I PI!"' spiritual .... Iil)'. bound 10 man', physical
brain. Many thouJhts and memories may be bound 100000crby man's
phyUcaJ hr.tin, blou lbe mind can only focus on one of them I' • time.
In simple terms. I penon an only think of one Ihin, II a lime. A
\00\1&111 is a spiritual entity, and IS such. tan only rontain I sinlle
wnap!. Since both alhou&IJt and In anlcl are basic spiritual entities.
Ihis ;1 very closely related 10 the fact Illal an In.,1 ca n only hav<: I
sinsle mission.'''
For a similar l'Uson. In&eb hive no .'1)' of kno ...~n'lnythin,
Ihat does nOt pertain to their plniCllt.r mi."ion. An lnJel mly be
t~ated initillly .... ith a vast . tort:hou.., of kno .... I-ed'e, but it has no
....~y of intrutin. it, al least. not beyond its own sphell: of activity.
Thus. foreumple. _ find one anacllskin.another I qunlion; ~And
one lanJelJ said to the Man dressed in lincn • • . ' How lon, shall il be
until the end of tllne WOIIders'~ (Dan iel 12:6)1 One InVI had to aU
the other. b«:au.., he him..,lf C(KJ.1d not kno .... somelhilll outside of
his own domain.'"
In the phy~ical world, " 'c an leam Ihin" throueb our five
~nil6. We can hear, feel. smell and taste. Our knowlqe of thinp
comes from our physical proximity to them. In thc spiritual worlds..
ho ..~ver. Ihis don not uiS!. The only ....Iy Ihlt one can Learn about
a thillJ is to come into !.pirilual prox imity with il. An Inacl cannot
do this outside of his own fralm.
Man the~fo", hiS In Idvantaac ovcr In anlct. The " cry fltl that
he cxists in thi.lower WOI"Id cnables him to ",lCh up CYC"!" hicher.
There a~ con«pt. of JOOd d«;,eed by God. Ind IU His decreet.,
they I"' intimately bound to Him. Whcn I man physically involves
himself with thnc aood concepts.. hc literally binds himself to God.
He Ihus Ichieves 1 closeness that no Inacl could ever hope to
~ath.' "
This is a m~ diffe",noe bet"'een a man and In Inac1. An I nacl
is Issi,ned to one spiritual station. Ind hlU no WIY 10 rite any hieber.
Thus. when the prophet speab; of an,cls. he says, ~Around Him. the
senaphim stood" (Isaiah 6:2). Anacls a", described as slIndin, Ind
stltionary. But "'hen God speaks to man, Hc tell. him. ~ I ( you wllk
in My " 1)'10. . . Ihen I will,i"e you I plaa 10 move amon, those who
siand h(fc~ (2«hariah 3:7). God ~ showin, the prophet a vitiOli
of sta lionary anlel s. and tellilll him that he would be able to move
SErER YETZIRAH
"
A~x ofYud K~lu
, y",
, H,h
Chakhmah
Binah
, V" Chewd, Gevurah, Tiferet,
, H,h
Neluch, Hod, Ynod
Malkhul
amons them. Man Can lTlO"C fl'(Hn ~\"Cl10 level. but an",1s a", bound
10 Iheir panicular pl~lle. ''''
The.., a", many levels in tile spiritual world. If only 11M: spiritual
WQuld exist. Ihcre WQ\Ild be no way for tl>e5e \0 rome 1~lher. Tho:
only thing 1hat can p05sibly un ify 1""'" level. is thei r "'[:llion.hip 10
the phlsieal world.
In order \0 reach tile higlleil levds of holiness. man musl there-
fo.., bcrome ]),an of Ihe physical world. Wht:n he obeys God's com-
mandments. he al1ache5 himself to the same physical objecu as tile
One who pvc tile com mandments. In obeyin, lhe5ccommandmenls,
man therefo", allache$ himsdf 10 God 10 the ,",alest possible dearee.
He ;,. (h". ablt 10 loCale tile hiahesl s pi ritual hei&hls.
Thi. iliM symOOli5l'T1 of Jacob', dream in wbich hr ....w, ~A Iad~
standin, on tanh. w~ lop rnched lhe hea'"'~'tISM «(i.mesis 2&:12~ It
is only Ihrouah unhly ~ thai we can dimb the Ioftie<t hci&h\$. Tbe
diff=nt Ievds Q/" the $piritual world. IIIe runp Q/"Ihc MIadock1",Mcan only
be bound 10000hcT when lhey a~ MSUlndilli on lite eanh.M,,,
T he Scfirol a~ nOi physical. and do nol appear 10 be allached
to any physical ooncepl. Sinoe they ~p,""nl diffe~nt oonoepts and
le",ls. the question tllen arises: How tan the)' inlerxt? Obviou.ty,
the only possible way i. throu&h some relationship with the physieal
world . It is onl y ""hen two diffe~nt Scfirot rome: toaether and inter-
act with the; same ph Ylical object thatlhey Can also inleract ";th each
other. The Kabbalis\s therdon enPSe in many ph ysical activ;tia
wilh the primary intent of 'unifyin, the Sefiroc.-
ArIOlher way in which lite Scfirol are unified is throullh tlte
Oivi~ Names. Th is is especially I",e of the Tetraarammaton,
YHVH (:n:r). A<'a)ldin, 10 the Kabbalists, tile apex of the Yud (»
rep,""nt. Keler. the Yud ilself. Chakhmah, the initial Heh (:'\),
Binah. the Vav N. which has a numerical val ue Q/" si x, the next six
Setirot. and the final Heh, Malkhul. Stt Table 10.
The very rlet thai this Name can be wrillen on a physial piece
of J'lllper. where the; leiters represent;n, lhe Setirot are brou&hl
tOSClher. serves 10 unify Ihe Sefirol. Each Sefirah is associated ... ill!
,
"
a klier, and wl\tn tl>e$t ["ueR an: phy~icalJy b rou&hl logelbu. th.,
St,firot can also inlerac1. SpecifIC interactions jn"olvin, Ihe Sefirol
can also be b1'OlI,.Iu about whrn various namn are combined. l1Ie
same is also troe of Olher "-'bbat;'I;" diqrams and "-VI CKnta,;"ns
of tile Scfirol.
Eve" Ihoudllhc Scfirol were Cn:lled beron: Ihe pbylkal world,
they exiu in a domain 1ba! is above lime , when: past , prnenl and
future are one. The very fact Ih.l they would have physical countCf-
pam in 1he futulT provided them wilh .link with the pbysical,.;orid.
Since God willed Ihal al some future lime, the !euen of tile Name
"'1)Uid be .IIII.!' 10 be repr~nled by physical forms and be written on
I physical medium, tiler had an associat ion wilh the physical even
before il was crealed. Thi. allowed Ihe SefirollO interact, cven boefon:
the ,,"calion of the phy&ical uni\"c~. ,..
The ume is true of Ihe olher ,.tlen of the al phabet. AlthouJh
the klters an: best known as Ihc'y are wrillen down physieally. Ihc'y
Kllla!ly al K> Itplesent spiri lllal fortts. Throu&h variO\lS rombin._
tions of the lellen. the spiritual foTtt5 usociated with them are
brou&ht 1~lher in wariou. dr.Clive combination!.. These spiritual
foren are the ~lellen wilh which hea--en and earth were created.~
From a!lthis. we see thaI there is an importanl lin k bet ...~ lhe
physical and the spiritual. Ewen Kel ..., 1M hiJhcst of tile Sdirot, has
a physical re presentation in the ap... of 1M: Yud of the Divine
Name.
This is also realled 10 our earlier diKllu;on of elUSC and effect.
The hiahest levd of Keter is the ultimate eause, while the physieal
world is the ultimate effect.
,
.,
praYff. Elijah thus says rqardilllilic Scfirol. "YOI.L bind them, lJId
YO\I unify thml." '"
When the Ten Scfirot.are represented IS the len direct ions, the
physical cl n N taken" the l~ro point, from whkh they all emanate.
God. IS it wen, can N said 10 parallel the poim " infinit)'. ..-here
they all ronvCrJe. Of CQlJ1'lC, God has no represe:ntat ion ",haleveT,
but th i. is the clo5oest that the human mind can come to imaain in& a
reprnc:ntalion. 8 y ronlnnplalinl lhe poin t a' infinity, one e.n
approach a conception of t he Infinite Bein&.
Th is poinl .II infin ity is boll! infi nitel y lar• ., Ind infi nitel y
small. It d'Xs not h.,-., any defi ned piau in Ihe continuum of
spice, lime, o r the spi ritual. Ii has neilher shipe nor form , yet, a'
the same time, ;1 it defined as .I sinale, unitary , undifferentiated
point. All ofihis ilalsoO true or God . Of course, God is much more
than Ihil.
In dcSCTi bin, God here, the Sefer Yc\zirah don nOI say thai
He is o ne (fchld). bUI Ihll He i5 si n!ull' (Yachid). II i$ uyin!
Ihal God il so Ibwl ulel y li",ula' Ihatthere i. no qUllily whl lever
Ihal can be l11ri buled 10 Him. As Ihe philosophers Stile. we ClnnOI
d esc ribe God wilh Iny quality or I dj«live .... hlievcr, only ....;Ih
ncpl ive Ut ribu les o r ntribuIH of ICI;on. '" Alt bou&h .... e Cln nOI
uy whll God Is, by usin! ncplive al1ribules. we Cln Sly .... hll He
Is 1101. Simil arly, wilh al1ribules of act ion, _ cln speak o f whli
God does.
Th is Ilso implies Ihal God is Ibsolulely simple. In lhe domai n
thll eKilled befo~ cn:nion, thr~ was nothin! Olher than God . As
mentioned earl~r. even such sim ple concepts IS Caus.e and Effect
had 10 be =lIed. ~ SlIme i. 100e of number.
If the COD<ltpl of ~Olll:n"SI· u isled in God, Ihis would imply Ihat
Ihe coneepl of number u i$\S in His essence. This in ils.elf would
introd uce an elelmenl of plural ily . One could then lpcl k of God Ind
His ~oncness.~ thai is, His 1,<Qci.a,ion with the number one. ~God~
and ~His oneness~ "'o uld then be lWO concqlts.
Th" Hebrew word Edradd"nOlesln 'wv-illion wilh Ihe number
one. Yacllld. on the other hand . i. I n.... livc Inribule. ind icalin! the
absence of any pluralily .... hal"....cr.
Bridle .w ur mOlllh
The Sefer Yell; llIh defines Ihe ....ord Belimah, .... bich we lranslate
as wnothillJllCIS. ~ It says Ihat il "t,...,
has Ihe conootalion of bridli nl
(OOlom).
The essc:nct' of the Sefirot can only M atlained " 'hen one hridles
one', lips from speal,,; nl , and eloses one', mind 10 all ~erbal and
depicti,-.. thOUJht. Only "'hen One makn the mind completely blank
can Ihe 5efirot be expe~nced.
This is particularly important. si nct' many lechn iqllCl of
~bbalah medi tation i n ~ol~e Ihe Tttilalion of a mlntlll-like device
or ~arious t)'JICI of contemplation. All SUCh techniqua.. ~vcr. are
only a means lhrou&h ",hich Ihe mind is cleared of aU thou&hl. The
,
"
aClual e~perie~ of Ille Sefirot only comes Ifter one SlOPS usi", Ille
technique and remains absolutely slill. with all the Iho ..."11 p~
hushed .'"
ry' ate
SEFER VET7:1AAH
,
The breath of the Living God
Th is is hased on Ihe ve.v. ""'lIere God says of BetzaJeI, builder
oflbe la~rnad. in Ih. <k~n . "I will fill him wilb Ibe Brealb of God
(RI#l(:/r t:loIrim ). ""ilb Wii!dom. Underslandin" and Kno ....lrd&e"
(boelus 31:3). We Iberefore sec: Ihal Ibe "Brealb of God" comes
~fore Wisdom and UnderslandiOJ. AmOIll Ihe Selirol, Ihen, Ibis
corresponds 10 Keler. '" As Ihe Talmud says., il was Ihrough Ihis
" Breath of God" that Bctzale! was able 10 manipulate the leuen of
creal ion.
~ word roac/r, which we translate here as "breat h," is also Ihe
word for wind. and the Serer Y<1zirah also apparently u.es il as the
term for air. This word, 1>o"'1:,·. r, is often used in the Bible to denote
spiril. and Ihis is tile sense Ihal il is used hCTl:_
In ECl'eral, Ihe word rllac/r indicales mOl ion and communicalion.
It is related to Ih. words ().,ac/r. meanin, a path , II1d ().r~. mean-
inl a lIuest. The spirit (rullC/r) of life in an animal is Ihe power Ihal
<;auso il 10 move.
Normally, tlte air is in"isible and undetectable. It is 0I1ty when
it moves Ihal one <;an red illS a wind or breath. Similarly, Ihe spiril-
ual conlinuum is undetectable, e~cept " 'hen it moves. It is then
cxperiencrd as !,pirit (ronc/r ). HenIX. ruacll is the .... Ofd for wiml,
breath, and spirit.
This is abo describinll the act of crealion. The anaJoey would be
Ihe formation of a A1ass \'e$st'I.'" First Ille brealh (ruacll) emanazes
from Ih. mouth ofth. glaublo.. er. The "esset is shaped IhfOUlh Ibe
inleraction of the brealh , where the ...;nd boundinll off Ihe waU,
auso p"".u...,. Th. vessel Ihen ",-pands in all spacial dirn:tion ..
Lil'ing God
In Heb~w. the two terms he~ are Barukll ('\'U) and M,,8ItQrok.It
(TI\=l<l). Both word. aCluaily mean Mbleued. " 8arukh de~ln thai
God is in]ri nsicaJJy blessed. while M~80r0k1t implin Ihlt He is
bln~ by 01""1"5 in pn)'er.
When _sa~ that God i. "blessed," Ihis meanslhat Hi, cucna:
i, brou&hl down . 110 as 10 inleracl wilh Hi. cUllion and MbiessMit. '"
Hena:, it i, ~Iated 10 I"" ...wd B"~kh (T'OI), meanin& "knee." Just
as lhe knee. when it i, benl. 5eryn 10 Io...·er lhe body. 10 • blessill&
5cTYn to lown t"" Divine. Thi, i, closel y ~Ialed to the concept of
si ttin&, d iiICUued above 0 ,4).
God has an intrinsic mode Ihrou.&b "'hith He brinp Hi, CS5enCC
to bear on His clUt ion. In this respect, He is called 8a11lkJr. His
n5ena: is also brou&h1 10 bear to a &nater dc"ee as a ruul1 of prayer
and .imilar action •. In this respect He i. said to be MeBhorakl!.
Life oj Worlds
Th i. al.., ~fers \0 the Sefin h of Yesod (Foundalion), bul in I
mode wheu it bestows spiritual innux and life 10 the univerws below
Auil ul. II il illeufo", called MUfe of Worlds."
,
SUER YETLlRAIi
"betwHn Chakh~h ' .... aler) and Malkhul (unit). Mire OOO';SIS
mostly of waler, and therefore represents III<: dominan« of
Otakmah. Clay conS;IIS mostly of eanh, and represems tile; domi-
n.nce of MalkhuL The mire il the ...ntin, nu id. ""hile the day is the
medium upon which il is .... rillen.
,
n
len themselves a", the ~p;llhs of WiWom .~ bu1. as e~pllincd earlier
( I: I). they an: c~presscd primarily throuch Understandinl-
1 . 12
•
i~~" :ttI:l
:u :lYm vim O'ZZI '01( V:l~
mv:1 ':llt'~ "'\"';'I mom C"lIl~ 0'I11'tl'
mrrn ";)lbo .,"1)1 "lOlO'O 1J1)10 iC' l11\7~Cl
:I:r.nl:! PI( I'm17C
Four: Fi" fro m It a/"
Will, it He mgrOl¥d atld caTWd
lire Th' OM o/GIO'}'
~flm. OplulII im. and Il0l,, Clrayol
and M iflis/vinl fllI,rlS
From Iiint' til," lie /culldnilfiJ dwrllil1g
lIS it is .... ' iIIC":
"lie makn His angrls olbm lliu.
His minis!ns of flaming fif? " (hllinu 11)4:").
Fire from Water
This is Binah (Understandinr.). ' " The Jlfocess deJcribed here is
alluded \0 in the verse, "Fire kindles ",.. ter" ([.... iab 64: 1).1 "
We can use the u.rn ... analogy as before. " 'here ... in is brou .... t
about by the confluence of warm an d cold air. "Fin: from Water"
would then denote the ]iahlninClhal a«omp.anies a rainstorm.". The
pnxe&S would tben be alluded to in the verse, "God's voice carves
01,11 (chot .....) f1.mn of fin:" (P.... lms 29:8).'"
Other commenlatin siale lhal Ihi. mers 10 fire kindled by a
,lobe of waleT used as a bum in, Jlan.'"
Acrordin,lo both interpretations. tile lin: is seen as one that is
finely focused on One panicula .. pla'f. It i. very difTerentthln rain.
which falls every.... here without dillinction. This. however. is an.
impoftant dilTemlCe between Binah and Chlkltmah. Binah focusn
on I .;nJle objttl . .... hile Chakhmah enrompuoes everythin..
There is &50 another important difftf\'t\tt bet"ttn fin:.nd water.
Wiler naturally flows 00v."ll"1Ird, ,,"bile fin: tends \0 a!Cet\d up ...·ard.'"
Fire also causes lhe lir lbove i\ 10 mo"" up""ard, and prr.·e,m il from
de.w ldin.. In a similar manner, Binah lends 10 restrict and cunaillhe
no.... of spiritual sustenance ~) downward 10 tile Io"'er spl\crn. In
this respect. il is tile PfI!Ci,. opposite of Chakhmah. If ChaI<nWl i. the
source of am".. lhen Binah. is the source of restraint.
~ analoJy of fire and waler also refers \0 the mental Slain
implied by Chakhmah and Binah. The Midrash slales, ~W.ter con-
"«ind and pve birth 10 Gk>om (A/nair ), Fin. conceived aM p,-e
birth 1<) liJ,ht. Bn:ilth (RlloclJ) conceind and pve birth 10 Wis-
dorn_~'" From the statement, "Bn:ath pv" birth to Wi>dom ," ";e..,.,
that Ihi, enlin: pa, ... ~ ;$ spea k;", <.If mental $lale5.
Waler. which represents Chakllmah consciousness. thus lives
birth 10 G loom and danness. Th is is the hush;nl and nullification
of Ihe senses, a. we!! as 1M celS<lt ioll of all normal mental pr(l(:65n.
Fire . ... h ich ..,prewnts Di nah ronsciou,n ..... then lives rise to lilJhl,
$in~ ;1 ;s in Ihis Siale Ihal visible images are p(rceived.
JUSt li ke wa\er is calm and cool, so Chakhmah ronlCiou!llle5l is per-
fcetl), calm. Inde.ed, the u)le'icnoe of enlerin, Ihis stale may he very
much like dexendinl inlo calm. dttp "''alef. 11 is fOl" Ihis reason that
...ht:1I Rabbi AkiN and his companions enteral inl0 the mysteries., he
warned them 001 10 say. wWaler. wa1ef.">JI "They sbould not he mi$lrd
into thinkinl thai !My were actually eJl.l*'l ic:nci"l physio::al "''aler.
In III<: realm of Cbakhmah consciousness. even the leiters only
e~ist in a st ate of pure in formation. Th is information ....;sto .. · ch_
and void. w which cannot be , ...""d at all. or a. wmire and clay.w
•. . hieh are totalty opaque. A5 e:.plained ea rl ier. the information and
lellers in Chakhmah can onty be ITlsped thmut.h t~ im.alltf}' of
Sinah (1:1). It is while in a state of Binah consciousness that this
informatK>n can be dcK1ibed ",sin. such imagery .. angels and the
Throne of Glory.
The Sefer Yelzirah also implin Ihal the ph}'1.iatl world came into
bein. throoch Chakhmah, while t~ spiritual world ha. it. roots in
Binah. Thi, is be<.:ause a..khm.;th, Ihe cor>apt of civi... frffly. i. the
root of meK}'. while Binalt, lite con«pt of rntn;nt. is the root of
j ... "iC(C. Sinoe evil c.<isl$ in the ph~ical world. if can only be s... stai~
t hrout.h God', men:y. as the Psalmi.t sana. WI ha"e said, lhe world
is built on merey" (Psalms 89:3 ), In lhe spiritual ""orkl. on tbe other
hand, PU"' jl.ld""enl prevails.'"
Aca.>.dinl to the ph;losnpMn. W ater represent. the primeval
maliC', while Fire n:preKntsthe primitive aether.UJ
Serafim
This is the hichest ..,..:' of alljds, ...'hich exist in the UniVffSt of
=
Universe Inhabitant
Cbakhmah S<fi~
At:zilut
Beri)'ah lC~uidl
om Binal! ~ofGIory
yetri~ A.,.. Nut Six """,.
Asi),ah Ophanim MalJr.h ut SMde of Physical
Worid
(KociIot), Btller than angels.'" The prophet thll'S said, ~I saw the Lord
&illing on a hi&h and exalted Throne. , , &J1lfim 5100<1 around Him~
(I""iah 6:1·2). Tho: ~ loaiah ...."&5 visualizing Bttiyah, the world of
the 1luone. and he saw tile Sefafim, the ar!i"b of that uni"ft'Se. m
The word ~~fim~ comt"$ from the root Sartif, meanina ~to
bum.~ They a", siven this BanK becau"" they are in the "'orld of
Beriyah. wile", Binah, which it represented by fi",. is dominam ....
Tho: Cbayo( a", tile anz,els of yeui~. and thc:se were the bcinp
that were ,isualim:l by Eukid. He tllerd"on: said. ~ Abo'll: the firmament
that " 1lJ O'o"el" the heads [of the Cbayo(] was the likeness of a Throne. , ,~
(Ezdcid 1:26). Finall y, the Ophanim <= the anp of Asiyah. ~ ......-.:
therefon: sem below !be Cba)'Ol. as the prOphet said, ""There was an
Opium on the earth.-r the Cba)"ot {Ezd:it:II: I S~
M
The word for "d"'ellinl~ he,.., is Ma'on. which " 'e e!lC(llJnlered
p,..,viously ( r : $ ~ This lerm ",Ial~ 10 God as He enoompauo all cre-
al ion, including lime and Ihe ,pirilual dimension.
S n:alh. Fi,.., and Waler .'" the SOUrces of llIe spiri lual (Kel.,r·
Malkhut) and time (Cha Jr.hmah· Birtlh) contin uum$, and Ihes<'
e!K(lmpau all cn:alion.
As it is wrillen ...
The oomplete \Ier"5e is, ~He lays lhe beams of His upper dwnbm
",i\h water . . . He makes bmitM His anllCls. His ministers of flamin,
fi,..,."
v ,
SEFE M Y£TZIIu.H
God's ~upper chambers" aIT the spiri tual uni~erses, while His
Io",-rr chamber i, Ihe physical WQI'Id. The ~ilillJ ~ams of His upper
chamben are said to be made of "'"aler. This men to the level above
Beriyah. which is At1.ill.1\. In Atzilut, Chakhmah is dominanl, and
Chakhmah is ITplCKnted by "'"ate!".
The ,~ ~)'S that lhe anacls aIT made of "breaths w (ndIot), in
!he plural. Thi. allu.de5 10 both dim:t and 10 rrlkcted brealh. The word
for I~I hen> is MtJlakA, which a1S1) means ~~n~.w J UJI as breath
~r.ds and a-=><is Ih!"()UJh God', wiD, so do !hese allJcls. They
then-fore cafT)' out the function of direct and ""Il«ted Breath.
The second kind of In/lf! functions as a min iSler, remainin, in
• sin&le universe. ~ are visualized as fire.
1 . 13
•
"O':n:7 ',0::1 nvt"O!.l;"l )0
o:t:::r orm 7\, 1"
rrrn\l( t>1:Jt> " ,::1
10"0::1 OV::lj'" t:' "0f( mo.\(
'I:lJ"!I"Il :f?v01:J :1l!)\ 01' om "Oon .m'lYP ;"1"0"0
.l"':t:::r \lllVI1 :"It:lOl:J :"Il!.ll mn om "O'l1 .nl'::1
;"IllOt' .:"1"''0 10Ml l'J!l1:J :"Il!ll mlO o m V::I'Il'
C1V'I VVI1 .'-:"1'0 IW1m l'~" :"Il!ll :nvo 0 111'1
fWY Ol1n -""1/ ,;1"'1'::1 lZlIll"Il \l'1J'1:J :'Il!n 0'11""1
:" 1;1::1 \lllVI1 I'NO'C' :un1
H, I'hOS' Ihm"lfl lm
frt)/tl olmonK Ih, Elr mmlals
lin Ihl' mysll'ry OIIM Ih," M Olhn:f
Aid "'rm Shin {fIrII<)j
And fir HI Ih,m ill ffi$ grrol Holml'
tJnd "'flh Ihrm. HI' srolffi six ,xl"",ilin.
FI,,,,' Ifr JM-/ffi -tJbo",,- tJnd IQCed IIp,,,,,,,d
and srolffi il wilA »4d flrlI Va. ~).
Si.~: Ifl! waled "br/ow" and faced dow" ..urd
and sroled II wllh IIrh Ywd VtJv {'r:'I}-
Sn"n-, III' srolffi "raJl" al1dfaud straighl ahrad
tJnd srolni it with Vav lW Ifrlt f:M).
Eighl: If' sroled · ...nl - and faa'd back"""rd
and srolffi it wilh Va. flrlt rut! (>:TO).
"'inr: III! seaJffi "_th - al1d faced 10 I~r right
and sraled it wilh Yud Vol. ffrlt t-rr).
Trl1: Ill'sralfd · /IOI'lh " al1d IIJCed 10 Ih, I'll
olnd sroled /1 wilh 111'11 V",· YII<i {-rI}.
He chose three lellers
"
The Screr Yttzirah Sirnsn the impotUrn:e orthe facllhallMv
tellers "'-ere chosen from amon, the Elemenlallencn. Thi$ provida
one reason why lhe lellers Yud Hell Vav ("CI') "",re cl!OKn.
As Ihe Sefer Yelzirah will later uplain (2:) , in alphahe\icJ.l
order. the til'll Ih~ pl>onetk famili" all"
Guttural$: Aid H eh Oct Eyin
Labi. ls: ~ Vav Mem Peh
Palatals: Gimd Yud Kaf Kuf
Ii is immn1;a tely obvio ... s that Ihe first \ellen on these IfOUPS an: the
tim three lellen of lhe alphabet . Of thel<', Akf is one of the Ihree
Mothers. while Bet Ind Gimc:llre amol\llhe Double.. In these thrn:
IfOIIPS, llien:fore, the firsl sim ple leiters are Heh, Va .. and Yud.
Thne all' the letters of the Tetrauammaton.
The primary o rderilll ofthno: leiters is Yud Heh Vav. AccordinS
ID the book Ru.::irl. Ihis is becaUK Ylid includes the first four Ielten
of the alphabet. y ... d has • numerical value of 10, and this is the sum
of the tim four tellers (I + 2 + 3 + 4 _ 10). Ancr 4 comes 5, Ihe
numerical ...alue o r Heh, and then 6, thr numerical value of V. ... , ..
Funher siJnificance or the$e klten is di$CU.~sed abo.-e (1;1).
,
"for "d irection" is RUlldr. the same as Ihal for Brulh. V,v is therefore
derived from Alef.
As "'~ lhall 5«, Ihe lh= MOlh.e.. (Aid Mem Shin) repres.enl
thesis. antithesi, and iiynthnis, the bwiie triad of Sefer Yetzi ... h (3; I).
Hell: the lexl explains how • three-dimensional spa« is produc«l
from 1~ 111= concepts.
Thnis and anlilhesis Il'preSClu 1"'"() <:>pposile dir«tion. in .. 0""
dimen.ional li..." TOSdher with iynlhesi., IlIe), yidd three ekmenlL
Sin~ Iha>: Ihlft ekme nt5 ean be ~rmuted in l ix difTe~1 ....y..
Ihey define a three-dimensional space h.villi Sil dirKtions.'"
He sealed "abolV< ..
The", a re .. number o f wa)lt in which Ihe dil'tttions Ire repre-
sented by the 1C11cn. In the Gra version. "'~ have Ihe followina:
up YHV no
down HYV p~
eaSI vYH :1'1
"'til VHY ""
south YV H ;>l'
nonh HVY p~
,
,
NORTII " --------,,,-- "'"'"
Fine Col~m D II t. ...u-., ..
Se,vnd C'oIumD I l~ ...............'"Uh ~
Third Column (l~ ~pI_n ,
DOWN
FiR"'" II . TM Ora ,... rt iott .
'I' ate
Ou,,- ~
"
• {O __
The position of Ihe V,v th llS dclerminn 1he axis. The up down
axis is Terest:nled by Ihe tan t:OIumn, the elllll ~1 uis by ll>c fint
column. and lhe north soulh axis by Ihe middle column.
The direction il then determined by the remlini", two !etten,
Yud and Hell. If Ihey a", in direct order. YH (:..), then they define
Ih e positive direct ion on Ihe axi s. If tbey are in revene orcin", HY
(0:1), then they define tile nep live direction .
The _ond importanT system is found in the Shon Version . and
used by most of the commentaries" He~, the system is:
.,
do~
YHV
YV H
~
east HYV ~
"'"est HVY ~
~" VYH ~
~"h VHY ~
.,-
V,",
H,h ,• up down
elSt west
V.. •
The positions orthc lasl two lellers then determine ..."helller il is
in the positive 0<" nepli'"e direction alonl the ai ven axis.
The sy~tcm found in the Lon. Version ;$ very similar to that of
the Ora, ucept for tile up do"'"n diT«lion" uaminin, il carefully,
SffEk Y£TZIlt,\.H
. . . . .
Scfirah Di l'tttion Ari lob" TZ
0"", loOuth nthl YHV YH V YH V
OcvuJ1lh
T irell't
Netudl
Hod
Y,"",
~n>
"'
~,
_.
tast
-"
"front
"'
",o.
H VY
VY H
YY H
H YV
VHY
HVY
VHY
YVH
HYV
VYH
HVY
VH Y
YY H
HYV
YV H
OBC' susp«l$that it oo&inilly lOllS the same as the Gra venion, u~pI
that the fint t'll'O combinations 'Nell' confused. This is supported by
the fact that the ~rmutation YV H is repeated lwice.
The Saadia ~enion is very mu.ch like the ShOll Version, u~pt
thai the ~rmulalion< Il'prnenlin& CUI .nd 1OI(51'1l: inlerchanaed.
Hi&hly lil'lif.cant i. the <)'Stem of the Ari. pR:5tnted in his di.sc\q..
sian of the mystical meditalion.lS5Ociated ...ith the Foor Species. The
Foor Sp:dcs «>r>sW. of the citron (tI'rcr). palm (luia>'), myrtle (/rodQs),
and willow (an:l>I:lII). The all' laken on 1M festival of Suo::oI (tabmlao-
10). foll"" "i", the commandment, "On lhe first day, you shall cue fruit
of the c1 lroo 11ft. braoches of palm tl'ft:S, bou&hs of myrtle mn. and
M
willows oflhe brook (Leviticus 23:40), Theie species I"' .... ved in aU
six di~ion ... nd acmtdinllO the An. the I ppropo i~te letter combina-
lion m~1 be meditaled upon for cadi di~ion ,'" Each of these direc-
tions is al ..... paim:! will! iu appropriate Sdirah,
" ..
"oo i ' " "' . N • ..,•• h
""'" , ~ ,
O.
Tile An bqins wilh Chesed (Love). Ihe fint Sefirah, ""hich
"
""pre-
sents Ihe lIOulli. lakinlthe letten of tile Name in their natural omer,
YHV (no). Sec Table 14.
To deterrni"" Ihe order for Ihe opposite dir«1 ion. Ihe An then
make$ U,," of. ayslem used by Ihe Serer Yetzirah itself. (2:4). T he
lell stales IhailM t ....." prime opj>Qllit"'l.'" On"1f (ANG llJ) meanin,
Mdeli&hl.~ and Neaa (NCA Vll). meaninl a M pla.~.M In fonni". an
opposite, ;1 takes the fil1il leiter and place5 it lit he end. This is pre-
cisely whal is done \0 produ« Gcvurah (51n:"llh). ,"'hich R\>res.ents
the nonh. The Yud N ...... hich was al the bqinnina. is now placN al
the end, producin,lhc combination HVY (OTII. The north $()Uth axis
is then n:presentcd by Ihe IWO lelten HV ('!:l).
The up down axis is similarly defined by tile ~tcn YV "~I, with
Ihe position of the H (~) delerminin, the dinxlion .
In Ihis system. Ihe first leller is also sipl ificant. For SOUth a nd
up, the initial kiter is Y N. wllilc for north and down, it is H (').
Both o fthc"" 01.«' OppOlites in the thrtt column repn:sentation.
The east west axis is on lhe neut'lll len> point on both the up
do ... n line and on the nonh SOUlh line. In II!(, lhrtt roIumn n:p,esen-
lation, Tifen:t (ast) and Yesod (wesl) an: bolh in the middle line.
Since both the middle line and the len er V (1) , ep,uen t synthesis, Ihe
~n:sental ion of both the"" diTtCtions begins ... ilh a Vay. })' See fig·
u«,12.
The syslem o f the Zohar is naetly Ihe i.l.me as tllal of Ihe Ari.
except tllat eaSI and ......1 an: interchanged. The system of Ihe
Tikuney lollar II .... a similar prindple. bUI some ... hal diffen:nlly.
Later we shall see Ihat II!(, lwelve possible permillalions of
YH VH n:pn:senl Ihe twelve dialonal boundari ... (~,2). Each of the
six basic directiOlU can include I""" oflhe dia gonal boundal"i«. The
tinl of Ihese is r~resented by Ihe sewnd Heh at the end of II!(, trip-
IC!, and the sewnd. with this Heh at the beginnin&-
• • •
Oppo$itcnew is Binilh. ~ are the Yud and init ial Hell of the
Telntlnmmaion.
Once Similarity 100 Opposition exist. anolller ooncept comes
into beinl. namely Relationship. In philosoph ic .erml, 1hi. il the syn_
thesis bet..~n thesis and antithesis. In our present temlinolOl)'. tlli.
i. the Vav of the Tetrqrammaton. The word MV.V~ means I hook,
and Ihe letter Vav IS. prdil means "and. " In both senses. il dcnolCl
oonn«"lion and relationshi p.
AI this point in the Josical sequence, .... e hl"e five concepts:
Cause and Effea , Simila rity an<! Opposi tion. and Relationship.
Throe. lUJ'l«l.ively are K.eler aBo:! Malkhut. Chakhmah and Dinah,
and Ihe Vav.'"
U nlil 1M OOIlCq>t of Relationship "':" introduced. only fOUT
abslT1K1 points eI~led : Kele. a nd Mall:hul, and Chakhmah and
Dinah. It i. with the c:on~ of Relationship th.ata thr«-di~nsional
oonc:cptuII oontinl,lum <;.'OmCS ;IliO ("i,ten«. This drfi...,. .i~ d irK-
lions, and hence:, Ihe n umerical value of Vav is 6.
ElIch of ItI(, four a bstracl ronccpts ttl(,n Jive. rise 10 a relat ion-
ship. Chakhmah lives rise to Chesed (Love), 8 inah li' ·n rise 10
Gcvufllh (SIret1llh), Keler lives rise 10 Tife"" (8eluty). and Malkut
li'·n rise to Ynod (Foundalion).
As di5CUS5eil earlier, in a spirilual sense, Si milarity is closeness.
while Oppmition il d istance:. In order 10 live, the liver must he close
to the r«ipienl. In I spirilual sense, th ere must he an elemenl ofsimi-
Larity Mlwun liver and reeip~nl.
Therrlore. Ch.khmah, which i. Similarity, livn rise 10 Chesed,
"'hiclt i. the concept nf liyi~ Convervly, Binah, which i. Opposi-
tioo, Jives rise to Gevurah, ttl(, ronccpl of wilholdinl-
"
Tife..,1 is similarly derived from Kelt'r, the ronttpl of Cause. In
order 10 have Ihe m.uionshi ll of CauSf. an element mUSI live the
pre<:isc Ilmount of ui$lenee or motivation required for Ihe dTe(1.
This i. the roncqn of mea. ured Jivin" rcprexntcd by Tifcm.
T iferet i. ~auty, the IJO/den melln.
Since Tifem is deriva:l from KeIer. il would be Cltpt'CtCd 10 be above
C1Jesed and GevIiml. Howeva-. sina: TIfan is also ~ synthesis
bct ..en
Chnd and Gevurah. il is 'n" o'ly ItlHUCI1led as bein& below them.
Malkh ut. I~ concept of Effttl, is \lsuaUy said 10 be the feminine
.rel>ctype of Clntion. Sin~ Yesod is derived from Malkhul. YQQd
is nalu rally dra ...-n In ;1 and motivated 10 allich it""lf to it. Ii is for
Ihis 1'U5OII Ihll Yesod is said 10 p.arallcllhc sexual orpn. II is called
Yesod (Foundation) becausc it is the lowest of the six.
Derived from the orisinal four, there are now four new concepts:
Chesed, Gevurah, Tife..,t and Yesod.
Once Ihe oonctp! of Relationship has been introduct.t these
four ron«plS Ill't no Ionltr ""'I'd )' a!:. uract points in ton<;. plual
space. They Ire tonrteC1ed by tM COncepl of Relat>Onship. The 1"-0
pain. Otned-GcY\lrah Ind Tiferet-Yesod Ire like two Cf05Silll lines.
Th is yields four directions in a two-dimensional con tinuum.
The2 two dimensions can be re p..... nled in physicallPllC':. The
Tiferel-Yesod axil can represent e..t_ ....esl . .... hi)e the Che>cd-
Gcvurah axis can represent 5Outh-nOfth. Th is then yields I two-
dimensionll OOfltinuum.
Siner the COocetlt of Relat ionshi p exists.. the relationship
betw«n 1M two d imensions tbem ... lvn is also si,"ilkan!. In the
conceptual spate depiaion, 1his would be rep~nled as a line dra wn
betw«n the two uislin,lines.
The Cau ..... Effea or Keler-MIJkhut relat iOflshi p is thaI which is
primlry. This i. "'P~nted by the Tifere' -Ycsod ui$. The !h~5-
antilhesis relalionship ...·as introduced o nly to make the C1iu~ffect
reialionYti p pouible. ""flHo ,,,"iow.ntit hesil or Ch akhmah_Binah rdI.-
tionship is therefore secondary. T his is represenled by the ChCSoed-
Gcvunlh ax i•.
The Tifcre!-YCKId uis is therefore the primary dimension. while
'he Chesed-GeV\lTall axis is the aecondary d imension. This )'ields I
lotally I>CW concept, namely Ihe Quality of bei n, primary Of secon-
dary. These, in lum , form I. MW, th ird dimension, which Clln be
related to the u p do""\1 dir«tion. Th i. ;. tM axi. !i ntin, NelZach
(Victory) and Hod (Splendor~ See Filu", 13.
Wilh Ihe introduction of these two concepts. Ihe six Sdirot rep-
feRnled by lhe Vav Ire complete. These are Chesed, GcY\lTllh.
Tiferel. Ne,ach. Hod and Ynod. Thoc si s Sefirol I"C"pfeRn l the li x
direction. in .~e. T oselhtr with the ori&inal four, these .i. yield
Ihe Ten Sefiro!.
. SEFt:R YETZIRAH
A.ilk from tMir theoretical impli(-aliQns, the Ten Sefiro! also have
imponan! m~ticaJ and meditath'c sianificancr. The Sefer YetziBh,
in Ihis first chapter, has presen led • system of mcd illll; n. on the
Sefirol and o f bind iR' on~l( 10 them.
One may use the leuen to dimb the T rr:e of Life, but tile SefiI'Ol
are the points where one must res!.
There is aclually an imponant apparent contradict ion in Ihe text.
In onc xction ( I :6). t)w, te;,;t says. "'Their vision is like the .p~.rancc
of lishln;n" .. they speak of lhem 'runninl and rcllll'nin,,'~ Thi,
WO\IId imply llIal il is impossible 10 II<'<:- the Sefirol for mOrt Ihln an
inSlan l. ju51 like . flash of liablnin ... Loin, lIo",ner, 1M lut stales,
"If)'O<lr hean runs, retura to Ihe place , IS it is written, 'The Chayol
runni n, Ind retumin,'M( 1:8). This appeln 10 say thai one can 10
fun her, bUI that one should ~fra.in from !loin, 10.'''
What the tut i. lCtu;illy doi.,., t.o-vcr, is dcscribin, t..-o dis-
tinct SlaSts of initiation into the mysteries of the Sefirot.
The lint stalC beains with ~ ue~i5C whl:rc Ihe initi"e mun
Mundcl"$tand with W;Wom, Ind be ",i5C with Undentandin,M (1 :<4).
Here M l~ams !>ow to oscillate bet ...-.:cn Dinah consciousness and
Chakhmah OOMICCiouSJ105. On th is levd, hi: can meditate on the
Sefirot as ttn Ikpths, allo"';nt the mind to reach OIIt to the infinil y
of uch of these dt-pths. Si nce he is still in a state of oldllalin, men-
lalily. he IoeCI the Sdirol lite fl ash.,. of liJ,htnillJ. Mrunni", and
returnin&- M
,.
.
tllerefore "imbed theiT end in their tq:innirll" ( 1:7). He must oon-
template the point II infinily. wheT\' all these opposin& d irections
come 100flMt- as one.
This,~, is ..,.,...,mine thai o:annol be ......... "plisbed with Dinah
ronsciouS/\tSS. This stale of oonsciousne$s QUI only ima&ine Ihinp 'oTI"-
bally, or depicllhinllS in ph)'Sic:al term!. The point II inrmily is both infl-
nile and infinitesimal. and therd~. cannot be depicted. II can only be
C(llIltmpial<:d with OIakhmah oonseiousnesI.
As the text notes. Ihis n:prncnts the unity \h.\ preceded tbe con-
OXpl of number. [\ introduces a device ,-cry much like I ~n koail,
aUi"" · lkf~ one, what do you count: Whit is the number that
prttedes all number?
Both tile point II infin ity and 1M kedn an: meam 10 train !he
mind 10 visualize absolute nolhinaness. The Ari IIOles Ih.1 KeitT, the
hi&hes\ orlhe Sdirol, is often desi&naIN by the word Ayin. meanin,
"ROlhin .. • The [nfinile Be;"" the ~I ab<'lve KeIt T, C&nnolevcn be
desianlled by this word. The only ....:In:! 111.\ can be u5e'd is £jJQ,
,.'hk h, ltIXOf"din& 10 the Ari, dClIOles a oolh inaneu Ih.1 Ihoush!
(Bin.h) cannO! arasp al all.
II h.s been uid Ihal lhe besl ,",'ay 10 dHcribe ~b5oIule oolhina-
ness is 10 speak ofil as .....'hal you s.ee behind your head. MSince vision
d~s nol c~iSl in Ihe back orlhe head, whal one sees Ihen: is aMaIUle
OOlhinlnels.. If I 15k )'OtI whal you s.ee behind your head. you answer
Ihal you s.ee nOlhina. ConlemplalillJ on wbal one sees behind one's
head is Iherd,,", • IIood way to leam how 10 visulize ab50lule
oolhinaneu,
In aeneral. Ihe SOIJJ is said 10 consisl offive pans: Nefcsh. Ruch.
Neshamah. Chayah and Ytth idah. Of these, only tM fi~1 three,
Ncfesh, Ruach and No:shamah. ha,""any effect on Ihe mind. The lasl
IWO, Chayah and Ytthidah, are called Mcn vdopmenl$M (makijifl).
whid! annOI enler the mifld. '"
Neshamah , the hiJhcsl pan of lhe soullh.t Mcnlcn Mthe mind,
parallels the Sefirah of Binah. See T.ble 1~ on pal<' 90. ChaJdllnah
consciousness is above Ihout,ht. and is like IOnlCth ini Ihat n ists 0\11·
side 1M mind. Or. '$ in the anaJor.y used earlier. il is like what we
Msec~ behind OUr h""ds. JUSllikc IOmclhinl behind Ihe head can only
be secn if reflected in. mifTOr, 50 Chakhmah OOtlsciou.nel. can only
be IfIIspcd when reflected and clothed in Binah. With reillion to am·
sciO\ls Ihou"'l, Chalthmah consciousness il called Mnolhinaness.w",
It is in Ihis contnt that the lexl ")'I, MBridic )'Our mouth from
speakina and your hean from thinkina.M M Hean~ denoles Binah con·
sciO\lsnc'l$, and hence. it is sayinllhat on this level, the iniliate mUSI
blank OUI Binah consciousOC$S completely. This is accomplished by
,.
"
T ab~ I ~. Le~~l .
SUER I'ETZlkA H
of lhe "",I.
Yechidah
"""h
Neshamah
Ruach
Kelt.
CbathmBh
Binah
Tbe Si .
_.M
Nothi n~$11
So=h
Atzilut
lImy.1t
Yetzirah
Nefesh Malkhut A<:tion Asiyalt
Firsl visualize Ihis blackness beneath your fec1. Yo ur f«1 may then
a ppear 10 d issolve. a phenomenon that i. al.o menlioned in OlheT
anCienl my.licaltuts." · Slo",'!y, make Ihis blackness ClUJ) Over you,
surroundilll you comp).etely li ke a wall. Finally, leI il co,'er and Sur-
round you like I cei linl of in ky black mire. At this pOinl , you will
have no visual sensalion whatever, neither physiCllI nor mental.
AI! IhroLlih this PI"IXnS. yoo."" constantly . ..... re o flhe feelinl
of wal~r. cool and absolulely calm. [I is the dan:. wet f«linl of the
womb, w~re YOIl an. 10lally isolaled from a ll sen ... t;';'n.
It is with respect to Ihis state Ihat the Midrash states. "WateT
conaived and I""e birth 10 absolute daB:n~s. (4....011). wUO Thi. is Ihe
level o f Chakhmah consciousness.
,
" S I!F~Jt. YETZHIAH
•
The iniliale Ihen ~aches the fou nb step. where he returns \0 a
$laIC of Dinah COl\JCiousnes.. This il depicted as fire and blindilll
lishl. as the MidBSh ronlinlleS, -fire ronttived and pvc binh to
liahl.- Th i. i. the stilt ""'hcll' one -tindle$ them wilh fire..-
Here, lhe initilte mUll - tnlJ'8.vc and ca",.., OUI the Throne of
Glory. Senlfim. Ophanim, and holy Cllayoc.- He dqHcts (Cl\il'&ves)
aoo fills the mind (carves) willi these itnaJeS, these beinllhe same as
the onu vUualized by the prophet ..... , He milS! $lart with the Throne.
and then oonlinu.e throop Ihe various levels of ana:eb. endina 1I'i!b
the o.a)'Ol in the Universe of Yeu:irah, .... hk h OOI,tsponds to the SiJI
Dira:lioM. n.e influx is thus broIl&h!!o 1M level of Dinah.
Now 11M: in itiate musl brio. it 10 Ihe otMr six s"fiml _ Ch~,
Gevurah , Tiferel. NCludI. Hod , and Yesod. These are associated
wi th Ille si~ directions o f the physical ,,'orId. whicb have 1hrir coon-
teTpan in the Si l dlYs of creal ion. By associatin, the Sefirol with the
sis physical dim:ti<:>nl, one actually brinp Ihe influx inlo Ihe phY1'ical
domain.
The method of drawinl the influx into thac lower &firot
invol ves rontemplatinltlle tll ree leiters Yud Hell Vav (1"'). These
5bouLd be v~uaLi~cd as if .... riuen in the Mhurite tCtipt. with bl.err:::
fi~ on wllite fire. S« filUn: 14. Tllese leiters should IPJl!1r lIullf'.
fiLlinll1>e erui", mind.'"
The idea ofblack fin: ~ not j uSi tile Ibsence ofli&l\t. but neplive
lisht ..... The blld; mU~1 be so interue tllit il is brillilntly black. jUlt
as I lishl is brilliantly wllite. This ;s the black fin: with which the
lelten must be depicled.
While COniempLalinl the letter combination .. one 5houLd fKe in
Ihe appropriate directi<)n. ei ther ph)"~ia.lLy or mentally. After rom-
pleli", all si. direct ions and permulI.tions, tbi. part of tile exercise
is compLele.
What .till remains are the astr010Jkal appliUli<)ns of Ihis tech-
nique, wllich will bt describtd in chapters 4 and S. This is the p.oun
dc-sttibtd in lhe calC of Abl1lham . "He ilniled them with the Seven
[Planets). he directed them with lhe Twelve oonstelillions" (6:7).
CHAPTER TWO
,.
Copyrighted ma~rlal
"
,,':lc>
2: 1 '10' t'I1'111N O'IW'I D'i"V
:'lilT).' C'JWl m7w:J V:J'CI1 mIl/t
;'I:l1T'l '\=11 m:n 'P 1ilO' ,, '~ mIl/t ,,1:117 .JlCl iCiD
J"IOOn '0 11\0« .,.1:117 .00nJ·:J V"'OC jm
.,.",01(
:O'ru'J V'1)tl nn "'Ml( ' f( 11''''C' '\7 1'1'17;'
Three Mothers
Tile first sct of lellen In: the Three Mothers., whiet. will be d is-
"",ned in f.. rther detail in chapler 1. Here they Ilt'e introduced
becausc the)' define tile thni$-antitbcsis-l}'llthesil Itrvct llre Ihl\ is
cenlral to the tuchinp ofSefcr YetziJah . 1bcy aho ~ as IUl intro-
duction 10 the meditali~ techniques involvin, the letten.
Thne Ih",", klle"" Il:pieOCTlI 1M lh= coIumnl into which lhe
Sefirot are d ivided. The ri&hl hand column, headed by Cbakhmah,
is n:ptcxnled by Mem. The left column , headed by Binah, il n:pre-
• SE~ R YE'TZIRAH
A pan of merit
The Hebrew "''Ord for Mpan M here is Kill. This word can denote
the pan of. scale, but ;1 also dCnolcslhe palm of'Ile hand. Likewise,
,he word whon tan be used for Ihe lonlue of. balance, tile pOinter
which ;ndicalC'5 when the IWO PIIns all' in ~uil;brium. ill usual
meaniJ\i, however, is the ton,ue that is in the mouth.'
Therefore, on one hand. w
letters AId Mem Shin (1)'' '''') "'pre-
sent 1he two pan. and !onlut: of. balance. On tile O1MT hand, Ihey
represent \"" IWO hands. and the Moovcnanl betW'CCT1 ~M (1:3),
which is the (onlUe.
,
•
F;gur~ /5. TM ~al~ that "7iglu muiu and ,in•.
"
In practic.al application , theoc leU"rs can also ~ u~. If one
wishes 10 creale I silWltion in .... hich he him~lf or anou...r prnOn is
10 be broU&h1 \0 ll1e side of merit, O~ doe$ so by mali na use of Ille
Icue.- Mem (=).1 The tec:hniQue5 mall be discusxd laleT. Similarly, if
one wishes to brin,_" enemy to the side ofliability, so\hal he shO\lld
be judaed harshly on hith . one makes use of Ih e lener Shin (.,). AleC
(,,) is ,,!.Cd 10 brin, a person 10 be judie<! fairly and evenly.
Tl\ne qualities also rome inlO play in popular usaae. HummillJ.,
,.·tlith in~oIves pronou~inl the letter Mem . is usually seen IS I
hapP)'. plenanl. posit;,·., &<:Iivily. ConverYi)', one hi_s at • vin.in
or enemy, pronoundn, Ihe Icner Shin.
'I' ate
SEF'ER VEU:lItAH
SItoMi
ShaMi
ShoMu
Sh~Mu
.. ,.,."" '",."" '""" ''"""
pronoonc'td with (he five primlll)' \'U"'-cls.
Fig""" 16. TM WOTd KQIo ;" on amI)' .drh Ih~ "IV' prim<J'Y ,"",,',Is.
FI'(,," Shoshan Sodoc (The RO§e of MyJterie:s),
eye. When you look lhrou&h both eyes, you will pcm:ivc two opposite
llen,uions si mullanwusly. The world will take on a lurnalistic,
almost spiritlllll, aJlP"an.~ Th e intenlll:e betWl!en Chakhmah and
Binal! is even more etherial.
The Kal!hal;sl. I too note that the two kiter'S Shin aDd Mcm SlXU
0111 Shml (wI. tile .....,Td for "name..M, Ii il Ihroulh lhe ~ l!ames~ of
~ and in particular, Utroup. d ivine Nama. thaI one can make
the transi tion between Chakhmah and Bitllh ronKloU5lW:SS. A$ the
Baal Shem Toy taUJbt. it is throu&h I name W I one a n IfUP the
spiritual ~ntt of a pc~ or ~.'
The Zolla. a110 uyI truu the lelltrs Mem and Shin define the
mystery of Moses, wh~ Hebrew name, MO$beh, is spelkd Mcm
Shin Heh (:III'C).'o This WQ\lld be an .lIusion \0 Ille fact thallhe two
woson.nlS. Mem and Shin, l't-p\tiCnl Chakhmlh and Binah. The
Hell bas I numerical value of ~, and this would ""present the five
prim.ry VOllo'ClS. with which the combination of conlOn.nll il pro-
nouoced. ~ Tabk 16.
A IOme .... h.t similar idea is tauJht cxp1icdy by the early
K.\bbl/istl. The TOTIh StltCi thlt Moses killed.n Emti.n who \IllS
Slrikin, an Imelite, and the Midra$h explains WI Ibl$ 'NIl ICCOm-
plished wilh I di vi ne N.me." When he 1In.>cl< the EmU_n, the
Torah ""pons that Mose. Mlooked hm: (koJI) and Ibm: (koirr (Ex.,.
dus 2:12 ). In HeblU'. both "hereM and MthereM.re KoI! (>0)., word
which baSI numerical value of2S. The KabbalislS say that tbl$ rep_
iCO ts lhe twenly-five combinations between two letten Ibat l re poW-
bk with the five primary VO'Ndt.. " ~ fi,l,Ire 16.
,
". S!;FER Y£TZIRAH
He engraved them
First Ille letters are ~en,raved~ OUI of noth;n&ness.. Th~n Ih~y a~
Rcarved R out and sep;'illfllted, They .~ th~n Rpo:rmuted,R iIO thaI a
.iv~n combi .....!ion .ppo: ..... in di ff~Kl1 1 5e(j~nces. They then are
~~i&l.e.r and manipulated accordin, to tlleir numerical values.
Finany. llIey ca n be Rtransformed Ihrouall the vario!.lS standard
M
,
'"
, ,
". ., ,.n
'"
,
,
- ,
•
'"
.",
•,
, 'M
,.."
,
••
'"
'",
•,
, 'n
•
,,
"'•
, ,
,
, , ,
,
,
••
,
,, ,, ,
, •, ,•
,
, , , ,•
,•
, ,• ,• ,, ,•
,, , ,• ,
,• •, , ,• , ••
••
,, ,. •, ,• •, ,, , ,,
•
•• , ,, ,
,, ,,• ,,• •,
• •
, ,
,• • ,• ,• , •, ,•, ,
, ~
, ,
,•
•
h
,• ,•, ,, , ,•
,,
,, ,.• , , , ,r ,•
- ,
, ,
, •• , •, ,•
,•
1
•,
-...
~
''''''
, , , ,•
, , ,
,
r
.......
"... ,•
,
•
thc !etters, ~enara"in,~ them in his mind. ~ he milS! "~"
them OUI, makin, them fill his enlire oomdousne5S. After this. he
can pennllie them in vanol.l$ .....}"S. He CIIn also manipulate them
IlIrouan their numtrical values and the standard ciphcn.
Another imponam technique involved mtditali", o n ~ !euen
by ..Ti lins them." The simplest method was 10 take I .... ord and per.
mute il in all pouible ways. Ir one used I Kt s~lem 10 permute IIIne
leiters. Ihis was c.lkd Gilgul, or "cydi "," Orll1e lellns. " Tn more
IdvalK'ed system$, one would "00 USI: Ot:maui. (munericaJ values)
and lhe ci phers 10 e~ lend the pro«ss.
SE~R YET7.IRAH
'"
In effect. wrililtJ or recitin. these Jette.- C(lmbiTUUions "'1$ very
much like ~alin, I mantra. 11 5e!'\'e5 10 blan k out III thouJht from
the mind and .1.110 .... il \0 r.-acl! a stale of Chakhm;oh (OnKiOUllness.
Visulizinl th e leuen is '-ery much like tOmt:: of Ihe ~ Old v.nero
contem plative methods of meditation, and ;1 hH I si milar dr~.
In all, there are five buic techniqun; mentioned hen:. These par-
aUellhe five pho""tic familin di""u~ in the 1M!1\ section ."
llJfi~ places
The divisi<;ln OftM letters inlO five VOOP" is prnented 111:"" bu t
this is the only time that thi, is mrntionW in &fer Yeuirah. No
appa",nt ",aJOn or application for this division il ~ .. en.
One hint may rome from what we ha .. e written above (I: 13). The
thll'e letters 0( the Name, Yud Heh Vav (no), are lite first of the
T...,h'e Elementals 10 be found in the first three phonetic familia
'"
....hen taken in alphabetical order. lUllural., labial •. and palatals. See
Table 18.
Then: an: tWO basic 'NlI~ in which thQe families an: ordered.
The finl WlILy i. lhal which i. prevntt<! litre, ...-bieh stan. from the
throat. Ihe mOliI internal pan of Ihe mouth, and then ronlin ljCS OUI-
wanllO Ihe lips." The scoond orderin" found in Ille older rornmen-
taries. take. the JrOIIpinp in alphabetical order." See Table 19 on
pal!' 10·t
"The most obvious reason for me five phonetic families ...'Ould be
so thai 1M division. of Ihe alphabet should parallel I~ divisions in
the five dimensional continuum defined by Sdh YClZirah. Indeed,
Ihe Kabhali.1S leach thai tllese fl,·., &rOUPS pan.lle] the Five Loves
and Five Stren&1hs (see I:)). which an: tile end points of these dimen-
sion •. 2l. The. :usiJ!.llment of these families 10 spoxific dimcruions. how-
ever. i. nOI indicated, allllnu", it may be derived indirecliy.
11 is siJllificanl 10 nOle Ibal all five famitie5 an: present in
Bereshit (j,,,'u). Ihe firsl word oflhe Torah ."
Doe of Ihe mysltnes of Ihe Sefer Yelrirah is lhe fact Ihat Ihe
double leners are nOI mentioned. These double letten Ire Ihe ODes
which have dilTercnl fonns in Ihe middle Ind II Ihe e nd of a word:
Mem (ag), Nun (ll), Tzadi In"). Peh (')II). and Klf{"?). AlIlhe Tilmud
Sla tes, the forms ofthtst lellers ~re fOl"lOucn. and later ...,.ins(ituled
by Ihe prophets) ' There is absolulely no refcrence 10 these doublQ
in Sefer Yetzirah.
The Kabbalisls. lIo .... ever. draw a parallel between the five pho-
nelic families and Ihe fi"e douhled leiters. Accordi", 10 tbe Art. the
letlers Plrallelin. the pllon-elic families in lhe order presenled here
are: Tzadi. Nun. Kaf. Mem. Pch." See T able 20 on pa&e 104.
Another concept lhal is C(>nspicuDu$ly miMin, in tb(, Sefer
Yetzirah is thai of the vo...·el •. Here apin. Ihey fonn .IfOUP offi'·e.
the mlin vowels ~inl Cbolam (0). Kametz (a), Tzereh (e). Chink (il,
Ind Shurek (u). S« Tlble 21 on pajC 104. These are often alluded
10 in the mne monic Piluchey Chotam (w;w>~), Ihe ·silOel eDlflv-
i",~ (Exodu 5 28: 11) of the Bible. '" Another mnemonic i.
,
Labi.1s
Palatal. "• ? ,,
.",
LinJUlb
Dental. • ,
m
""
~ ,
,,. SEfI.R Y£TZJRAU
. .
G.,,_Ari Shon Vel"5ion "",""
I. G Ullunl. ,~ Gutlural. ,~ GUllurals ,~
[knil ls
Labi. ls
J ,~"" Linltuals
.." IXntals ""'
• ,,,01"
~nlals
LinlUaJ.
• 'Q OO
""'"
Table 20. Parallcl b(,lwecn phoodic f.m;lies ~nd doublt'd kncn .
",
I. GUllll rals ,~ Tudi
2. Palatals i';)'l N ..
3. OW
,.
,.
lin&uals
I>rnu.11
Labial.
""'"
j """
M em
P, h
~
~
.", ~
TifeRt
""""
Newell Gevurah
T iferet
Gevvrall Neluch
,
,
••
Tzadi
Nun
K,f
M=
~
~
~
p
.... bial.
i ... "
"'"
a,.... Hod
" ". ~
ry' ate
SErER Y£TZ1 RMl
h is immedi.atrly 01»-;0115 thaI each JfOUP lePl "-DIS a lei of end points
in the five-dimensional continuum, The pairi l1l in this continuum is:
Kcter- Malkhut Good_Evil
Chakh mah- Binah PUI- Future
~-<Xvurah So\Ilh-North
Tifcret Ycsod Easl-WCSI
Netzach- Hod Up-Down
[f we now lake Ih e final \cUen in alphabetical o rder and line
them up wi lh Ihc Fi~c L.ovcs in ortkr, "" c have lhe followiJII
a,r,sisnmen t:
,,
..r _ K CICT ( Mal k.b ut)
P,h
,, N," -"""'"
M,m _ Chakhmah (Binah)
- Tifcret
(GevurahJ
(Ycsod )
r Tu d i - Nctut h (Hod)
We now must take the Five StrenctM as the opp<IIilC end points in
the f've-dimensional «Vltinuum , PIacina them in order, we then 1La'~
Binah - Mem II
Gevurah - Nun I
Hod _ Tudi r
Ycsod - Pch ,
Malkh ut _ Ita( 1
,
,,,
i 'COl
,
,,
;»"
"..
, "'" .".,
""'"
,~
,
'"'
This is Ihe pm:ise ordn" in which thne Ie1tel'1o are 1,l5\1.l11y pre--
sented, and this hardly appears 10 be ooiocidcnlal. Also si&nificant is
III.. fllCl Ihal the Ari stales thaI tbe usual onkr MNTzPKh ('lUlOj
only applies 10 lhe$e !cuello ...·hen Ihey parallel Ihe fi~ Sm~lII\hs.
When they relate \0 Ihe Five r.o,'es. Ihey are in direct alphabetical
or<kr." ScI: Tab k l~.
Since each oflhe finallelten ""proems one oflhe pllontli., fam-
ilies. ttJnc, can also be a~i&ned 10 their appropriate dimension.
In relalin, tbe fi"., primary vowels \0 \hnc phonetic families,
Ihe Zebu presents them in the order i 1,1 e <) a, Ihis brio, Ihe order
thallhq' appear in PiTuCheY ChoTaM (~~)." Since Ihe ZOO ••
here pre$I"nls Ihe phonetic families in alphabelia.l order. I parallel
can jmm~i;uely be drllwn:
GuU\II'I'\S .~ , Chin k
LIIbi, ls ."" Shurek
Palatal, ,» , •" Tzereh
Lilljuals
IXntals ""'"01" • Ch"=
j Kamelz
We no.... Itave three groups of five: the phonetic ramilies. Ihe final
1cllers, Ind Ihe primary vo ..~Ls. All thesoe can be related to the five
dimensions.
As all the sections. this one can also be read in the imperative.
provid i", an impOrtanlt~hn ique. The tut then $a)'S, "Ensrave them
with voice. ur-·e th em with brealh , and Soet them in the mouth in
li ve places. ~
The inSlrtlCIion is to carefully pronoonce each kller ofthac live
families. This is "ensra'·e Ihem with voicc.~ Then one mll$l "carve
them wilh breath." contemplalinl each letler carefully. and roncen-
lralinl on the hreath Ih~t is exhaled while il is pronounced. Finally,
one must "set them in the mouth." medillli", o n the place in the
mouth wilh whidllhe leiter is pronounced.
In this exen.:i$e, elch family nuty aho be prorwu nced ..ith ilS
appropriue vo""",1. This yirlds a chanl that can be used for tbis exer-
dse. &e Table 26 on pqe 10'.
The purpose of this exen.:isc is to make the initiate hi&hty awaTC
of Ihe physical p~i••'n involved in pronouncinlthe lelten. While
sJl"tth ilself involves Dinah consciQusneu, the pronunciation nf the
lellen is In automatic acti .. ity, and hence, it involves Chakh mah
conscioosness.
With Ihn exen.:i$e. the initiate learns to nutke uSoe of the lellen
wilh Chakhmab consciousness. Dy pronound", them physicall y, he
th.." clothes them in Biaah. It is throUlh Ihis nen:iSoe that be learns
to uSoe the kllen as "paths of Wi.ulom."
'VI ate
S,£FU \,ET'Zl RAIt
In a circle
The word for ~circle" here is Gaf$aI. Th is can also be tranilated
u ~splle...," or ~cyclc. " Later. the Sefer Yetzirah speaks of the Golgul
again, s.ayin" "The cycle ~/gu.I) in the year is like a kina in Ille pro-
Yrne<:" (6:3).
,.
'
· ' -- -- 110<>
q;M
".
~ fin;t
chapter spOke of lite J2 p;ollts of Wisdom. At diseussed
lhe~ (1: 1), Ihe numbu)2, when ..nuen 01,11, $~1l5 w, mani",
~hcan.~ The lutl.ln lpeau oflhe m~"SliCl.I experieDce by sayillJ.
Mlfyour Iwart runs~ ( 1:8). It also wams.. "Bridle your . . . lImrl from
Ihinkin&H (1 :8).
The fir.1I 'haptcr tlt\l. speaks of 'lne IlSpttl oftinJ,Ship, whid! is
Ihe helln. As Ihe IC~I lalcr says. "The heart in the soul is li te a kina
in WJ.r~ (6:3). T he heart thc""fo", domin.t~ Ihe conti nuum of thI'
spiritual. No .... , in lite ...rond chapter, the lal is tumin. 10 I. s«:(lnd
ISpect of kingship, Ihe Cyde (ga/gat), .... hich dominates lime.
In Jenera!, if I. number Qfpoinh arc p!a~ in I. circle, the n\lm_
ber of possible liMli that can OOOMeI any pair OfpO;DI$ caD be cuily
calculated. If ,.,-e let n hc Ihe nurnb<'r Qf points, and L the number of
'ines. tile fannull is:
L .n ( n - l y2
Take the number, rnuhiply il by Ihe number beLow il. and divide by
1.."(>.
Thus. IbTff poin ts in a circle can be joined by tbTff lines., f<)OJr
poinlS b~ si ~ li nn. fivc points by ten linn. and si~ points b ~ fifteen
Jincs. 5« fi,ure 11 on pal( 110. A Jiven numberofpoinlS CIIn 11.... lys
be joined b~ tbe number of lines provided by tbe above formula.
The number of lines Illat COIn C()I1nect tbe 22 leners plactd in a
circle is therefore (22 >< 21Y2. Sre fi,ure 13 on palle Ill. Makin, the
calculation. ~ find lllallbere are 23J such linn.. Tbeloe Ire the 23]
Gales.
LikJ' a wall...
This can also be read in Ibe impenuive: KPlace tMm in a circle,
like a wall wilb 231 ptn. K
The Kabbaiisis pTeioent an important meditation regardin, tbese
pies." Tbis is based on a text in tbe first cbapter: KEnvavc them
like a &arden. Carve them li ke a wall, deck tbem like a ocilin8~
(1 :11 ).
The initi ate must O}nlemplate tbe IfOtlnd. visualiz.;nl it as
murk~ black mud. He mUll then K",vaVe~ tbe 22 letters, fomlin,
each one in bis mind. These should I11.I.ke a circle in the IfOtlnd.
Tben be must Kcarve them like a ..-aII. He must Kcarve each
M K
I«ter OUI of the around and stand each one up, makinl' circle of
Jette .... surround in, bim like a wall. One of the major Kabbalisls,
Rabbi Isaac of Aa:o, speaks ofa simil ar medilat ion. where the !etten
are visual;7ed on Ihe honton .•
'VI ate
SEFER YiTZIRAH
'"
) Point$ 4 Point.
3 l in« 6 lines
, Poinll
10 lines
7 Poin l. 8 Poin"
21 linn 11 lin«
,.
'"
...
T~ ~ 'I OJ rot
row", r .,," • I' ~ ." ". ,~\lIt
roM
m
"
u
., ." •
T
!;II I~ g"I i, 1;1 'II
)TI C:I ~ O>.,~ .,.
"PO '"
ro ~~"" r " l1" 0;0' I' ~ .,..
mW~
ro~
•
T
r"' ~ III l ~ \lit
;n ,." .,., ~,o;o, 111
~ ~
." i"" r"I " v:> ""
• "CP!"";rIr>
m"" " 1"
'Pl'II
.,. r~
m..,.,"~,...
ml'l'DVII
1'Il1l'~ ....
ron
M
, • " , , ,• • •, ,, •, , , • • , , ,, " ,, ,, ,, •
· ·
••
'"
Nexl, tile initiate milS! Mdeck them like a ~ilina. ~ He mUSI im.,_
inc the 231 linn connectin, Ihe 22 lellers, and depict them like .
teilin, OvCr his head.
Onee he has rompkled this exercise, he is read y 10 make usc of
the rire~. If be wilohes \0 Use ;110 crelle, he ml,lst proceed in direct
order, bqinnin. wilh lhe Ale{. FOCI.lsin, Ihe mind on ~ Alef, he
Ihen follows each of the 21 paths emanalin, from ;1 to the other let·
lers, from BellO T.... He continues in Ihis manner, IIsin,aJllheother
lelltrs. See flJUre 19 on pa~ Ill.
Acrordina to $OItlC, Ihis is abo I technique for makin,_ Golem.
If One wishes 10 dellroy iI, one proct:ed. in the p~ opposite di~
lion . beI;on;n, wilh Tav, and end io.","ith Aleph.
Some rommenlann p rHent 1!I\Ort primitive method, where Ihe
initiale IClually d n.ws I circle around Ihe object Ihll he wishai 10
form." Proccedilll in. circle, he chants Ille len« oombinltio<\$, fi rll
Alef wilh all the ol~ lellers, Ihen Ikt, until llIe alphabet is com·
pleted. I( one wishes 10 dnlroy Ille ~lation, he ptooeedl in !he oppo-
site direction.
It is also ~Ialed Ihat Ihe diJCiple$ oftbe R i..... auempled 10 \lie
lhe Serer Ycu:irali 10 make a anl1.U"e. "They ~nl in the ...rnn& dirtttion,
however, and sunk in lhe eanb up 10 IbeiT waists Ihrouah the power of
lhe \ellen. Trapped, lhey cried out for help. "The Riva was finally con-
\.aC"Ied, alKi he told his other disciples to rteite the alphabeu wltik pro-
cecdilll in the """"","Ie direction. until the othen wert ftttd.."
There is some que:nion as to whether ~pnx:eedinl~ here means
tbl! one lhould aclually walk aroulKi the eime, or wbether il muns
Ibal one mUSI merd y move around il mentally and meditat ively.
". . ..
~ ~ ~ ~
~ m "n
'" " • ~
po
m
»
•
~
, ~
"
•
•• " ~ ~
•
.
~ ~ ~
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.,~
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" "" • ~
• . ,. "", • . " •• •
m ro
w
3
"» ~
~ ~
~
~
ro ~ ~
" ., • po •" "• w
'"" ,.'" '"• '", '". '" '" '"." '" '"" '"
~ ~
" " "
~ ~ w M ~
• • •
"• '" • .• '" ..
» ro
,. p
.
~
~ "w
" • " • ,. ~
"•
" .
"
~
~ ~
•
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•
•
•
..•" "., • .•• "• " "., .., ""• ..'"
"
• .,
\0
m
m
~
w
~
~ ~
., • "
• "
~
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'" " "
, ,
~ ~
0 I •
2 ,0 • •
3 7 ,
0
0
2
3 ,• •9 • 0, • • ••, 2
2
I •,
7
0 •, •0 , •0 , 0• •, 0
2
,
0
0 , •, • 0, , 9 •
2 2 •
0 7
,• 4 • 0 , • 2 3
,
0
0 9• • •7
4
• , ""IIi
2
. .' /array
, ,
4 3 2 ,
2
'I' ate
'" SHER YETlJRAH
01
02
2l
"" "
80 ""
." .""
OJ
"" 8l "
60
"".
"" "" ""
,".
06
" " 29 6)
.
08
09
.
.' 20
0] 02 0) 04 05 06 07 08 09
12 13 1516171819
"
2J 24
""., "
" 68 "69 " .
26 27 28 29
36 12 38 39
"
""
57 S8
79
"
"
.,
~ "
~
"
~ "
~
'"• '""
.
•
~
T
•
'"
~
V
on ro
'I' ate
'"
This holds (rut u" lil ()n~ reacha Ih~ Kafarra y......here the leiters
K.a( and Tav rePHt. In lhe Lamed array, lhe letters Akf and lamed
rrpeal. so thai Ihis is lhe revenc of the Alcf lmay. l1tc repe.t in,lct·
len in Ihe ",~lICnl arrayo are the !'evene of Ibo5e in the tim
eleven .ma)'~
Therrlon:. 1M", Ire eleven amays where Ihe eleventh line has Ihe
pain in lhe ALB.M $CQIIC'~ ",~alinj.. The nUl elc"cn amyl hive
lheir T(>vrrv "'pralil1J,.
A num~r of some..'hat similar amays are used by lhe later
Kabbalis\s." lnSlead of !,Isia, Ihe Kabbalis\ic Method, ho,,'cveT, they
merely skip I number of letlen in lhe se«:lnd colum n, and Ihcn
proceed wilh Ihe alphabet in iii " ....1 onkr. II is not dear if these
lalcr Kabhaiisis did Ihis so as 10 conceal the true method, or if il
actually repreKnts a completely diffcKnI proccdllre. See filuTe 27 on
~ 118.
Acoordin, \0 either procedure, thcre are cleven arrays in '""hkh
lhe pain l'l:PfnC'nlro by ALBaM are dominant. Thca., thm:: are
aoother cleven arrays whcll' lhe reVtnc of I~ pain are
dominant,
11M: finl eleven amo).. ,re .aid 10 reprrsenl lite eleVfn Sffirot
""hen lite quasi-SefiRIt Out (Knowkd&eJ is also included. The
scquentt is: Keler. Cbakhmah. Binah. Out. Cbescd. Ocvurah,
Tiferel. Netueh. Hod. YeJOd, foblkltul.
11M: fint eleven 'mI)'", witeK the ~irs of ALBaM are in direct
order, repre.enllhe ~fronl· oflh<':K eleven Selirot. The KCOnd set of
elc"en, " 'here lhese ~in are revened, reprnenl the "bad" of the
Scfirot. These amy, aN: prrsented in Appcndi~ Ill.
Althou&h lile Serer Yelzirah sa).. , ~Ten and nol eleven" (1 :4),
Ihis is only speakin, of Ihe inner euence of lhe Sefirot. When _
s))tak of their reprne:ntalion IS letter amo)'S, _ are speakin, of Iheir
OUler euentt. and hffe Out (Know\edJel is al50 toI.lnted. muillJ
ele'·en."
These ln1yi an: "ery impOrtant in bindillJ onnelf 10 Ihe Sffirot.
They , 11: al50 used in lite ~lIion of a GoIem.
",""dinIIO lhe early K.IIbbalist5, the 23 1 Oates are alluded 10
in Ihe narne Israel." In Hebrew, Israel it s))tlled YiSRAe L ('llC Ie».
Thne le1len n n .150 spell 0\11 YeSh RLA {.rn r) . whkh lilnlllly
means. ~Ihere are 2J I ,"
11M: Midrash states Ihll lllhe ~nninl or~alion, "Israel rose
in thouJ,hI."" Tile name "Israel " Ihus alludes 10 Ihe fact Ih.t crealion
look place throod! these 231 Gates. Acoordinl 10 the 1.ler
Kabbalisti. Ihese 231 ples.n: whatll:lftlined in lite Vacated Space
Ihat pr«eded erellion,"
When lite Sefer YelziR h _peab Of lhe "ll Pllhs of Wisdom," it
uKi Ihe WQrd Nali~ for ~p;l lh ." The numerical "alue of Nati" (~'nJl
SEnR YETZJUH
'"
, . • ,.," • • n m•
,
. .
~ ~ ~ ~
, ~ ~
" W
" • ,.,• • " n * ~
,, •m"
~
~
~
~
"
~
• " •
,,
. . "
~ ~ ~
• •m" ~ ~
. . .
~
•"
" ~ ~ ~
, • n
,, m
~ ~
. . .
~ ~
" •m"
,, " •"
•
• ~
~
~
~
" " • ~
~
" n
~
" • ~
.
~ ~
• " W
.
~
"
, '" • ,.," • • • m• " ~
~'"n ~
"
M
•
, " " •
..
~ ~
, ~
,.," • m
~ ~
.
F,g~r~ 17. Th~
" ·/o
"
11r~
"•
lauT K"INHI/IJIJ. • 11t~
Tim ,$
Alif "'rll)' r Ofuspondinll 'Q Kru r . INQJ~ NIM' 'ht Irllt' 8 of
grammallN! ~lItJ 1>1<1. (Jrt lined lip ,,'if" 1M liitrs_ !
,h.
Trt,,..
• ""
~
, ~ '" .," ~
~
m ro ~
• n '" " • w
"
,.n" •
~ ~ ~
•" • " • ", Q W
•
".,• w» "
• " " •
~
, ~
n
'"
"
"• po =., " •"
~
.
P'
Q
n
•
~
~
• '.
Q
.
~ ~ ~ w ~
"
,. e .,
• " , " ,. "
~ ~
" • ~
..
~ ~ ~
""
0 W Q
~
• • ~ n " ~
~ "'
~
Rot~",~ of
Wor .....~ ( //6(j..I ZJ 7} .
'I' ate
SEFER YETZIRAH
,""
M
~ ~
,.,,.
m ~ m •
• '" ,.," • '"r ~ m
" ~
" ~
,., ,.,"" , ~
~
m
~
• •
rn u
u
~
•
"" " , ••,
'" "" ""
"" '" ,."" '"u ...
~
" "
u
. .,v
'" "
"
~
~
m
m
n
n ~
, "
0
", '"
'"
~
• m m •., ~
" " ~
"
m
"n ",0 ~
~
" ro
~
M 0
rn M
M
n • " '"
" • ~
,.," m "" n m
"•
.
~ ~ m ~ ~
•
'" , " "
~
V
'"• .", '" •,
~
.,"u '"
~ M
"
• "• " •• • "•
~
. " •
~
" m
'"
. "" 19 J8
"of" "
09
Fip:urr )0. NumrriC"Q/ onalog'u
J6
Abulafio' sa",,)".
,
• r...
C'- -'-.
'"
• '" m ,
'•" ,.,"
m
D
",., •• ~
"
m
"
,
~
, ~
~
~
m
~
•
, " ~
'"""
m m u ~
m
., .,"" C• ~
•m U ~
,. ,.""
"
m
"., " "."u
~
, =
w m
• •
•, "
U
•
•
.• .,
v m
m " •, " m, "
~ ~
.,
~
" '" ,..,
P'
'" w m
~
•
., ~ .,
ro
.
•
"
""
~ ~ ~
• .,.,
~ m ~
" " " ~
• •
"'" ", "" " " "
..,
~ ~
'" •, "
~
• ,> ,"
~
., "• "
~ ~ ~
m
~
m
,,
m
'"'"m m• • ",..
~
• •
,
m
m "
~
" "
" P"'
~
,.
~
ro '" m" •
m
m m
., " e" u
m ,., • .,
~
.,
" • • • " " • .
~
"OJ "
02
29 )8
"
... "" ""
"" "" "11 "" " 37
69 78
06
07 "" "" " ""
)8
,
'"
~ , ~ ~
• "n ~ ~ ~
m
~
~
~
m
m •
~
"
~
~ M
~
m
m
• , •
~
~
m
" ~
,., "
n
, w ~ m
m
•
m
•
• "
•
" " ,. " • •
~
" •
~
"
~ ~ ~ ~
~
" .,.,,. " •
." M
" N
•~
n
"
~
.,•,
~ m
m
m
"
~
»
." " ~
eo ~
•., N rn
" • , » • ~
"• n
n m
~
m , n ~
.
~
." m " • ., n
.,
~
., m • • ,• •,
~ ~
. m
" " ~
-. .
m '", » ."
, .,• ,• •
~
"
~
~
"m
"
"
~
• ".
~
• . ".
• ~
"
01
.
.. . ..
"""
OJ 12 19
21 J7
"
" ""
"
"""
" " 2J "" "
"" .,"""
06
""
07
08 17 26
09
" " . '''ray
27
Fixurr # . N",."rinll ~.... of Abtolqfo, I MtNJijitJ ""'" limp/i·
,",'
and Ihe aTTaY it lIIo.n furlbrr ,im pl jr~. S« filul'l'I)J and }4.
Tile number 231 rcpres..n($ the 10tai number of combinations
o f '''''0 Ictten. The n!,lmber o f oombinalionl of th ree leltt'l'S il 1540.
Rabbi Abraham Abull.li. notes lllal Ihis is equallD 22 lirMS 70. The
Dumber 70 I'l'prewtlU the 70 pri"",,.,. lllllllqn. If each of these lan-
Table 27 Combinations of Icuen .
'"
I ullcrs Combinat ions I ullcrs Combinations
0
, , 105,432
6
1.31 5
26.334
" ,61l
""" 74,613
26,334
7
,8
170,544
319,710 "" 7,31 5
I,S4()
"
479,420
646,646
20
"
II
'"",
I\lages had an .lphabet of 22 leners. theft would be a 10lal of I SolO
lctten."
In ~neral the number of eomb;nuion. of n tellers i. Jiven by
tile formula:
c ~ 22!1{n!(22- n)!I.
Values Oflbc numbers from zero to 22 a~ provided in Table 27.
/' • '\
~ /
/' > '\
• >
, ••
SHER Y£TZIIV.H
TIle .... ont for "plague. - Nega (ltll), K obtained from Iftllf (llJ) by
si mple f1)\a tion. The term Nl'ga denoted especially a kprosy like
pique ..... hich ....as a siln of dis.approval by God. See filU,.., 3~ on
page 123.
In an earl in S«tion t I: I 3). ...., di"""ucd how permutltions such
as thex t an result in OppO$ite~
A very si milar permutation il p""""nted by the K.:Ibbalists. The
hi&hest spirituallevd to which one can :u pin: il tlle Sc:firah of Keter
(Crown), The furtller one climbs, however, the ~ rarified tile
atrnosp/le"", and 1M "",aler the I pirit.."l da!IJeT. By I simple permu-
lalion. 1M ....ord K~"" (vol be«lmes Kal'Ft (rro). tile Heb..,... word
for urilion, whe"" • penon il complelely cui off Wiritulll y. "
One of Ille earty 10th centu!)' mystics, Hai Gaon, noted tlllt
many people who embarked on tile mysteries "" en: s~ful, but
then met .... it h untimely de.III." Tile 1Ii&her tile climb, tile more dan-
aerous tile falL
A perwn WQ\I ld not attempt to clim b I danaerous mountai n
witlloutt lle proper In.ini nl and equipmen t. Any OO¥ice woo ....ould
anem pt II dimb wilhout an e.pemnced guide WQ\Ild be court in, dil-
uter. Oimbilll spiritual Mi1h15 can be equally dallJerous. OM needs
tile. proper In.inin, and mental equipment, as well IS In ex perienced
~piril ual guide.
1/"""
Ht pmmdro Il!t m. "";gl!td Il!t .... and 1f<J'4fQrmtd Iht....
,fltf "'ill! tl!em all
and all of Il!rm ",ill! ,fIr!
lkt ..'ilh Ihem alt
and all Q/ rhem "'jrll Bt'r.
TIr~ rt'pr<ll I" a cyde
and n ilt In lJJ Gal<'5.
II romn 001 IIuII allillal ;1 formro
and aI/ rhal II j pOknl
..maNJIt$ fro m OM Namt,
0. _.' __ ....
....
~
;:w
'"
One Name
AcmrdiTIIIQ Ihe Kabbalist$, this Name is the TClrqrammalQn,
YHVH (;moJ. Each kiter mus' be pennuled with the Tctr..n.mma-
Ion in an appropriate manncr.
The te<;ilnique for doinl this is outlined by Rabbi ElieuT
Ra keaeh of Warmes, Pl'rtiallarly in the conlexl of crellillJ a
Golem." This brines uS 10 some of the most po~rf... l medilalive
techniques of Ille Sefer Yetzirah.
When one is WOfti11& ...ilh a letter, he mU51. combine lhatleuer wi\h
the ktlen oftbe Tctrat;mnmaton.. usinJ aU fi..-e V'D""el1.
Th u$, for uampk. if one were usilll the AIef, one v.'OUld bq:in
by combinin, il wilh lbe Yud of Ihe Tetraanmm.ton, usillj aU live
,-o_ls. 5« filllIT 36 on pqe 126. Then: is. hO"l',ever, some question
as 10 how one is 10 JO about Ihis. From the words of Rabbi Elieur
Rol<each,;1 would appear tha' one simply makes use of all the vo""",ls
In sequence:
,
SEFER Yl!TZlRAH
.
"/'1 pI ,'I! )'!)fI, ,il )'11/'1, 'I! )'11/), ,,, ,
l"rl/'ll
Fil W't 37. It..I,wctiOtlJ fox maki", II Gai,,,,, jr(Nfl Rabbi £Iitztl'
R~_·It· $ ,-",.",.t1ll"'7 QfI Stfor Yt lti' ......
ton, a total of twen ty pronunciationl for eacb letter. Thil means that
tile entire c~crdK makes UK of 97.240 pronunciations, AuwnUq
that one can pronounce fwr Iyllabks a SfIWDd, it WQ\Ild take appro"o
Una.dy seven houn 10 complele this entire process.
The mClbod of creat ;1Ii a GoIem il w tlillCd by Rabbi Elieur
RoI<.each in hi, rommCDlIf)' on Sefer Yetzinh, and p leseJlted in
..
..J .... _
.... ,,,,..,..... ............... "' ....... '" .--..
.......".,. .."f,..- ....... ... ,.,. ................. -
...,' """" .....,... .......... ,.,
,-
"" .............. '7!'''' O·_ _
_ ... , __ .... u, ,.,. . .
_ _ " ...... . .........., oJI,o ....,,"""...,
~~ _.. _
>
,~...-
'_1".. ...........
¥N."""
"'_........
... . ...,,,-......
.....
""'""1' ...... .. .. ..
-. . . ...... "' ...,.
'"" . ,,,, ........... _.
""'._ ""'no'''''' "p'" , ~ ""... .... ...-.. ........" .. ,......
~
'-
....'..-..........
~ .. ~
........... . .. ...... _ _,
:!~ ~.,. """'_ •._ .... ., .. ........ - ... .. .... - ' " ..... P - ! " ....., .
"P-... --.", .~,..,- .......... .......
• p'w.·_ .. ,_ .. ...,., ......... "'.,.- ...... ,........ ...
'.- ..... ...., 1>""" ""' ... _ .. ,......_
,· _ . ,_~
',""......,..."" ..',..............
·...""",....._i_ ......."" ........
.... ....,W>n .., ....., ....._""" - p " po ~
... po...,. ... ~ ,.. ,""p , 1.0 ... , .......... ...
~ ...... '" _, •• ' • • , ....... , I" J "'y''''
.--,..- .......
. . . . .... -. _" ,..-"..
,.." . ·_.....
"" '·.w· ~~ ""''''' f"'"" _ ........ ,.., ""
.,.. ...... "'.... _ '*..,..
..... ,'"""?"" ... '"':'" to"Y''' ,... ..... _" .. .... ,--.... u,
_-,
~
""~-" .... .,......... .,,, ,...
P' .....,,....
... ,... .• ' 'f'"'' ....... ,,''''
I""P' - ....
'"'.......
....
_
_ ....... _ ....
....... .......
......... , •.,.,. ....... .... \o' ..... ~" ... ,..... ...
r' .. ~
,r.....
.."
._ .~_ • J"'"
~.,.
""U I""
.... If?"''''''''
'-'Io ....,' .. n ""' r'" ..,. ........... .......
'I' ate
c+., ... r ...
VoAo VOAI VoAe VoAi VoAu ':"I o:n 1ft tt\ ..,
VaAo VaAa V,Ae VaAi VaAu If. "'! ':') '!!.")
VcAo VeAl VeAe VeAi VeAu '!! to) ~ to) 'If!
ViAo ViAa ViAe viAi ViAu '!! to) o:n ~ 'M!
VuAo VuAI VuAe VuAi VuAu ':'1 ~ "'1 ':'!'Of!
HoAo HoAa HoAe HoAi HoAu !P' tl' tl' ~:I ''':I
HaAo HaAa HaAe HaA; HIA u
HeAo HeAl HeAe HeAi HeAu t":' "'" "'"' ':": ""
~ "" "'"' ~ '11.,
HiAo HiA, HiAc HiAi HiAu t'" '!'!:I ""~ 0:<-' '",":,
HuAo HuAa HuAe HuAi HuAu
~ '!'-:' "'"~ ':":' ''''~
S€FOt YITZIRAH
downward.
Shurck .- Move head dirc<:t1y forward.
Ifthi. method "",re used with an entire array of 221 letter pairs..
complding a sinsle array would be a major t ..... , takin& over an hour
and a half 10 complete. It would take over H houn to complete lhe
entin: seq~ncc of 22 letters.. It is que:uionable if this was evu actu-
ally done in prKlice, bul il i. not imp05Sible. Formina a GoIem was
considen:d to be ttl(, mO$t advanced-and danJerous-of all mroita-
tive t~hniques. An initiate advan«d enough to al1empt it miJ,h1 al50
have the diociplin e 1ICC:eS$3T}' for ovcr thirty houn of continuous
meditation.
Besides this. Abulafia abo procribes sp«ific bn:a1hina: exercises
to be us.ed ..-'hi le chantin,theK lel1en. BetWCf'n each lener one i. to
take II singk b",ath. Bel""Cen pairs.. one i. to take no mo«o than lWO
breathS. between lines. 110 mon: than five. and be"""Cen euh leller of
the Tdravammaton. no mon: than twenty_five.
Specific head motions an: also prescribed for this exettise. These
head motion. an: to be made slowly and deliberalely, while one pro-
noune« Ihe leuer and uhalu. See filure 40. These motions corre-
spond 10 the s.hape of Ihe vowel. While doina this e~ercise. o ne is
scated. facinl toward the east.
Then: is evidence thai the na~ and sha pes of the Hebrew
vowel painu ""en: used for mystical pupOSe$ lon, before they wen:
used in wrilina n d vammar. The earliest IIOn-m~"SIical uSC of ItI(,
vo",'Chi dates from the eiJ,hth or ninlh century. while mystical uses
arc found in K. bbIolist ic 'IOUfttS tMI date 31 early as the fint CCntury.
[t i. hishly p<)!isible that the shapes of lhe wrillen _els wen: ta ken
from Ihe head motions associated .... ith thei r 'IOUndl.
Abulafia uses his system ofbrealhinl uerci~, and head mQtion •
.... ith the leiter Alef. since Alcf(with ... numerieal value of I) upresses
unily .... ith God . The same system ean also be uW wilh OIMr leuers.
There is no evidence, however. that this melhod ...·as ever u§e<i with
an enlire array of 221 lener pai". To usc ;1 with even a sin&le IetteT
is a ~r efron . It is pOssible. however. that lhis melhod coWd be
u§e<i with various kite" 10 anain specific results wilh them."
GoIem.ma kin, "'..5 merely the most a.dvanced Ind SlXClacular
use of the methods of &fer Yelzirah. Each kller individually, 00"'"
c"cr. is abo ·ssocjated willi ... pan oflhe body. The array awxliled
'"
with the partiall,r lener could be used iU. ~il'lion 10 ,!fen 1hll
specific limb. This could be u!led to "",OBlhen Ihe 'Pirilual C'DeT"JY
of llull limb. or even for Cltral;v" p"lXses..
The teners are Ilso Issocia\(~d with vlrious timn and IstroloPtal
sians. Usilll the system ofSercr Yeuirah one can also oonmuct med·
itations Inociated wilh Ih~.
,
m SUU Y~IR,\.H
'I' ate
on
From air thaI cannot be grasped
Tllcsc pillaB an: arva! from "air which cannot be JI1I~.' Air
_s carlin" idm\incd with Breath, .... hich in tum is associated with tJ>c,
first Sdirah, Ket«. Air is abo i<kn1;fJed lO, th I~ Ietler AJef (2:1, 3:4~
The Sdcr Yetzirah stales 1hat water is below, fi n: above, and air
is in the middle. Tllis may initiall y be SOIne'A'hal d ifficult 10 under-
stand •• inee ai r i. aS$OCj~lcd with B",ath and KelCT, lhe hi",':$!
Sdirah." II is also associated ""III Alef. the firsl leller of Ille
alph abet.
As nplainro eartier ( 1:9), however. tbe Bmlh associated with
Ke\CT is not IfUl)abk, lin« Illis Sdirah ,tptCknts a level abo~c W
inlelkct. The only place "'~ this Breath can beoon1ol' manifest is in
the lower Sefirot. Therefore, even lhouJh i1 is Oft " Ie\'e! abo-oc
Chakhmah and 8inal!. il is only manifest on a level lhat is below
them .
The "ai r thai (:;In no\ be I'1lspro" is therefore the Brealh romin,
from Kelt •. This cannot be 'ra'ipro until it cnlers the rul m of tile
"pillars," that is. the lower seven SefiT'Ql.
Th is loeC'Iion is a'1Ually be$1 understood in a mystinl sense. l1Ie
previous retian uplained how to use the leiter amys toIether with
the d ivir>e Name IS a mtdila\ive device. One of the man ifestations
of hi&her meditative state. (u _II u some dn,ll·indueed .Iates) is
ha llu.cinoamesis, " 'hm, one can voluntarily form menial im~.
These menial images appear to be real and subsl.tnlial. When a per_
son is in a normal stale of consciousness. he nu.~ be able to form
menu! imap, but they are ..'cak. lransienl. and blurred by mental
sialic. In ronlraSi. Ihe im ...... formed ;n a meditative Siale a ppear
lIolid. substantial. and real.
In an ordinary stale of Binah consciousness. the mind is filled
wilh statie. If you wi~ 10 ttt Ihis stalic. merely dOle your eyn. You
will see I rapidly chanain, kaleidOKOpe of imap. one impOJed on
anolher. b en if you can vasp a sinlle imaae fo r . short while. il is
inlerminsled wilh mental stalic. and you have lillie conlrol over lhe
im alc. You cannol make il COme and 110 al ...·il1. and you cannot
delennine how i1 hellav.-s. Even when you a n uen some in fluc:na:
o ver ii, Ille imalt will seem 10 have a mind of it. own .
This llalic also Uilll evCn " 'hen our cyesare open, bul;I ;O I>ver·
Ihado"'"ed by Ihe imalel of the real WI)Iid.ln I dartened room. h0w-
ever. il does remain visible to some d~ Thi ••tatic impairs our
perceplion of Ille oulside worid. and clouds our menial processes.
Thc pereeplion I>fthe spirimal world i. even more IcnUOU$ than
Ihal of lhe physical. In a normal .talc of ronsciousOCiS, menial static
m.kel it abs.olulcly impossible 10 visualize 1M spiril lll.l world.
SEnR YETZlJl.O,H
He~ Ihis Slale of mental stalic is called ~chaos~ (ro/li/). A<I both
Ille Kabbal ists and lin,uists lead>, Ihe word TQ/rll (nn) 0()IneS from
IIIe ' ·erb T"hah (~), mnnin, 10 be ~asIQUoded~ or ~confused. · >:1
This is the nonnal st,te of mental confusion, wlle~ the mind is
ck>uded with st.tic. Th is is .lto associated willi Binall consciousness.
and IICCOfdin,ly. a number of Kabbltlists as§l)Ci.te To/Ill wilh Binah."
The lobar alto teaclles Illal Too .. is associated with Ibe Klipoll
(Husk). the forttl thaI p~vrm one from vi suali2i"l the spirilual
realm. "
It is out of tllis ToIIl/. this stale of confused Binall consciousness.
tbat one must creale a palpable ima,e. There are many imqes that
can be produced. bUI the mOSI common is Ihe mental Gokm, the
astral body. The initiate thus "forms palpable substance (nwm ....'"
out of chaos.~ Thi. implies attaini"l a .tate ofCh.khmab COnsc1ouj..
ness. Tile Kabbalisls tbus note Ihal the word GoIem (a,,) has a
numerical value of 73. IIIe same as Ihat ofCh.khmah (!'II:I:lI\). "
One mllSl then "make nonexistence inlO aioIencc. ~ brlier, in tt.at·
i"" "form subswlce out of d\aos, ~ the texl uses tile word "form," while
here it uses the word "make." In Heboew, nl""Cially au:ordin& to the
Kabbalists. the word "form" (}o:llzar) denotts the initial fonnin& of
"somethin& fl"QlTl oornethin&- ~ Tho "'rm "make~ (asah.). on the other
l\and, refers to the completion of the po« Thuo. in "fontIiflg subst.nox
QUI 0{ chaos, ~ one besins tile mental act 0( creation. In "moking n(lII('Ji ...
1erKf: into 1!1i5tenox," one completes it.
The lerm "form.tion~ alto implies an activity lakilll platt in
Yelzirab, the lower spiri lual univen.e. ThUs. when one "forms sub-
stance QU\ of cbaos." one is brin,in, aboul a Pllrely spirilual result
in the uni'·erse of Ye~i .. h. " Makin,, " on Ih e olber lIand. ~ren \0
Ibe universe of Asiy.b . .... bid! borden on tbe physical. This implies
results Ibat may actually be manifesl in the physical world.
In order to aa:omplilh Ihis. one must entc"!" fully into tbe realm
of NOlhin,ness. This is the hi"'esl level of Chakhmah consciousness,
borderin, on Keler. One IherdOf"C belins with "non.,..itlen~," whicb
is NothinBJIess.
Wilen one ",.cho this level, he an actually make somethirll
~that actually is~ (ychllO) (lr ".,..iSlen<:e." He can aClually bri lll aboul
~sullS in the univen.e of Asiyah ..... hich can tllen tw: rdkcted in tile
physical world. In makin, a GoIem , Ihis ...·ould oorrespon.d to Ihe
state of O)nsciousness required tw:fo~ Ibe mental imqe could be
imposed on Ille day. brin,;n, i\ 10 life.
A very similar pl""l)(:nl i. dncribcd by the VCII Hassidic master.
Rabbi Do.. Bacr, tbe Mauid of Mczritch ( 1704- 1772). He writes thaI
.... hen a per50ll contemplates a physieal obj~ completely ~nd IOtally,
he can .clually bri"l that objecl onlO bis lhou",\. If his 1bousht is
,
",
Ihen bound \0 the supernal Mind, he can elevate Ihal object \0 the
level of Mi nd. From IlIcK. il no be funller elevated \0 the Ie"el of
No\hin&ne:s5. WhCK the obj<:el ~ases to elIiSi. When Ihis ob~ is
tllen once aaain brou&lll back 10 the lc~1 of Mind , it call be brou&lll
back in any form thai Ihe initiate desires. Thus, when he IinaUy
bfinp it back 10 ils normal physical state. the object can be ehanaed
in any manller he desires. As the Magid stales. -he can even trans-
form il inlO JOld.~'"
II is in Ihis state of consciousness Lhal one can visuali2e the
Sefirot as -veal pillars. - One -carves- them out. Ihis meanilli lhll
the image of tile Selirah is seen separately. totany fiUil\l the oon-
sciousness. Even tho ...&It Ihe Sd'irot aK totally ineffable and iode-
KriNbk. when a pe~n is in Ihis state of oonsciousnt'SS, he can
-ClI."",- them out. They are Illen pe~ved as solid pillars. made of
transparen t air. Like the air, the Sefi1'(l1 are still invisible, but in this
state of consciousn<"$$. ev~n tile air can ~me visible.
,.
Copyrighted material
'"
This rt'peats pan of. p~ioU5 $«tion (2: I). and it has already been
discussed. Chaplers one and twO SpOke (IfIll., basic mNlilal;ve meth_
ods invol vin, lite Scfi rol and letters. Now Ihe lellers are trea ted
separately.
Thus. in the bq:inn ing Qf chapter tWO, the thrtt MQthers _,..,
introdu.ced. The main idea Ihen:. however. was 10 leach lila! ~Mem
hums and Shin hissn,~ one of!~ first ~it.ative practices IIsi" , t~
leuen.
Here. the same concept is repealed, bUI as introduction 10 (he
idea Qf thesis, antilhesis, and . yntliffis. II is similar 10 a n ancient tra-
dition of homilet ic interpretalion: ·T.... o IICriplUres lhal a)nlnodict
one alKlllt«. until a third .Kripture romes and deccidro b.t~n
them.- ' In both eases. the same uprHSion, Kdecides belw«n them ,"
(Makllr;a B/')'nt hl'm), i~ used. It is significant to note Ib.at the homi.
ktit rule is c~pressed by Rabbi Ishmael, a lea<kr of an imponanl finl
ccnlur)' m)'Sl ical school , who appaT\"nil y raYived it from Rabbi
Nehunia h ben HaKana.'
The siml*Sl ink,poctalion i, thai Mem i$ thr:si .. Shin i. antithQis,
a nd Aid is synlhais. ~ lhl« demmls then form the WI« ...,rtic:al
columns into whidl the Sefirot aT\" di>-KIed. Mem '"POCstills the richl
hand column (headed by Cbakhmah). Sltin. the left hand column (1'II':aded
by Binah), and Ald', the cmlr.ll column (headed by Krier).>
Th ere is, ho_ver. another interprelalion , and Ihi. follo~ lhe
arranllcmcnt of the leiters on the Tree of Life aCCOrdinllQ the Ari .'
He"" Ale(, Mem and Shin a", the horiwntallinc.. connectinl oppos.
ina Scfirot. Shin is betWttn Chakhmah and Binah , Alef between
Chesed and Oevurah, a nd Mcm betWttn NtI"lIch and Hod.
,
,~ SHI:R I'ETZ.I RAH
FoIlo"';n, IlIio, lh~ leU i. sari ... l11a1 ll\c "fou ndalion" o f all
three: of these Mother lellers is tile synt hesis th.at connectltllesi. and
antithesis. Thesis is Ihe Selirah 10 Ihe riJ/lt, antithesi s is the one \0
t he ltn, and synlhesis is Ihe MOlher leiter C(lnnectin, Ihe two.
,
S£fER YETlJRAH
'"
~mrslr. abo d~note$ deep impenetrable &loom , as in the VCI'K. vGloom
(..mn il). ""nle and desolation" (J ob 30:3),' This is tile inky &loom
tht nisIN! herolT cITation, in the Uni verse of Chaos., Ihe
"yesterniJ,ht" heron: lhe Scfirot Vl'C're brou&hl into bein ...
There i. allO e-oidenc:e that the "''OTd tmnh ...-as also IIwd as a
mystical name ofOod. Thus. Laban Ioaid 10 Jacob, "The God of your
fathers lasl ni&hl (Emnlt) $l.id 10 mc" (v.nes;. ) I :2~). This can JUSt
as easily be ..,ad , "The God of )'Qur fathen. Emesh, said \0 me," Sim-
ilarly. Jacob said. - And Emesh pvc judlmen'" (<knnis 31:"3).'0
AC(:(lrdin, 10 tome aUlhorilin, Ihe letters Alef Mem Shin (n'III)
also ron"". l a d,e"per mystery, ...·hieh is Alef Va v Yud {.... )."
AlIOlher element of the mystery of the lellen AMSh is the fact
that they ",pre5ent the rea)ncilialion of opposites. l.o&ically. then: is
no way in which OppO$i tes can be reconciled . These lellen IMTefon:
represent a myslery Ihal cannot be penetrated by 1000c.
One oomm~nt3tOi'" St3tU thai the leiters AMSh contain the m~"S
lery Ihro ..'" which one can ..-al i< on fire." The n:awn for Ihis may
be because IIIde letters hive Ihe polO1'r 10 T'eCOIKile opposiles. It i.
possible Ihl Rav Ztino made use oflhi. lechnique 10 prevenl hi. feet
fT(lm bein, burned in fin:. at related in Ihe Talmud ."
r . .)
\
<.\r~;;~ ...
,~
•
Knted by ~WlIter.~ [fthis nuclear foru _re to inleract wilh all parti_
cles. however. all m~uer would be mutually auracted together, form-
in, a solid lum p denser than a neutron star. On the other hand. even
wit hin each elementary panicle. there is. need for . robesive force
to rounlen.<;t the elee1romaJne1ic repulsion wilbin the panicle itself.
Th is foro: ca.n be nei ther electromapetic nor pionic. This i, the
~~iT,~ .... hieh representS tbe ~weak nuclear" force, which "decides
between" the otber two. It is th is force that allowsli&ht panicles (lep-
tOns) such as eketrons to uis\. See fi,ure 4 1.
The founh foro:, lfllvity, COfTeSpond$ to "earth." Earth. however
is nOi I basie element , bul a confluence of the other three." It is
therefore represented by the final Heh in the Tetn.lfllmmaton, which
is actually a refJetition of the fint Heh in this name.
On an even more elementary level. these throe elementl repre-
sent the throe ues in the unitary symmetry. SU( 3). which is the most
basic propeny of mauer.
These throe elements ,Iso relate to the experiential. Here. fire
~resen l$ the radiation of eneru, while Wiler representS the Ibsorp-
tion of enel'lY. These are IltHi, Ind ant ithesis, ,;vin,lnd rterivin ..
wh ich themselves are mani festations of cause and effect. Air. whieh
represents the transminion of eneflY is t hen the synthesis, li nki",
the two.
"
'"
In this asP«1, fin: and water also represent the ~holOlical
mod~ of Binah and Chakhmah C(ln5Cio~ne5$. As discussed earl ier,
~fin:~ is Binah t<H1l1Ciollsnns.. where the mind itself is constantly
radial;nll encfJ,Y. ·Water: on the at"". hand, i. Chakhmah oon-
sciollsnen, when: the mind can ab50rb spiritual enCTIY from without.
~A irM is then RIUlC~ HaKJxlnh. tile medium Ihrou&h which such spir-
itual encl'lY is lransmiued.
as the invisible lir. In shape, it consistl ofan upper ri&hl and a lower
left dol , ~rescntin,IWO opposites. wilh I di1lOnal LiM in the mid-
dle, ....hich both separates and connects Ihe twO.
"
...
In Ihe annual cyde, winler is represented by Mem (e). summer
by Shin (!:OJ, and the two temperate sUs(lnS by Alef(,,). ~ complete
cycle is then defined by Ihe !etten MAShA (.-w). Takinj IheirparaJ-
~1 •. these correspond 10 IIIe leuen YVH V (_I. Thi, is closely
related, but somewhat different than the Teua&rammllon. YHVH
(:mo).
In Ihe TClragrammaton, Ihe onkrilli of the IeIten is YHV (no),
Here thesis and synthesis are seen as opposites, represc:nlillllension
and equilibrium. Antithesis is then Ihe midpoinl connect in, the IWO.
The fourth kiln of the Tetraa:rammaton , lhe Hell. is also. point of
tension.
The temperate
The Hebrew wo rd for ~lemp<:r'le,~ here, i. RtnQyair (~").
This use of Ihe .... ord Ra'(Jyalr is vi rtually unique in Hebrew
Ii te!llt \Ire.
The usual interpretation of Ral'Qya/r is abundance, as in the
VerY, ~my cup is abundant (ra''lJya}J)M (Pulms 23:S). II sbould be
~Ied Iha' il is from Ihis verse thaI some Kabbalisls filKl an IDu-
lion tQ tM 22 1 Gates, discussed earlier (2:4).
One reason fo r Ille use of Ra"ayall 10 denote the Sprinl and
fall WI5 beCIUse tllese tWO we~ tile lIarves' seasons in Ihe Holy
Land .
TIle most obvious source fOl'" this usqe is tile verse, ~We llave
rome throu&h fi~ and wlter. You brou&ht us QUI 10 RIll'Il)'IlII-
(Psalms 66:12). Some commentaries inlerpret Ra>ayah lien: IQ llso
mean Mabundance,M bUI from 1M CODlHI, Mtemperate" seems \() be I
mon: klsical inlerp~laliQn. Rav-ayall would then deoole Ille desired
meaninl belw«n Mfin: Mand ~water." TIle Serer Yetzirah also uses
Ihis W()ro in soch a sense.
l! il siJllificant to note thaI lhe Talmud i'UC1llretl "fi ~ and
Wiler" in 11Ii$ verse to denote ps~holo&ieal stales." The Midnuh
likewise interprets "fin: and water"" in this vefSC 15 ~ferriDJ 10 IWO
opposinl kinds ofpurplory."
Fi~ is tlte overabundallCe of sensation, and it is also n:lated to
shame." Wiler, on lite otIter lIand, <.kDQtcs 1ac.k of sensalion, and is
n:lated to de-pres.sion. RnwI)llh i$ tMn the p/'rfect mentll state
belwe<:n thne IWO rxtn:ma.
Some authorities al!lO"'Y tllallhe word Ra»aya/l is n:lated to the
word YQI"l'h (:n1'), wllieh denotes tile early autumn rain .. "
SEFEII. YETZIRAH
The ~!I(Iul~ hue also refen 101M body. One reuon for Ihis is beaUK
the $()UI is an exa<:1 oounlerpJort OhM body. Evcrythinl found in 1M
body is also found in Ihe soul.
Similarly, 1M buman body i. a microcosm of Ihe , upernal
-Man.~ See r"ure 42 On pap: 151. This is Ihe "Man" Sillilll o n the
Ihrone, Ittn by Ezekiel. Tile lupernal "Man" repre5C'n\$ the amy of
the Sefirol. The "Soul" mentioned he", lhen also "'fen 10 Ihe anlh ....
pomorph ic reprnenlliion orlhi. alTllY.
Wilh respect to the Sdirol, Shin is the line belWttn Chlli.hmah
and Binah; Alef, between Cllcsed and Gevurah ; and Mem. be!w~
Netueh and Hod , l1Ie top line repn:scnls the head, Ih., eente!' line,
Ihe ChClil, and 1M Jo_r line, 1M bdly. "
Accordinlto Rabbi Abraham Abublfia, lhe", ;1 also an allusion
here to the IWO covenants mentioned above 0 :3), The CO" enanl of
the IOnlue il in Ihe head, while lhe covenanl of circumcision is in
Ihe relion of the belly. Between Ihe IWO, in 1M cbest, is tbe bean,
which is kinl o"er Ille soul (6:3), This alludes 10 the Torah . wh ich is
IIIe primary co,'cnant "
The head also reprnenlS min 's crelli'1: power . .... hich i. repre_
senled by fi"" The belly is man', receptive power, repn:scnled by
waler, The clle~ and lunas mU51 bolh inhale and exhale, and Ihere-
fo re pertain 10 bolh,
In a <ktper KnK, Ihe bead is Ittn as lhe cenler of Binah con-
sciousness. Ii il Ihe head lh al is Ihe ""I.I of Ihe conscious 5tream of
thou"'t The wortings of lhe belly. On the OlheT hnd, .'" almost
completel y lubconsdoils' The beUy lherefore parallels 1M Mem •
.... hich denotes Chakhmah consciOUln<$S. Ii is for Ihi. reason that
some myst ics would comempl~te their belly ....hen u lemplinl 10
all8in Chakhmah consciousness,
'"
8
Binlh
• Chakhm.h
Tifert1
Malkhut
I
F;l! .. r~ 41 . TIr~ s..~.,,"1 "Man : ·
,.
SEFER Yf:TZIRAH
The chest
The Hebrev.· word for ~d!<':It~ here i. GaviyaJr (:\'11). " The usc: of
Gaviyah for citest is lito uaiqlJe in Hebrew lileral"re. Usually. the
word refers 10 the body IS I wllole, I nd some eummenlllri<':l here also
Sllle Ihal it denolH lite enlire trunk.. -
A po6sible scr"i plun.l soun:e for this may come from Ezekiel',
vi.ion, .... here he Ioaid of Ihe Chlyol, "With two [winpl lhey covered
their Ga"i}Y:Ih~ (Ezekiel 1: 1 I I. The scriplllre may be sayina Ihat Ihey
covered titeir chest and heart with tWO of Iheir willIS.)'
Some co mment . riu interpl"t't Ga.iyah 10 denote the sex ulI
orlan .» In the lanllll,C of Ihe Mishn ah, we indeed fin d Ihlt tite
~ helld of Ihe Ga.i}Y:IlI" refen to Ihe tip of th e male or.,.n. » Ho w_
ever, IS Ihe major c<:>mmenlaries nOle, only t he te rm , "held of the
Ga~iyall- hal this conll<)tltion. Ind not the word Gaviyah
itself.'"'
,.
'"
He made Ale! king
Mali! simply, this means lhal wilh regard 10 concepts related to
8 "'.111 , Alef i. ahollY. the tim letter in lhe pennulalion."
In a <i«per sense, this means thl' Alefwu bound 10 the Sdirah
of Malkbu \ (Kinphip). Malkbu\ is said 10 he Ihe "mouth," and as
such, ;\ is Ihe Sefirah IhrouJ,h whkh Ihe pO_' of all the oilier Sefirot
il exp~."
The flI1l !IU3<'- is ~fore \0 make the letter "kina." This means thai
il is brou&hl lo the "mouth: which is lhe Sdirah ofMalkhut"
Bound a crown to il
This ind ic:altl thai Ihe leiters are bound 10 the hiahl'St of Ihe
$l:fin)!, Keter. All the Sefer Yelzirah stall'S earlier (1 :9), this is the
direct B.uth. Ma lkhul, on the olher hand, is reflected Breath. Before
a letler can be exprened IhroUJh Malkhul, it must be bound \0 Kele •.
Th .. I, the " End is imbedded in Ihe betinnin," (1;7),
This abo speaks of the physiralle!.tm., '"" hid! have ~ "CI'O\IoTIS"
called Taggin on top. The Talmud thus says thai w~ Moses ascendo:d
10 haven, he saw God "'bindina crowns 10 the kum. ••
These "'1)"""S ",pre..,"1 the h;,her spiritual nalure of tile Iet-
I~"' '' Iftlle klters themSl'lve5 are in Ass;yah. tllen tile crowns on top
bind Ih~m 10 Yel:z;ra.h:oo
, ••
,. SEft:R Y£TZIRAH
The initial !ellen of A>,i" Ran:ryall and Gniya/l spell 001 Arog
(.... ). which means "to weave. ~ It is out of lhele IIIIft syntheJes that
the fabric of cmllion ;s woven.
~n Doubles:
Brr (~. Glmel (I). Dalel tV.
Ko.f~), Prlr M Rn h r;. Tao (n).
Tlrry dirtt'llirmuehn willt IlII'O /ollglln
Bel-Blrer, Gime/-Ghime/. 1XlIn·Dlralet.
KgfKlra/. ~h·Pi!eIr. Rnh-Rlrn lt. Tlll'11!(n:
A $Iruelure of $CJi tJnd hard.
Sirong a1ld weak
Thi s is the sel of double letters. each havinllWO pOSSible SOtInds, ' In
the Tm: of life diauam. t!ley corrnpond 10 the seven vertical
lin es.
The double sound is Klainro by aU Jews for Bet. Ka( and Pch.
T he hard s,,1 (~) hu Ihe oou nd of b, wbile the soft has the wund of
•. Tile hard Kif ()) has Ibe $(lund of k, the soft , 1M sound of kJr, like
the Gennan ell. as in ~dodl.~ The hard Peh ('I is pronouncN like a
p, while the IiOft is like an f
In all Ihesoe cases, tile hard sound is • pl05ive, pronouncN in an
e~plosi"e puff of !IOUnd. The soft sound is a fricative.
Tile northern European Ashkennic Jews pronounce lhe soft r av
(/OJ like an I. MOSI southern European Sefardic Jews pronounce both
Ihe ha rd and soft rav Ille same, like a I . Some Sefardim pronounce
tke soft Tav like a soft lh, as in ~th illJ.. ~
The Ye~nile Jews also di 51i nlUi5h betw~n Ike 50ft and hard
Gimel and DaieL The soft Gimel (I) has lhe sound of a j , Or amon,
otllers. li ke I deep , !lIteral fricati~ g. The 50ft Dalet (,) hu the
50und of a hard Ilr. u in ~the. ·
As a ",Mn.1 rule, these siK kiten, BGD KPT (1"II:l ,~), always
take the hard form at the beai nn;", of a word. Thil il one ~ason
why no Biblical nama a~ found betinninl with an f This would
imply a Peh (~) I llhe beI;nnin, oflhe na~. and il would automati-
cally take tke hard sound, which i. that of. p.
,.
Table 28 . R~sh wilh a [).o.8~sh in lhe Sible
l. HaRimah "9l'"}:' I Samuel 1:6.
2. H,R ·ilem ~ 1 Samuel 10:24 , 17:25. 2 KiltlS
, R. '1
6:)2.
Jen:miah 39:]2, Proverbs 11:2 1,
,, 'em'
20:22.
Ezekiel 16:4.
, Sh...."kh
R~h
7. I..cShan:kh.
• .."Manu
.""""'"
m
Ibid.
Habakkuk 3:13 .
Proverbs 3:8.
Proverbs ]4:10.
9.
10. Sh"R<)!Ihi
""
n Proverbs 15: I .
Son, of Sonp 5:2.
"'~
The hard lOund is distinuished by a d<)t , called . Oa&nh. placed
in t~ middle of the leller.
Hi&hly siJr!ificanl is I~ fael Ihal Ihe R~h N is ""'"" ronside~
10 ~ one of lhe Doubles. Most po:sl-Talmudic-al If1lmmariln5 lake
pucilW'ly lhe opposite view. and SUile that the Re5.b never lakes a
D'IC$h. Not only is then: no verbal distinction belw«n lhe h.rd and
IOfl RC$h, but rno<km I:k l)rew If1lmmar does not even reco&nize
soch a difference in the ..nnen form.
Then: an:. however, len different words, appearin, in foun..,n
placn in lhe Sible. whi<:h an: ",Tinen with a Resb COlItaini n, a
Da,esb ) See Table 28. II it. obvious. ho>vever, thlt Ihe ulual rules
applyin, 10 the Iene .... BOD KPT(".~ "11) , 00 nol .pply 10 the Re5.b.
n.., plese", sound of the Resh is a fricali'l:. and is therefore mo5t
probably the,.)ft iIOU nd. n.., hard Resb was eitbcf lost or delibmltdy
oonceaIed after the drsuuctioo of !be: Temple. In earlier times, its usc
was standard. and !here is ev1deoce from IMir !nLnsIi\n;lUon of narn.es.
Ihal its pronuncialion was I<no)....,. to the .uthon of!be: Septu. ginl. ' By
the 100h century, however, the double Resh was 0rIIy U5ed by the mem-
bmI of the unaU Muyr. rommuniJy in Tiberias.' Tiberias had ~ the
last cily in which the Sanhrdrin, the veal roun wbich piC>t.-.-ed the
uadilion, had fIou.rish.ed.' This was one of the mysleries that the
Sanhedrin had ""trusted 10 the communily ofTiberias.
Acwrdin. 10 Ihe Serer Yetzinah (2:3), Resb iii in the voup of
[)enlals. lSShRTz (. '''01). AIoIlJ wilh tbe lenen Zayin (I), Samekh
(e). Shin tv), and l"udi (. ). it is pronounced wilh the leeth. Acwro-
ins 10 lhe Lon, Veninn (2: I), il is sounded MOOween the teeth , with
Ihe IOn8ue Iyin, down, 5prr",d OUI.~ We ClnnOI "Y thaI il is. rolled
'"
, sound. sin~ this in.vlves Ihe tip of the (on,uie. It would Ihen be
ei02st 10 lhe I sound, and should be included amon, the LiIlJ1Uls.
OTlNTh (ru'xr!). Funh ermore. the hard Resh should be a pIosive,
like allihe olher hard doubles..
Theil: is no r sound in use today 1hll ITIffII all these tntc"; •.
Funhermore. there is no plosivc sound pl"OlIO\Inced willi !he 1eelh
th ai ()()Uld be I. candidate for the hard Resh. The onainal pronuncia-
tion of Ihi. lellt' therefore remai ns a mystery.
These are the oonoepts tllal can be controlLed IhrouJ,h the SoeVen dou-
ble !omen.. The methodl are similar \0 II\os.e outlined in ChapleT 2.
T llese seven qualities parallcllhe seven veni.caJ lines in the Tne
of life dial'llm. They also male \0 Ike seven limes Ibal ~ phllllle,
Kit WIS good.~ oocu.rs in the a«ou.nt of ~tlion _
AcrordinllO the Tikkunq Zci!a,. IIII' hard 50Und implin hanh jlldl-
menl. whik the 50ft SOllnd implies len ient jud&mC'nt,IJ The JQOd
Qualities would then be associated ""ilh IIII' soft 5OIInd. Ind tile bad
qualitiC1i witllthe hlrd ""'nd. T llere arc. I>o...'e~r. 'lOme IUthoritiC1i
....1>0 ~ Ihis."
"
o..- ,
; ' -- Fow
'"
TraflSJX)se
"tran5p"K~r Ihere wlS IImlir ("1'0:\), which has Ihe same TOOl Illhe
lenn used here, Earlier, wc followed the commentaries who inter-
preled wlranspo$ed" 10 rellte to the UK o{the standard ciphen. From
the lut "",c, """""-cr, il would appear thai it denoles the transposi-
t ion bel ...·een Ihe hard and ~ft sounds orthe Doubles.
Peace, IVar
Up and Down
Thil Ihould be compared 10 ,nd I :] J.
I :~
As discu~ earlier, the six di.-..ctions pu;ollcl the Six Sefil'Ol.
The or&-r liven here would Ihen be: Neludt, Hod, T iferet, Yesod.
Chesed, Gevurah. Also ~ Tlbles 29. 30 on pqe I~.
The di"";lionl would indicate lhe di.-..ction Ih't one mull face.
or Ihe head motion that he use . ... hen attemptiOJ 10 tJ1lnSmil the qWll-
ities menlioned in the lUI seclion.
snEll Y£TZ]UH
Tn "'"
G~ Malkhut Center
,..,
G~ TifeTet
Netueh
Dominantt Hod
•
,~ SEfU. YETZIIUH
,
ClNpmF"", 161
Sdirot. The Ebh ir the~fo~ identifies the " Holy Palace" with the
very purest essence of thOUYlL ro
I:lm Ii'P" " 0' l1' i!l) , ' 1:1 I1nW) V:::l17
4:6 C'D"\:::I "V:l17 00:::1 "ttl ~C", ro17 lII"U'
""\:::II 17'1:1 C'"1V17 ;"tV)17 :-U17:1 C'C' :1V:l17 ri1w:l
:;npl\
Seven planets
The seven vert~! paths associated ..ith the 5e\'en Doubles a~
ma nifnl in the phyaic:r.l ....rld a. the allroloaicaJ forces associ.ted
with lhe seven planets: Satum, Jupiler. Man, Sun, Venui, Mercu11'
and Moon.
[n Time. they are associated wilh the seven dl~ of the week,
while in man, they are the seven opcninp in lhe held. These will be
enumr:"l1ed in lhe followinl 5ttlions.
The Talmud aho speaks of~ various infll>eoo::i dlhe planets and
days of ~ ..-«k." ~ are dosety rel;ded 10 their role in creation, and
do not appear to follow Ihe l)'Rem ofSd"er y nmw.. See Table: 31 on
pqI: 168. The seven planets are aho associIled ..i th specifK: anaets."
Table 3 1. l'1ancts and their !\filletS.
•
SalUm JU J)i ler M, . s." Venu, Men:uTy Moo"
Salum
17
Jupi, ••
~ T!idk ici
Ma,..,
f $Imao\
"'"
V.nu.
I Analhici
t
M.... ury
¥ Michael
+
M_ ') GaI)riri C
FiXllrr ofJ. s<-.. /, of 1M planrl$ iI'om Ev\cn HaShoh.:om p. 175b1 .
'I' ate
'"
x
R.ph...1
D Va lalh RinS
-0-
III
So",
IIII
o
{:; Sll.am,icl
an~1 ovcrwe III~ birtll or every penon who was ever 10 be born?
Does Ihi. not mean Ihal lie lias many missionl?
The same ql.lCS1ion alw applies 10 all W I"'rmanetli aJl&!tls woo
have n.ames. These an&rls. ",,'hid! """"' ~Ied on the fifth day, Wit
fore,'cr_ In the coune of their exislence, lhey must have many tasks and
minions. Why does Ih is TIIk not hold lroo: with rqard 10 1hnn7
In answeon, Ihese Q","lion$, the C(lm"",nla rics nole Ihal Ihe
an,d. a re lite lQuls 10 llIe lIan,'" A human soul is 11110 a spirill.W
enlilY, I nd the 51"'" Queslion could be asked a bol.ll il. How can •
sinlle soul be involved in many lists? BI.II ~ Ihe answer i. ob'l'iou$.
The soul is inlesraled by ils associalion will. a sinak body, It is nOI
differenliated in10 man y souls by ilS many tiSks, becluse its as~ia
lion .... ith the body al\o'.\-'s i\ 10 remai n an inleV-lIed .... hoIe.
The !lome is lTU~ o f Ihe In&ell havin, names, These a"&Cls are
li ke souls 10 Ihe stan, and this ,1.0 melDS lhal Ihe stars and planets
'"
•
". $EFU I'ETZJRAH
l""CI!),:1l
Dalel
, KPRT BCD
~"'
"'"
=~,
,•
P,h PRT BOOK =~
R ~h RTBG DKP ~=
T •• T BG DK PR ~=
"
Table 35. InftllCn«s :wxoroing 10 Bardi . of Shnlu(i fl aKatan
Isc.: OOIc 4 5 ).
SalllTn PQv~r1y.destruction. internal injury and ,icl<~.
M on Blood. wickedness. strife. external injl,lry. .... r. halrfll ,
jealousy.
Jupiter Life, l""aCt: , sood. prosperity. r'tJiaiou5 fcdinl$. joy,
_allh . political advann:.
Venus Grace, love. lust. c hild..,n, fruitfulness.
MClnlry Wisdom. okill , "'ri tins. lan,ua,e.
Li&ht. darkness. work, alXUmplilhmcnl , travel, exile.
'""
Moo" Holds ke~ 10 heaven and eanh, SUITO(IiIIC for ,ood lind
oi l.
'I' ate
CItiJpi~ I ... ,
'"
First hour 6 ..., Saturn
Second hour 7 . .... J upit~r
Third hour 8 . ..., Mm
Fourth hour , .~
s."
Fifth hour 10 ~... _ Venus
Si~th hour 11 , .... Mercury
Seventh hour 12 .... , Moo"
This is t~ orderin, found of the e~e of Wednes.day on the chart of
planetary influences..
Each p!an~1 then domi nated the hour in .... hid! it was positioned.
After the fint ""ven hour$, their dominance bqan a new c)'ck, with
the planns in t~ same order. This ",,"en hour cycle IXlntinues
throu&hl the week, and it is the same every week. The entire ",«kly
cyck is ,iven in the tabel of planetary influencn see Table 36 on
~w: 182.
One immaiiately noticn that the first hour of cadi e"eninl is
dominated I>y a diffeRn! planet, in the followin, order:.
Sun. Mon. Tues , Wed. T1,,~ Fri . ",.
Mercury Jupiter Venus Saturn s." M~ M,.
The first hour of each day is dominated I>y the planets in the
~'
Sun.
s."
Note that the name of each day is associated with the planet that
dominates its first hour in the mornina." Thus. Sunday is dominated
by the Sun, Monday (moon day). 1>y the Moon . and SalUrd.y. I>y Sat·
urn. In th~ fnJli'" na mes of the other days. the Nordic or Germanic
names of the planets are used.
The Romans had ori&inall y named the days after the planets
dominati", their first hour. Th is nomenclatuR still survives in the
Romance lan,ua,es. Thus. in FR neh. T uesday i. Ala,ai (Mars· day),
Wednesday is Mercredi (Mercury's day), Thursday is Jeudi (Jupiter's
day). and Friday is Vendml i (Venus' day).
Saturn dominates s.turday, which is the Sabbalh. In Hebrew.
Sabbath is S/rabbal (11::1:'). and hence, Saturn i. called SlwbbtJla/
('K1\»' ).
The planet thaI dominates the fi rst hour of the da y or ni&ht is
said \0 domi nate that enli re period. The most auspicious times.
,Il,IIC""" • .
Table: 36. WeekIo· - ,. .Ie: of .plane!,_, ...•••
"
-
Hour W<d . Thu rs. Fri. S". Sun . Mon. Tuo:s.
Nith!
Befo",
, Sa!urn Moo. Mon Mercury Ju pi !~r Venus
2 Jupiter Venus
"'. SllUrn S•• Moo. M•• M ~rcury
l M•• M ~n.:ury Jupi!er Venu~ SI!urn S"' Moo.
S•• Moo. M, . Men::ury Jupi!er Venus Sa!urn
,• Ven us Sa!urn S•• Moo. M, . Mercury Jupi!~r
6 M~~ Jupi!er Venus SI!urn Moo. Mon
7 Moo. Mon Mercury Jupi!er Venus
"'. Sa!urn S••
Sa!Urn S•• Moo. M, . Mercury Jupi!er Venus
Jupi!er Venus SI!urn S•• Moo. Mon M ~rcury
,•
10 Mon Mercury Jupi!er Venus Salurn S•• Moo.
II S•• Moo. M, . Men::ury Jupiler Venus Salurn
II Venus Salurn S•• Moo. Mon Mercury JUpiler
Do, W<d. Th.~ Fri. S". Sun . Mon. Tues.
, Mercu ry Jupi!er Venus SilUro S•• Moo. Mon
2 Moo. M,. Mercury Jupi ler Venus SalUrn S••
l Salurn Moo. M, . M~rcury Jupiter Venus
Jupiler Venus
"'. Sliurn S•• Moo. M. . Mercury
M,. Mereury Jupiler Venus Slturn S"' Moo.
Moo. Mon Mm:ury Jupiler Venus Salurn
,,• S••
7 Venus Slilurn S•• Moo. M, . Mercury Jupiter
Mercu ry Jupile r Venus Sltum Moo. Mon
,• Moo. M,. Mercury Jupiter Venus
'". Saturn S••
10 Saturn Moo. Mon Mercury Jupiter Venus
II Jupiter Venus
"'. Saturn S•• Moo. Mon Mercury
II Mon Men.:ury J upiter Venus Saturn S•• Moo.
'"
Table )7 . COOCCplS 300 au~piciou' tilTlC'S l..crording to Gra) .
Wisdom
Bel, Moon. righl eye, Che5f'd, WIIlh ..... hite;
Saturday ni&hl, 7- 8 •.w , 2·3 ......: Sunday, 9-1 0 .......,
4- 5 .... ,
Wealll!, Love
Gimel. Mars. riaht ear, ~vurah, north. red:
Sund:l y ni&hl. 7·8 . ..... 2-3 ......; Monday, 9-10 ..... ,
4-5 .....
S«d: Children and th ings ...,Ialin, 10 them
Dalel. Sun , right noslril , T ifcfel. ca.t, yellow;
Monday ni&hl, midnight- I .......; Tuesday , 1·8 A." ,
2-3 •.'".
Life. Heahh
Kaf. Venu •. left eye, NClzach, up, upper eyelid:
Tuesday ni&hL !/}.Il " ', S-6 ....... ; Wednesday.
noon_I,....
Dominan""'. Adva""",menl
Pch, Men;ury, kft car, Hod. down, lower eyelid:
Wednesda y night, 8-9 ..... 3·4 .......; Thursda y,
10-11 A.>L, 5-6 . ....
Pea«. inlemal and nlemal
Resh. Salum, left nostril, Ycsod , west. bl ack:
Thundlly nighl, 7-8 .... . 2-3 .......: Friday. 9- 10 .....,'
4-5 .....
Grace. :u tracliveness. pers.onality improvement
Tav, Jupiter. mouth, Malld1ui, cenleT (sdf), blue;
Frid~y niz.hl. midniz.hl-I ~-"".; Saturday. 7-8 A-"",
2-J , ....
Be (a,..,flll n<)IIO violate Sabbath.
oo-..~-er. ;m:, t~ as/iOXialed both wilh Ille COII«I day and wiib 1M
rorrec1 planet See Table .l6 on pqe 132. ThUl. for example. in our
(GnI) v=ion ofSder Ycuirah. both Sunday and 11K Moon.,.., ass0ci-
ated wiib Wisdom. Dunlli the day on Sunday, iht Moon is dominant
;n 11K founh and de'~th hours.. or from ~IO .... and from 4.5 , ...
T1!e;t an: Ihen the most auspicious times for WOOOIli 10 altain
Wisdom."
There is a rommandmenl. wTherc: shall nol be found arnallj
you .. , one ",1>0 alcuJatr'!l limes (MeOnall)~ (Deuteronomy 18:10).
In the Talmud. acrordin, to Rabbi Akiba, this ~ificaJJy applies 10
one who calC1.llales auspicious limes. and a number of authorities
ac«pt this opiniQn as binding." This, hO'N'l!'ver. only mean. that one
,,
'" .
, Sunday ABG YThTz
'" =
2
,,
)
Monday
T ~eloday
KROShTN
NCO YK$h
"" .."
~~
should no! make utroqy • dominanl infl uence in one', daily life.
As we !ott from aU Ihe commentaries on Sefer Yetzirah. when one is
enPlC'd in IhcK m ySli(1l.1 lechniql>«, I hi, prohibition is 1>01
appl iabk." Stt T.bk 37 on pap: 183.
AUI!ouJ,lt most versions of Sefer Yelzin.h leI ,he planets in the
order in which lhey WCre crelled, Ihe Gra veninn, ""hieh we are
usin" follo""1 a dilTerent system . It is baKd on the ordenn, of tile
planets as found in the Zohar." Then:, we find tile foUowin, n:lation-
Iohip between the plan el$. &firot and roIon:
,, ~
While
'"
,...
"'
Mall
" $atum
8lK k
Jupiter
,,~
Venus
"-
~Iid
.....
Mcrt\lry
~lid
""'"
"'"
Gevurah Tifertt
Mon. T~ ''''"'
Fri.
Malkhul Ncuach
~,. W.o.
When the Sd'irot and days an: placed in thei r usual order. the planets
Hod
Thun.
appear in the order liven in our venion o(Sefer Yeuirah. This vm.ion
Il"Ien:foIT i. that wItich filS m(lIiI ck>ody 10 t"" teae:Itin&s r:rf the Zohar.
The associalion ...·;tll colon is also s;&nificant, , ;nce one can also
meditate o n lhese roIon when seekin. to transmit Ille ,ss°ciated
influencc. The colon art also useful in Icneral in medita tions in,"O!v-
il\j the Sefirot.l'
Also associated with lhe days of the week .n: Ihe letters o f the
;l2-lener Ram<:. Seo: Table 38. T bi. ean be uKd in various medita tion.
involvinl these days." The sam<: is tnK o f the ancel. associated with
each da y." Seo: Table 39.
" ,
'"
l'i'J'ml n"",:! " ":.:1 TTl"'" II::'''
4: 15 ,n1Tll't 11:1'" .T'VVl 1'1:111
,,)1:111 ,TWiny ;tyjt'
<!V'l1 ,nruill 0'TV::It1 ,nn;u 0'TV;:I11 .0'0' <IV'"
,f'I"Cl1 II'" ,D'111 V:lrf ,11WOV ;tV:l17 ,C'C;
1'IK :l~ l:l'tll:l .v'j:m ;" m ,rrr,:ll' ;W'11
:C'ct>';"1 " mJ"I rwv':lV;"I
_" jllbil~
and 1M Haly Palace.
Thn,fot-r. lit mad, """'/U' bfto.wJ
under af! 1M MOWns,.
The la.er K.\bb;llisu write that IhC1C' are lite Se"cn Chambers in
Ihe Universe of Ikriyah." These are liven in Table 040 on pqe
186.
Of these, the two 1o~~I. ~ Brickwork ofSappbirew and ~Esscnce
of Heavm,ware mentioned in the Ycrse, -ntey saw Ihe God of h ille!,
and under His feel was Ihe 'Bridwork of Sapph ire: de,.,. like Ihe
'Essence of Hea~'M (bodus 24:10). These Seven Chambers parallel
lite seven lower Sefirol in Ihe Universe of Atzilul. They also parallel
I~ seven "". Itlles of an,els in the Universe of Yeu:irah.
Some early souces state th~tthese Seven Univenes are tile seven
thousand yean that the world is suppOsed to exist." TlIC fint ,i1 par-
allel tlle UK weekday!, ... hile the seventh thoug,nd yun is the ~day
when all will be Sabbath .~"
Others relate the Seven Un ivenes to tIN: Kabbalistie doctrine of
Sabbat iais. This statn that there are seven di stinct periods of cre-
alion. eKh !astin& se' ·en IhollAnd yean. " "crordin& 10 lOme
)(abba]i"., the present CJ"Ution is the second , while othen state thl l
it is the sixth or seventh. In any case, there Ire seven cycle., each
seven thousand yean lonl- This means that the universe as we know
il willl..t for 49.000 yean.
T~ble 40. The 'C,-cn chambers of tile U niv~~ of 6~riyah .
N_
Ahavah
b=khut
Etum HaShamayim
l<'"
M~rit
Luster
Enena: of Hcav~n
ljvna! HaSappir Brickwork of Sapphire
,
.,
Table 4 1. Firmanxnts . unhs . and anri"",,,,, If""" 0';<1' I/"Sh~1It 1
, v iJon Eretz Ch. . . Ufe
2
, Rakia
SIII.e h,kim
Adamah
A~.
(;e.-urah
T iferel
Peace
Wisdom
•, levu!
M a'on
Ch,,,,,
Yabashal!
NClzacl!
Hod
G=
Wealth
•
7
Makhon
AraYOI
Tevd
Chalad
Y<Ood
Malkhul '""'
Dominance
eni~ of mauu had ~n fixed for all lime, as il is written , "He has
established them forever: He has made 11 d«ret ....hich $hall not be
lransvessed~ (Psalms 148:6)," It is si milarly wrillen, "Whatever God
decrees sllall be forever: nalhin, $hall be added 10 ii, a nd IlQthinS
shan be liken aW1lY· (Ettksi;l$les ): 14)."
Each of the &Ix ~cIes of creation hrouahl 5(lmelhin& new inlO
the world. The fifth cycle ",as the one Ihal brau,l!! ronl! life, and
th is look place Iround t .... o and a half billion yean .,0, Around
974 ,cneral ions before Adam, or lOme 25,000 yean .10, man
dc"eloped .Hthe ph ~ical and menial uJ)abililies Ihal we possess
100ay."' Thi, man had evoh"ed from Kthe dust of the earth (Gene- M
sis 2: 7). but he still lacked the divine soul that would mike him a
Sl'iritull being. God Ihen crea led Adam. the finttrue human bein,
wilh a soul , Kand He bl ew in his nostrils a soul o f life {GenHis
M
S(!l.'f'n Firmaments
Thne are li sled in lite lonl Venion {4:13; as bo:in&: Viton ,
Raki •• Shechakim. Zevul. Ma·on. Makhon . AnoVOI. Thne are 1100
menlioned in Ihe Talm1.ld. '" See Table 41 .
AttOrdina 10 tlte An, Iltese Jnrallel the seven 10""" Sdirot of the
Universe of A$iyah. "
Sel,.m Earths
The lonl Venion (4 :13) lists Ihne as: Adamah, Tevel,
Nashiyah, Tza r', Otalad, Eret:., Chllad. Another source giVH them
as: Eretz. Adamah, Arkah, Gey, Tuya, Nasya. Te\Oel." Still anotlter
,.
... SEF(R YETZIR,o.H
Sel'en Seas
Many commemarirs stale Ihat these are the seven lakes and seas
in Ihe HGly Land."
In modem terminolof,y, tile seven seas repraenl the IeV"n
<xuns: lhe North Atlantic, South Atlanti<:, North Pacifl(:, South
Pacific. Indian Ocean . An:1ic <::Ittan, An1.afCl>e Oct-an. The seu in
the Holy Land ~resenl a micl'OCOSm of these OCUJU.
Selvm Rb'ffJ
lbese an: the seven riven ..S()Cialed with tile Holy LJ,nd: The
Jordan, Varmoch. Kirmyon . Pop, Pisllon, Gidton , Cbidekel. n The
[uphn!!es;s not counted because it inctvdes them IlL" These plflIllel
the Vt'al riven of the world.
St'l'f'n Deserts
These Ire Ihe seven deseru Ihroush which the Isruliles paS$Cd
durinJ the uodu. from Etypt: Eiun. Shur. Sin, Sinai, Paran, TziD ,
!CadmU1."
Sewn Days
These are the seven day. of the wed;, They are also the iC\'en
days of Ihe m.;or feslivals, Pesach (Paoso""r) and SUotOt
(TI\>rmKles).
Se'l'en Weeks
These are the seven weeks \>rtwt'Cn Pesach and Shavuol, The
Torah thus gy5, ~ you s.h.aIl CQlJnl from the day .fter the h<.>Iiday." .
seven complete weeks~ (Leviticus 23, 15).
'I' ate
'"
Sewn Years
Thne: are t~ sc"cn yelR in the Sabbatical cycle. The Tonah pre-
scribes Ihal on Ihe 5e"cnth yur the land should lie fallow and not be
worked: ~Six years shall you sow your field ... but the seventh year
shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for tile land" (Leviticus 25:3-4).
SelV.'n Sabbaticals
Allhe end of se ...~n Sabbatical cycles. tile Jubilee y<:ar....,.,. ~1e
bnucd. All staves "'ou.ld Ihen be frttd. and real property ",vuld be
returned 10 its herffiitary o....".,r. 1l\e Tonh stale$, "YOII shall num·
ber seven Soobba\icals, x "en limn seven years ... makin, fony-nine
yea ..... And you $hall ... nctify Ihe fiflieth year, a nd proclaim liberty
Ihnxagh(HIt Ihe land ... ;1 lItall be • jubikc \0 you" (Lcviliclls
25:8. 10).
Seven Jubilees
Th is is ""ven limn 49 (or 50) Y"."'. lotal of J 43 (or 3S0) years.
The Firsl Tem ple stood for 4 iO yean. and during Ihi, per\Qd, Isrul
observed seven jubilees, 0(1
This also relates to the concept of Sabbatical. of creation, where
each jubil~ ~riod ronsists of 4 ~,OOO ynrs. There will be seven such
jubil~ ~riO<h, and the univene will therefore last a Iota! of J4),OOO
yean. These are d ivine years. each one ronsislinl of 36S,2SO eanhly
years. Thus. the total time between the initial expansion and final
collapse of the univene will be 12S,lS7,SOO,OOO years. Th is filure of
125 billion years is ,"ery close to the scientifIC calculation. After this
period Ihe univene wi ll become rompletely spiritual.
Olle of the .speds of the future world will be extreme lanaevity
011 the pan ofmanl:ind. Reprdilli Ihis period, it is foretOld, -As a
ehild one: shall die a1 a hundml years old" (Isaiah 65:20)." Acoordilli
to Rabbi lu.ac of Aero, the lifespan will have beo:omc so extended
lhat olle who dies at the qc of a hulldml wilt be ronsiderc<l like a
child currently dyinS at the • of). Th u$, the nonnallifespan will
be ap-proximately 33 time. itl present vah.e, or around 2.000 years. ll
[sue of Acoo funhermorc SUi tes thai these will be divilK yurs, IQ
the human lifesPl'n will evell1ually be extended to Ihe orderofei&hty
miltion years!"
,~ SEFER YETZl RAH
TI\Y) stones
He", Ihe letters of lhe alphabet an: called ~slones.~ The
KlIbbalist. say thai they are ~.ton.,. quarried from the veal N . .... of
God.~OJ
'VI ate
SEF'ER YETURAH
'"
Table 4 2. Permutations fOf 7 Icn~n .
NumbeTof
letters Permutations
, ,
, d -- ,,
2 2
1
•,
Ix2><]
],,2,,]x 4 --
,, I" 2" ) " " x S
])(2,,),, 4)( 5><6
-- " '20
1 .. 2 "],,.x5)(6)(1
- ""' 720
Table 43 . P~rmuta(ions
Number of
-
for'2 leners .
Lenen
,, Permutation.
,, N
, ""
.'""
1
•, ""0
,, no 6!
8
, '.' "
40.320 "8!
362,880 9!
3,628,800
"" )9,916.800
to!
II '
"" 4 79,001,600
6,227.020,800
87,178,19 1,200
12!
I J!
14!
"
"" 1.J{)7,674, l68 ,OOO
20.922 ,189,888.000
15!
16!
"" 355,687,428,096,000
6,402.373 , 70S, 728,000
!1!
L8!
•
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Eyin ("9), nadi ('I). Kuf (P)·
Tllt;r foundatiOll i$
s~«~ . Ilwugill. mo/ioll.
si$hl. hN n",. IX/lon,
roirilNl. $/tIn/. UH P.
ang", laslf. lauglrl~_
Anger
Tasle
Tile Hebrew word here. L '('ifalr, liltnllly means swaIloYo'inJ.
Many comment.ries. ho~ver. interpret;1 to man lastt. '
Thr;.., anribliles do nm h.1.>'e opposites. They can either be pres-
~ni or I~nl, but their abs.ence is not the opposite of tlleir prnence.
Thiry are therefore represented by Ihe l~lve Elementals, which only
have I .incle sound.
As we .hall~ . Ihe.., QU.uilicl parallel the lwelve months. as_1I
u Iht !"""in siJ.ns of Ihe zodiac. They also have a parallel in Ihe
\wel,-e ,ribes of IsraeL
There are two waYI oforderin& the twelve tribn. The fil'1lt is thai
whkh OCCUl'1l in tile bqinnin& of tile Book of Exodus (I :2-5): Reuben.
Simeon. Levi, Judah. ]ssac:har, Zebu]un, Benjamin. Dan, Naf\a]i.
Gad, Asher. Joseph.'
The fil'1l1 six here are Reuben . Simeon, Levi, Judah, bachar. and
Zebu!un. Th~ I re the six sons of Leah in order of their binh.' Then
.n
• §i" ..
-!•
~ .ij • 1 .5~1e
•g .2 oS
- .:!
:Jo..<
~;
<~~~
% aU .sU
0, e,
••
" .!
iii <~o
n
•
, OJ u!,:=.i
'~~>~ :j&
.2.
0'
,
li
••
i ••- •a.. ,• ·11 ~ ~ o.-
~ •
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e0> -'
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• 5- " - -
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comes Benjamin. Ihe son of Ractlel. Joseph , the oilicr son of Rachel,
was in Egypt, and is therefore not mentioned unlillhe end. Followinl
these Ire Dan and Naft.tli, the IOns of Bilhah, Rachel', handmaid.
11Kn comes Oad and Asher, the sons of Leah's handmaid, Zilpah,
...'ho "'ffe born after the sons of Bilhah.
A number of authorities list the twelve tribes in Ihis order,'
Acwrdin& 10 this. Joseph's si.,. rom« QUIto be Pi$Ct$ (Dlpm), and
thi. is al..., rdkcted in Talmudic leachinp' (see Table 44).
Other authorities liSI Ihe tribes in the order Orilleir camp$ in the
desen.- Stt filun: 47 on pqc 200, This order ;,.; Judah, Is.w;har,
Zebulun; Reuben, Simeon, Gad; Ephraim , Manancll, Bcl\iamin;
Dan. Asller, Naftali.' On the eastern cam p was Jl.Idah, Issachar and
Zebuhm; on the south, Reuben, Simeon, and Old: on the wal,
Ephraim, Manas:seh, and <iamin , al>(! on Ihe north, Dan, Ashe..,
and Nafiali. Aocordinl 10 some IUlhorilies. Illis was a1110 the order
of the SIOnes on lIJ.e Urim and Thumim.'
This chanse of order occured after Levi WII liven the priesthood
and ",moved from t~ ordn of the tribes. To complete the twelve,
Joseph was divided into two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. This was
in aocordance to Jacob·, blH$inJ. MEphraim ilJId Maoasseh 1halI be
like Reuben and Simeon to me (Gn1esis 48:S).
M
When the traits I"' in the onler liven in our (Gra) venian, the
tribes ml.l$t be m. tched up with them in the order of the camps .. lbe
division of Joseph, however, is nol considered., and therefore, Joseph
is in the place of Ephraim, and Lev; in the p~ce of Mlnasseh. See
Table 4!i.
w., ,,,'
E",,"' Lm )OO.h
M<.....,cl. j.",<haf
IIcnj.m,n Z<I>ul un
So~lh
R<ulx'n
Slfnrofl
Gad
FiKurr 411 . c,'... lr ofJ"r""U/IJfjon. • . lwuu$. IrilHs. ,,,,,,,rh•. ,,,,J . iK'" hit··
t"JnI;~K m Roo,w 5,,/.
:r"'y 'llI} Doe.:} II"I:~ ~~~ y~1~ lC,Y_" 0IJI'r.'" : ~:n te"
:'''''1 ~ = rt'l ~""''lCv ~~~ 'i"l::l ~ ~'}.,: r... "" :.' ~.): ," M
' ;>\0"
- -
~,.~,., F ::tC:,,\ ';'''1 ":11,' ;'1:"\' N :,,\j\l' ~.., Ice:.
, - ,-- , "" ;I\"... r ~ j" C
: ,~ " ' ::' ,\-=l'l! ;,,!:. ~:'·iJ.. ':"I'~-:-.\ .~" r;' j'J : " "I: n::."1
:"':'I~ :I:i] ~1','J "~"~::l;:l' ::'::11 1I"n t"=' fI:J :'''' : :1'':"n
- i''','.'
: ':P;:j\ ~:o,~ ""J j\j\k'
- , - M;;'j
-, .............. :~~n '~C.:l
: ",.:", ' J: ;""li"1'=''tI iI' " 'N,'iI )';,., ..... ,,">-. : .,.: . '"1'"114
- , , ' - " . -,,'
, ,
, ,
, , , ,
,
Go
rilJ~rr j I. TM "",;1100 of thr £/rrnr ..",/. ''', '1r'/;''1I to bulh ,.,,,in
,'u,;"",.
lhi s manner, o ne deKribn t~ kner Bet (~) on each side. This tolit-
$pOocb to Itt. teachine Illal the ... orid was "realed wilh a Bel, this
bein, the finil leUer of the Torah. '1 See fil"re .50.
A "umber of Oiher ve",ion~ Ii"" Ihe twelve bo ... ndarin like Ihey
are here, " Other ~rsions. ho ...·cvcr, LUe I diff.-rent system. They Jive
all the eastern boundaries firs!. Ihen Ihe \"'0 ""main;", no"hem
ones, then all tile western boundaries. Ind finally. the \ ..." remainin,
southern w&eS," See fl,ur., SI.
The Bilhir fdates !hne I_h'c diagOnals 10 Ihe Tm: of Life.'"
T h.,re i. a one-u.>-one ",]al ion.hi p brl~n 11K dillon.) boundar1n
and the di..,onal lineo in lhe T= of Life dia&ram.
ThCiie I_h'c boundaries also correspond \0 Ihe lwelve permuta-
lions of the Tetrqrammalon. The permulalions beJjnnin, wilh Y
rorrnpondin& 10 Ihe east; those beginnin, with Ihe firs' H, 10 the
south: t~ V. to t~ west. and the final H, to the IIOnh."
,
SUER YETZ!RAH
'I' ate
GOO helpi", Ihe hrtleli les in a mundane KnK. il also has mystical
.... vrn .... nes.
M0SC:5 tqins by callin, God, ~Ihc Rider oflhr hcavnlS. ~ The word
~ ri<kr,~ ~ (;on), ~ do5rly rclaled 10 /PIaI'kaI:a (:g;rc), Ihc mystical
~chari....C thaI is Ihr ew:noe of lhe m~'Stical epaience. The corapl of
~ridin,M involves tra,'dinl and kav;n. one's nalural place." 'NMn
M~ says thaI God Mrides" Ihr hcav.:ns. it means thaI He aves His
II.Ilural Rale where He is absolutely WIknowable and inconceivable, and
allows HimKlfl.... be visuali=!. in a mystical vision.
As Ihc ven<: continurs. thi, takes plact throu&h Ihc $ties kno'4n as
SlrdchaJcim. This lerm always refffS t .... Ihc tWl) Sefinrt, Neuach and
Hod . .... hich are the Sefirot invol"ed in propbel'yand impiJation.'"
It thrn says, "A d....ellin, (mt'anah) is Ihe God af eternity." As
discussed earlier (I:S). the ....ard maon (and m~'onah) indio"e a level
above space and time, the "place of the uni,·ene.~i'O
The word for ~ncmal· bett is Kedem. wbid! ",.. aUy indicates
Keler." The Hebe. word for Cro<o.n, Ketcr (vo) also comes from Ihr
TOOl KaJar ('V1;)~ meaning 10 ~Stlrround.~" It is lhrou&h Ihc attribute of
Krtcr or- Krdtm (eterniTy) that God e••;:c)iIlpo ...... all spiIte and time.
It is bel ....... this that there u in the ~Armsaflhe Universe." These
Ire the infinities involvi", the twelve dialonal bou.ndaries.
On Ihe highest levd, ...e conceive of God IS bei", lOWly
divan;nl from all space and lime. This conceplion involves I state
af consciousness thlt penains nei ther to perception nor to
non perception. On I lower le"el, " .. e woe Him as Ihe one .... ho defines
SPlIce Ind time, as the ~ Placr of the U niverse. ~ This involves a stlte
of consciousness pereeivinl NothinlIle5S. On I stiD 10lOW le~1, we
s« God as beilll beyond the bou.ndaries of the universe.
ThUs. ih pel'SQll wishes 10 experience GOO, he must bcain It the
lower level and Wl)rk his way upw;o.rd. He Iherefore bq1ns wilh the
Marms of the Un;verse,~ contempiati", 1M infinily of space in the
\ .....,h·e diagonal boundaries. Only aner Ihis can he reach Ihe level of
~I Dwcllilll is tile God of ( temily." where Ile conceives God IS tM
"Pllce of tile Uni ,·ene." Finally, ho_ver, Ile mUSI altain a concep-
tion of God IS beinl totally divorced from spa« and time. He Ih~n
sees Him as tile ~ Ri<kr of the heaven~: who merely uses all depic-
tions as I means throusb "" hieh He can be conceplualized.
A very important element in Ittaininl the mystical experience is
the ncpt;on of the Kif. When a person sees him..,lf a. nothin" then
his Klfbcromcs transparent to the Divine. Commenti"' .... n 1M vene,
"from under!1le Anns oflhe Univene," the Tllmud states thaI I per-
son mun ~make himself like he don not exisl."" Throusb contem-
plati". the infinit>es of the universe , one can nullify the 1:10.
SUER YETZIRAH
'I' ate
,'? : '
'n :' '\ ';'I J"fOll)'!I ;nJ:IV 0'1"11'
'"
5:3 ,'tI ') '0
l"'cm ~'" 1~"1]' pm tpprl f1'1O' :p '1 '11
c>ViM '''11 0'1" ~lV!I ",Iml ,."V 0'111 O:"l!l 'VI
::1!1j?ll "'Dl 1"1:1 C'l':"IlIJ 117V 0'1V ;UP!!
T,.,(,/,'f' £f~m~"lals
II VZ ChTY LNS MQf;Jr; en "'" m)
Tir", /Oundation is [tlral}
II .. rngTa..-d tMm. carwd th<'m. ptrm ulM Iltnll.
"'ri$lred (h,m, and rran4«mM them,
A IIQ will! IlIml lit formed
Iwri.", CQlUleilatiQI1$ ill lb., U"i~
''''1!/~ m QlltJu in liI(' tN'
and null¥' dir«l~ In Iht' Sow/.
mall' and f ..mal...
•
o"
>
Adar Feb.-Ma",h Ikl'llkhiel Sumiel Pisen Ru mi.,l
' A«onji.. Lo lIui<l 4 16. 141.
;
'"
non Il'tI "WV O'l"
5:5 JO'} ;U1)'~
,. , ~
The ~fe~nces to
tile zodiac are sho .... n in Table 47 on p,&ae 210.
Fi,ure S2 shows the zodiac as it appeared in the 1720 edition of
Tzural HllArn:.
,,
m SErER Y£TZlkAH
The intestines
In Hebrew, the word here il CkJkki". This usually denotes the
small intesti ne. but ;1 can also include the l~ intestine or ooIon.
In other venion. , intlu.d of DQkbfl. Ihe Serer YelZirah usn the
term M aJSaJ o r IItmsns. Ordinarily in Hebnoic literature. Ibis does
nol denote a human orpn. The lentl usually refen to the Omuum
or man~1l1ies, the third stomach in rumina!io, (cud-chcwin&) animals
weh IS taltk ." See figure SJ on pa&e 2 13. This orpn is also called
the putlm um, si~ in Iongitlidinal folds are IlTlInsed like Ihe leaves
in a book.
Acmrdin"o, nl,lmbC'r of rommentann. Ihe Manas <koOla the
stomach in man." In a number of places, the midrash implies lhal
Ihe {unclion of lilt MaMIU is 10 Mpind food." M
The KQrkeban
The lerm Ki;wIt;Iba" i. nKKt oftcn used 10 denote the linanl in
fowl," In the Talmud and Midrash, however, thi. term i. QCC... ion-
aUy if I1Irdy uK<! 10 denote 1 humin o rpn, u,ullly idenlified with
the ~J.ri nd in. of food.
M
"
,.
'"
" em
R"m<:n
101 ~oml<h
M.",,,
Om''''n'
3<<1 ... o~"
Ik1 11' ''1><0'
R~I;o:uTum
cnd j,I"m ..· ~
"Aboma,um
" 3
' ,Il >I"",,,,,h
The Kivah
The Ki.ah is also an "rpn usually associated wilh animals_ In
ruminant •. il is the fourth tromM'h, known as the rna'" or abomuum.
In calves, ;1 is also known "' Ihe ~n""l baa• • in"" il conl.in. the
,.
SEfU. YETZI RAH
'"
rcn~1 makin, &lands." Accordin, 10 some oommcnlariC'$, Ihe K iru
i. the IIO<nach." O\hen identify it .... ilh Ihe in testine." Another op;"·
ion hu that il i. lhe wlon."
In animals. tile Ki~13 ",IS part oftbe offerin, pve n 10 pri esll,
as Ihe TOflll Slales, MThey IlIal1 ,;ve \0 the prieS! the shoulder,
the two cheeks, I nd the Kivtl~ (Deuteronomy II:J). Mlimonides
states Ihal the reason for lhil is because the Ki.ah ;1 the finl
Imonl the di&cSl ive orlanl. an d this opinion i. echoed by the
KJlbhai i'il." Accordin, 10 this, the anaJo,ue in man would be Ihe
(wpll. ,ul.
The Talmud and lohar, ho~yer. apparently leach thallhe main
(unclion ofthc Ivah in man is 10 indu~ li«p." Thil is .1110 reneeted
in Serer Yellirah (5:9). This would inruQlle an orpn of &Iandular
rtalUrc, possibly the pancreas. Sianificlol1y. an early MidlTSh am. ·
buIes \0 the Ki N , • ~.lecp o f $~Ine:H.-"
One reason why tlte K;YQ miaht be associated with sleep i.
~ause in animals it is tlte orpn that diJests milk. The human anl-
que ma y Ilso be associlted with milk. and milk is known 10 induce
sI",p." 1"11<: Talmud also SUtes thil in r;enera!. eatioS brinp OIl
sI",p."
It is also pOSSible thlt the Kork£ball and Ki'"Q Ire not human
orpns I' all. This would meln that use is made of them only when
the ~fer Ye1zira.h is used with rel"ion to animals.nd birds. By mak-
in, usc: of these orpns., one may C1"'"eate an l.JI.imal Or bird ."her than
• human. This miaht have been the technique Ihll the Talmudic:
sar;es used 10 crelte I prime calf.
•
'" SEI'ER Y£TZ.I IlAH
,
SEFEII; nTZJIlAH
'" lit madt Iht 1~1" Eyi" fp) ki1l.f 0,," {Jfl8"
And lie bQu."d Q m;JOI'/f 10 il
And Ill' comb/liN 0/1' ..'i11! fllt/Xlru
And wilh fir"" lit' pmN
ClIIJrirorn ill lilt' lkIi'~
~ ilt Ilrt Y<"I>r
And Ilrt' Ii_ in Ii" Soul
malt turd ft malt .
/{r ma~ 1M 1m" TIdl ('I) ki", ow, UUlt'
And 1ft bow"d Q (TOtO'II 10 it
(lild Ill' rombinnJ OlIO' wilh aMI""
And wilh thtm 1ft /ormtd
Aquarius /tl Iltt' u..1.~
SIr~1 in lilt YNr
And Int KorkrlJan i ll Iht'SouI
malt and jnnalt'.
lit' madt lilt' 1miff' K,if(p) kittg 00ff laughtv
And lit bound II '"""II 10 it
A"d Ill' rombilltd oot' I+'illl Q/IOthv
And wilh IlItm lit form,.}
l'iKQ in Iltr u" i....v
Adw in tlrt Ytar
And Ilrt $plN" j" t/lt Seu!
mal" Ilnd jmullt,
There are several varian r readinp fOllnd ;l\lhe ditTell'''! vel'l';ons and
oom~nr.l'ie$. 'The major ones are liven in Table 48 OJ! pqe 219.
In Ihis ven ion, the Ki."h is " $OCi.u~d wilh sleep. Ihe liver wi lli
I"lfr, and the spleen wilh lauahter. The; u.me """""'Ilion is found
in 1M Talmud."
Here _ ~ thai 1M sians of the zodiac are I ssociated ..,jlh thr
t.... elve Hebrrw lunar monlhs, IlIther Ihan .... ilh tM position of the
Sun, as in Weslern aslrolosY. The assiJnment I'Iere approximates 11'111
of Wmem Qlm locY. but is more accurale from I "-bbaliSl(:
viewpoinl.
If aile wishes 10 Ittain a deep undentand in, of the siJnificancc:
of Ihe IlSlrolo&ial sian •• one must contem plale lhe pllllems of sta ...
lI'Ial form n ch one. As one pzes alll'lese stellar al11l)"l, nol only does
CUp!... n ...
'"
Table 48. Various "enions of the meanin~ or the .<irn~ .
.
AM R. fOOl R. haM liVff liver R. lllnd
, Siy.n
Oemini U_
(.....111
U_ -" -"
spL." U_
•
Tamlll
C.~,
liahl
R. IIInd
[sptttb]
U_
-ishl
"' ..... specch
m_
lUI.
U_
om
.. _..
M hean,.. ("'''"] heari,.. '"~
• Lki.dney R. kidney R. ki.dne)" R. ki.dney R. kidney
""
"'"
Vi ....
~""
L hand
[coilinn ] aclion ~
L kidney L kidney Lkklney L bdney
, u'"
om." _ .. .....
Tishm coilinn [actinn] coition coilion !auahle,
." he.
"""""" korl<eban livn
Kisltv
inltsline
"'"0'"'"
"'" ." "'"
[. naer) coilioft
• ~na"". ki.-.h R. lllnd R. hand
."
, ,~
"'"
'"~ [1l"",1n]
'"~ Lauahlt1"
..-
... -_.
Capricorn
, Aquanus
"
Ii"",
w" [\I>Oi.lah1]
L ~~
~.
L~
"""P' o
m."
m....•
, <ok, luahlt.
•,1.."
kivall
[sIcop)
-"' .
R_ fOOl
Jauahlt'
U _
R. fOOl
""
U_
..'"""""
"'"'"
~
""'"
The lnIiu or< _ listed .. plirilb- ioa U", SI>orI v ........ ""I or< ,; ..... by 1M
Raavod. no. O<drri .... _ _. i, 100004;" H. Poooooll .......",i"r ""","III-
boot lor ioa\<1rlla..,. liver """ ............1 """ .... ri."
ooitioll and WIt. KII:MI
4:1' ..... . ... I... CIftkri ... b... iMlftd '" ...... ' . . .op ..... lllo<>u&lU.· lor .....
, ·,"""sItt. _ . 1a..1"....•
, SaMio
Th is '" io. ill alto HOd by _
t
U . Alto ... U.
in "",.. lI.i_,., 11: 16.
, ...... 8, Iocrc. n;,. ...... onIcriaf; is '-"" ;. the
6: ~1}:
""'" V....", ill ,lie ~ S:ll. W"; - ' " \ha. i ..... _ f""" Sudia. n.;,
ordcri.. _ 0110 -.I by a..bJnooO 7)0. RabIO fficur Rot .... lOb. """ by
RoNol Y_TulOC:. in Slwirir ~Io.. 11a.""" n- H..a.J.. :I4b.
, SIll", K _ II (Adom~ lIP. 19s,"
s.Ef'E1I. YETZIRAH
, Sa,ittarius
Capricorn
10 Aquari us
11 ~=
tile picture of tile si,n emel'le. but one also pins insi&hl into its inner
~5tnce.
,
'"
; nnU~ntt. one must wri lt I"" I"'l'$On ', name: and the n~ of his
mother in Hebl't'W characters. ~ 1e1lfTS muSI tilton be added up, so
as to determine the nummcal value ofbolh 1U.mes."
To determine the sian 0( the zodiac, OM mUlt eul ofT I_I.~
and u.kc 1M remalndeT. Thll is. one must divide the abo"" J\lm by
.,,-e!ve, and dClnminc lhe mnlinilcr. This is used to detnminc lhe
lip of 1M zodiac."
To determine the planetary innuen~. one mILl! cast off JeVcns.
Like bcfOK. one mUlt d ivide bytc"'cn. and ~n only the remainder.
This is uKd 10 determine lilt: appropriate plane!. NOie Ih.JoI in 1M
ubk, 1M order of the p1aMU II that of Saturday niahl. In He~
~onin" Ihis il the bc'ainnilll of the fiB! day of tlH: ..'CCk. and
hella. the lim pmod. of ",".!Jon.
This metllod can I'rIOfe ....ily be understood ir"'l: take In cum-
pic. AHUIIH' till( • ptf'SOII'l name: il "milam (1n"QII) and h is
mother's name is Sarah (:n.). Maid", UK of the nuTTKTical Ytiue for
t'Kh letter, ..-e lee thai Abnham Ius. numerical value of 248, willie
thaI for Sarah is 505 . Addin, lilt .'"''' 1oarlher, lhe finll sum is
7S3.
To determine the Ii.." of the zodia(:, ,,-e m"" divide by l_t~
yiddi", 61. with I n:mainder of nine. ConSlllii ... Tlble 49 on pqe
220 • .." fi nd 11,11 Ibe IP1IropOale .ian i. Capricorn.
Si mila rly. 10 delennine Ihe pllnel, ..·c d ivide 713 by seven. "J"1N,
qUOlie nl i. 107, w;th a n:ma; nder of four. We th u. find that Ma n
will exert a stron, influence on I pc~n named Abrabam. who is tbe
son of Sarah.
Also impOrtant arc Ihe 28 "campswof Ille Di vine Pll'ience. COlle-
spond,n, 10 tbe 28 d l ys of the lunar month." Tbe Ien, lh or lhe lunar
month is 29 dl)"" 12 houl"$. 264) seronds (29.SlOS9 days)." Th is is
Ihe period du n ... "'h ich tile Moon IOeIlhroop all of ilS pbases.
IH-sides Ihis, Ihen: il l1so the .Klcn:11 monlh . Ihe lime duri.,.
'lll'hidl the Moon paues Ibrou&h I II 1_ lv( .ips of the zodiac;, Th i.
period is 27 da y$. 6 hotJrs. 780 xconds (27.2S902 days). Th il il lhe
period duri.,. which lhe Moon n:voh"n l round the earth.lnd n:luml
10 its oriainal posilion " ';lb reprd 10 . find Iur.
The 1"lI.Ir monl h i. Ion",r lIu ,n me ~rul monlb. The reason
for Ibi. is bn:a1,llC., in or<kr to c:ompkle • luna r monlh. the Moon
m~1 nol only pass thl"O\lab the l....:lve ...... oflM zodiac, bul il must
also oo:eupy lIS ~viou. posilion ill rclalion 10 the Sun. Durillilbi.
monlh . however. the Sun ilKlf hu 1d\".IDCed Ibl"O\l&ll 1M zodiac.. The
hllUlr month i. IheltfOO'e IoI1J1e1" than lhe $i4crt:Il IIIOIIlh by • flC\or
of ono: t_lfth. ~ Moon lherd"ore PIIl8elthroua,h eadI or 1M I.."h·e
siam of the zodiac in 2 da)"S, 6 hours. I86S Kronds (2. 271S8S
da ys).
•
m S£FER I'ETZlkAH
lose (poverty)
" a time to hoard stones
(...ullb)
• lime \0 _10 (... eallh)
" A time 10
"" .. li~ 10 sh ... n ("'&lions)
"" A lime to nnbra..,., (......,.,)
A lil\lC' 10 SlIfeluard (J;race)
". a lime 10 ditcard
(... &lineu)
Besides lite 28 lun~r da)'$, tlte si<.kreaJ month can also be divided
inlo 28 equal parts. Each one of these p~rt5 is one of the Moon's
~camps. ~ The moon pasS('s litmus./! each of;15 camps in 23 houn.,
1310....,.,nd•.
The 28 camps pandld Ihe n ~li mn~ mentioned in Ecclesias-
tes. '" See Tables 50 and!i1 on pale 222. These are related 10 the
seven Qualities COrJapondi"l 10 Ihe sev~ Doubles. as discussed
above (4:2-3). See Table 52 on page 224.
Tile 28 camps are associated with lite Iwelve siBllS aflhe zodiac
Ihn')Ush tile 42 ~uer Name, given above (":14). Sec Table S3 on
paBe 224. Thi. name i. oomhined with the letters of the Te1raaram-
malon in lhe manner shown in fIgure 54 on page 22S. Thi. yields a
IOLll of 168 lellers, or six for each of Ille 28 camps.
The 168 letten can also be divided inlo twelve VOUJlS. each con-
.i.,i", of 14 kuen. Each of these groups lhen rort'ftponds \0 a spe-
cific sian of lhe zodiac. u Ii"en in Tabk 54 on paae 22~. Ii i. Ihoe
leners thaI an: dominant"" tile Moon passoes throush each nf the
twelve sians.
Also associaled with each of the twelve sians is a permutation of
tile names YHVH and Adonoy ('TIll). By meditatin, on these rombi-
nations, IS well as the derivatives of the 42 l.cIter Narm, one can
pin knowle<iJe of things thai "ill hlppen in the desiJnated times.
St-e figure ~~ on page 226.
The 28 Mtimes" of Ecclesiastes can be di"ided into two groups
of 14. One grOup ronsist. oflhe good lime., while the other consists
of lhe evil timn.. The 14 gOO<itimes Ire said to come fmm the 14
leiters ofYHVH Elobenu YHV H:
YHV H ELHYNU YHVH
One Ihen takes tile lener. which in the Ilphabet comes IfieT each
of these 14. This yields the letters"
KUZU BMUKSZ KUZU
The 14 evil times are said 10 oriJjnatc from these 14 letten.
The.., 211 leners can therefore be u...:l to trao"",;t the appropriate
oo~pts .
~re is another sY$lcm Ihat also provides insi&!tt into each hour
of the day. As discllss.ed earlier (2:5), when vlriOIlS leiters Ire com-
bined with Ihe TetflllTlmmaton. Ih·c vowels are us.ed. Wben one
wishes 10 make slIch. combination reLali", \0 tile hours of the day,
however, one mllSt add a sinh vowel, tbe Shva (:). 11 The afTIY lunci-
ated with each letter of the Telravammlton Ihen consists of 36
elements.
SEf{Jl I'ETllll.AH
Tobie ~2, n.e 211 lime_, """ 1M 14 lone", "r IM Ihocc name'.
YIIVH EI<>henu YHVH .
, ,
"'"
Li fe
,
,
Y 10 be bom
H 10 pianl ,
,
K
U
!O die
10 Uprt)OI
, V 10 hcJtl
H 10 build , Z
U
10 kill
10 ,..TeCk
Weahh ,, E 10 hoard "ones , B 10 lhro .... Slones
, L
H
10 seek •, M
U
10 lose
G=
, y
10 embrace
, 10 shun
Wisdom , N
10 safeluard
!O be Slil1 , K
S
10 discard
10 spelk
, U ~KW
• Z 10 lelr
,,~ , y or pea"" , K of ..... ,
, H 10 lo.'e • U 10 hate
Dominance
,• V of dancin,
H \0 lauch
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ofmoumin,
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,
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v'nn'
,
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v D KVY YHVY KJl HV vSH
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", l ' n ) ' ' ' ' l ' ' ' '
1::" 111 " ., ,, ,,, , ,
., ' ·...,0'''' ' ·\'1
l ibra v T Z Hvv TH "" vO "V y C'K n ' np", n' l1' 1"
Scorpio Hvy K HYY BH V yTH V n t)' a :" np''n
s..&inariu$ v N .... yO HV " y "" ,,0 )'1.'\ " " ' )1 " '\1 '
Capricorn IIVVLHVVPIIVVZHY "'!'''' D'''' ':> ''''
Aquari ... , V KHyySHH Vy KHVV V \'np'1:1 t:" np'
Piocn IIVV Tz II..,\' Y HYv TH H V n 1'1 ' '" " '" l' " ..
SErER YET'ZIRAH
:l"" I~ t" I:> ))"":>, , I':"'I~ )"):1 ;l"I' "'I'l "'~' • "':IiI'
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t'.t!'y 'W C'lIN:l
J% Cholakim
,. H minu,n
, .
HJ~~k'm
..
I. minute>
1 16 Cha~kim
12 min", ..
N"
,.• ,., . ,... ..,, ., ..., ., ., "...., .,..
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Total _ 216
Each Element -
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Total _
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uch Element - 6 Each E~ment _7
Total- 216 Total - 2S2
'I' ate
CHAPTER SIX
Copyrighted material
'"
The ndi
This is one of the most mysterious words in the Serer Yet~irah.
The term OCCuR neither in the Bible nor in the Talmud. and there:;,
considerable discussion as 10 iu meanina. '
~ ..... A" ••
•.' .'.'
"'.'.
c .......
......
Filllir~ 511. TI!~ ~(Ht;'"II",m"J of /) rll<'" ",..I UfM' Mi,~". (o....·,," li"lI
f<I Pwl~m"!-
Figurr 59. D raco. (B uJrJ O~ a /-1111 ff/lIOI ry' H~I>,."ir IIWno .......ipl /.
very much li ke a bola from ils line. Accordi n& to Ihil, Ihe word 1Hi
(~n) co~s from Ihe rool Talall (mn), munilll ~IO hang. M,
Many aUlhorities identify tIM: 'TNi with the ~ Pole Ss..",..,,-
(Nattlltull Bart"'oclll, mentionn! in the verse, ~ By His Sj)irit, th e heav-
ens were calmed, His hand has pierced tIM: Pole Serpenl~ (Job
26:13 ).' 11 is abo menlioned in the ve!"1e. ~On th.at da)', wilh Hi,
&real. h a~ sword. God will visi t and ovem>me the Leviathan, the
Pok Serpen t, and the Leviuhan. the Coiled Serpent. and He will kill
lhe d ralOn of the sea ~ (Isaiah 27: I).
This Pole Serpent, which is identified with the Leviathan. mly
then be seen as an ima&inary creature from which the eanh hall&S.
Thul, in In Incient m)'stical Midraslt , we find that the world ~h.anp
from a fin of the Leviath.an. - '
The Pole Serpent is often a55(lCilled wilh the constellation of
Draco.' This is not surprisins. since DnIco is very close to the North
Pole. Indud. around 4~ ~an 1&0, Thuban, a star in Draco's tail,
was Ihe pOle Sllr.
There are, ho"""ver, \"", ima&inary pOles in the sky. The fi nt is
Ihe «lest ill pOle. which is directly above the ean h's north pOle. The
second il kno .... n I S Ihe ecliptic pole. Th is is th e pole of lhe sphere of
which the ecli ptic is Ihe equator.
,
SEFEII Y£TZlRAH
Eqllli ot
•
,. SEFU YETZIIlAH
Filfltrr 61. Tilt Tct; <u 'lit ittt;liNJriQII of ril<' ,>rbir of II plant' from 1M
r';/if/fit-.
The "drqon,- whose head and tail form tile tWO nodes., i5 thell
identified as the TelL Mosl cany Hebrew writen refer to it by ill
Arabic name, AI Jar'har." J .. z'lIIlr ;1 I. P"nian word, meanin, "knOl"
or "node.-
Rabbi Abraham Abulafl& also identifies tile Tcli 'liilb tbe celes-
tial - knoIl- (Kull/lrim)." He writ" tha' the head of the Tcli denotes
merit, while illlllil sianifies liability."
Espodally impotUnl are the lunar nodel, lince il is only I' these
points tha' an eclipse, either af llle lun or the moon, can occur.- The
Tel; can Ihen be seen as the imalinary draaoo swallowinJ the IIlQ or
-,Allho\Iah tht obliquity is often refernd 10 as the TtLi , il is qut$-
tion.ble if thil il the Teli menlioned hen: by the Serer Yeuirah.
There is a1!1O I. ,,..(\i tion thai there are IWO Tel;, or dTqonl, one
mile Ind tile olher female. TheM: are identified as the two Levi._
thanl. and Ire menlio~ in the acoouO\ of creation, - God created
the veat drqoQI- (Genesis 1:21)." Ac;:cordinl 10 the Talmud, the
Pole &rpent mentloned by Isaiah il the male drqon, ",bile the
Coiled Serpent (NlICluull Ak4Jk4Jon) il the female. :tl Some Kabbal illS
lute that the con.~Uation of Draco i$ the mille Pole &rpetll, while
the indination of tIN: ediptie is the female Coi led &rpent. JJ The
femllie therefore enC(lmpaw-s thc mille, this bein, thc mYltery of, -a
female shall surround a male~ (lell'miah 31:22),><
Other commenurits ickn tify the Teti with the Milky Way, Ind
say thatthil ilthe Pole &rpent. lJ Aocordin& to Ihil, the Tell would
be Ihe uil of Ihe pluy, nllhcr than Ihlt of the ultst;" Iplien. In
tbe Book of Rll.zin, ho"""~r, it IppeI11that the Milky Way il cIiled
tile River Dinllr, mentloned in Daniel, and not the Tell.-
Another imporUnI opinion i$ that of the praetical Kabbalisu.
Tiley write tllat Tel; i, actually I place un<kr the fimtanlCnt ofVi1on,
and that it is inhabited by humanoid beinp. which dcpon themselvn
in holiness and purity like an&Cls. The divine mysleries a", ",vealed
to these beinp. and they have the authority to ",~allhese Ihinp 10
mon al humans. Methods a", also pvcn whe",by Ihese lIti"" can lit
contacted )'
Wh ile adherin, to the view Ihat the TeH is the sqrnent between
the a~ndin, and desundin, nodes, Rabbi Judah HaLevi
(1068·1 II 8) also writes Illal Ille Teli alludes to tile spiritual world,
and 10 lIidden mysteries wh ich cannot be grasped" Rabbi Abrallam
Abulafia sim ilarly writes that tile Mknots Mof tile Teli a", MknolSM of
lo~ and mystical un ion.'"
The nodes of the TeH a", the points where lWO di ve'leTlt OmilS
mcct. The physical and spirilual worlds ean also be looked upon 15
,
~J' SEFER YETZI RAH
,...." di "~rsent orbils.. ~ T eli would lhen ~pres.en t the nodes .... here
,II<: physical and ~piril\l.1 m«l_
This pictu~ iscJarified thlOUlh a Talmudic example. The Talmud
praen15 a pictu re ~~, ~the u ormwind hanp (talllll) bel""«n the
two anns of God like an amul~I.-lO This ~han&il1lw a n be idenlified
with the Teli. As discuss..:! eariiCl". III<: ~stormwindw (SIl'arallj refen 10
the initiation imo tM prophetic or myuieal experience." The IWO
nodes of the Tell a~ Ihe .piritual points from which Ihis ~amuletw
hanp. The Talmud rurt~ stales that ,"" warmsw from ""'ich il
hanp are lhe ~anns of the univclW." A. diSI:U~ ~arlier, lhe "arms
oflhe uni,'crw" denot.,. the Iwdv~ diago<1al boundaries (S:2).
One of Ihe most si-.niflClnt int~rplflalion. is thai of Ihe Ebhir.
The Bahir Slates: wWhal is Ihe Td i? It is Ihe likeness before the
Blessed Holy One. II is ,hus wrinen. 'His Iocb a~ han&in& (ra//alim),
(SonlorSonp 5: I IJ. "'"
The li nl; .... ilh Ih is biblical verse is highly siinificanL In its
entirety. the verse reads. wHis head is a treasure of fine &Old, His
locks are hanain&. black like a ravcn.w
In both Talmud ic and KabbaliSlic tradi tions, Ihis verse has two
interpreta tions. First, il relates to a vision of God, indicalin& thaI
when He is visuali zed in bailie, He i. seo:n a youn& man wilh blade
ha ir." Th~ Kabbalim .... y Ihat Ihi. i. z". Anl',n (Small Fact,
Micro prosopus), lhe pe~n ificalion Orlhe six Sefirol from Cltcxd 10
yesod ....
The second inlerpn:lalion relal ... ,h i. verse 10 lhe Torah. The
Talmud states Ihallhe han&in& (or piled) hair relates \0 Ihe fact thaI
e,'cry leller of Ihe Torah oonta in. "pik$ and piles" (/I'll IftIl 'im) of
wisdom ." Betidc5 Ih is. the halllin& hai rs are said to ...,Iate 10 lhe linc:s
upon which Ihe lellers of the Torah are written.'"
The Torah wh ich is spoken of here is nOI the ordinal')' written
Torah , bm the primeval Tonh . ...1Ikh WItS wril1en ~wilh black fire
on while fire."" Accordin& 10 many Kabbahsts, Ihis primeval Torah
in iudf is idenlified wilh Z ..r Anpin .
In this picture. each lelle. of the Torah i. seen .. a h.ir in lhe
beard of ler Anpi n, TIIcse arc not SoNn a•• imple hai n , bUI as eMn·
nels. throu&/! which God's wisdom emanales from His "head.· The
~ h~ad" is lhe ronaaled wisdom of God, while th.c lellen are ita 0111·
,,-ard revelat ion," The port ion of God's wisdonl that,.,., can (:()mpn:-
hend bears Ihe .... me relationship to His lrue wisdom that the hair
does 10 Ihe brain. The brain is the ~nler of all lhoughl , ....hile Ihe
hair i. esscnliaJly de.d. There is a world of dilTerence belween the
I"'-o,~, all Ihal W~ COIn comprehend i. the "h.ir.w
The verse says, ~ H is head i. a treasun: of fine JOId." Thil refen
10 Ihe unknowabl~ divi ne Intellect, SiJl(:e . 1Ilhat we can comprehend
,
no
is a ~hair.· Ihe vene continues, " His locks a~ IlancillJ (piled), blact
li ke a noven,- Even these hairs contain "pile$ and pilft" (1M; Ida';",)
of wisdom. Still, il is "black like a nwcn: Even these -hain" are
black and incomprehensible. Each of 1M.., hairs corresponds to a
·pOi nt" in the lenen of the Torah.'" Each leiter contains ·piles and
piIQ" of wisdom.
The"" labali"" which me.n "ltanBinp· or ·piles," Ihlls refer \0
the divine wisdom tnal is revealed. Acoordinl 10 tile Midnosh, how·
ever. Ihey do not refer \0 the \ellen themselves, bul \0 the lines
(Jir/ul) upon ...·lIich Ihey are wrillen. When one "Titn I physical
Tor.al!., onc milS! first draw lines upon which \0 wrile the \ellen.
These lin ... Ire not actually dr.awn " 'ill' ink. bul IK merely imprnsed
into tile PII rchment wilh • shlTJI inllrvment. Thne: almost invisible
lineJ reprexnl111c "haocine of the hair. lhe link between the letter
and ill spiritual TOOt.
From each hair in the divine beard of Zn Anpin, there hanp a
univen.e. Eac.b of th~ uni" eTSe$ is aho related 10 a Icutr in Ihe
Torah:oo Attordin,lo this. lhe Teli denOles llIe "hair" in lhe divine
be,rd from which our universe " hanas.~ This is lhe uis around
which the univen<'- ~vn.
The Teli also relate. to the mrodialion on. kuer. In Ihis media-
tion. one pietures the lellers as ""';uen with black fire on while fire.
One ronlempl'les th e letter. roneent ... lin, on the near invisible line
upOn ",hieb it i. drawn. This line is seen IS a hai r in the d ivine beard.
from which the universe h,np.
TI\e scriPlure calls the ~hnlinp" of the divine beard TallO}i"".
The Zobar relaln this 10 the word Talpiat, whith. as the Talmud
teaches, iothe "hill (I~/I) to which all mouths (piat) tum.-" This -hm"
is the mount upon which the Temple was buill, which Jacob called
Ihe ~aate of he,wen" (Oennis 28:17)." This TalpiOl is the anJibie
li nk bet..-«n Ihe physical and Ille . pirit .....!. AtrordiOJ 10 the
Kabbalists. Ille same holds true of the Teli."
The Cycle
The Hebrew word for cycle he", i. Galgal. In . number ofplacn
in the Talmud. this word is also used 10 denote the cydc of eventli
in Ihe world." Later (6:3 ). the Galga! i. depicted as tbe kinl over
time. This is beausc: .11 time is defined by cyclic motion. The word
Galga/ 31so tnens sph e", or ti ~k. In some plaen in Ihc Talmud Ihe
word is u~ to denote Ihe splle", of the .:odi..:.·'
be filed in the Gil/falto prodUtt the III Gain. The word Ga41ll
therefore also dcooles the mystical array of the 22 lellers.
In Ihis respect, 1he Tdi denotes the almost invisible lines upon
""hidl Ihe !ellen are written. The Go/gal;s the d.'\:Ic in .... hkh they
a re drawn.
The Serer YClzirah also au.ocialed the m ystical expcricn(;c .... ith
the whirlwind koo ....l1 as I S,ifah ( 1:6). 11 is si",ificanl 11ta! the
prOpltct . ... iah a·sonales such I ... hirl .... in d with the GaIgaI, sayin&.
~ Li kc a sphere t,gaIpf) befou the whirlwind (Sl(/Qh )" (Juiah 11: 13).
It is also associated wilh God's voice. as in Ihe VCIW. "The voke of
Your th under was in the sphere (gQlga/r (Psalms 71: 19)."
Most si", ifie.nlly. the GillKal is also s«n u beinl below Ihe fro:!
o f the Cherubim. God 11111. Ioid an an&e1. RComc 10 U\(: inniUd. of
the Gals-I. bencath the Cherub" (Enkiet 10:2). This Cherub ;S
uplicilcly identified witllllle Cllayul 'lttn in Ezeu e!', initial vi.ion,
as he sa~s. "And Ihe Chembim Wnlt uP. this illhe: Chayah that I law
on the river Cheba,... (Ezekiel II>: I 5). Earlier (1 :1). we lIave also d is-
cuss.ed how lhe: Chembim llerve as the: focus of lhe m)lIlieal upen.
elltt. The Go,,"' is Illerefo~ a cyde Ihat lift, ooe up 1<;> the level of
the Chayot . ... hich a~ in the Universe of Yelzirah.
The Bahir staleo Ihat the: Galzal is the Womb." In one sense.
this it; speakin, of Ihe Galgalas the cycle of lime. The pre senl is the
womb in which Ihe future is born. As we ha" e sten earl ier (I:~ ), IIIe
dimenswn of lime is s«n as exlendinJ, bc.1~n Chakhmah and
Dinah. Otakhmah is the paSI, while Binah iii the fUlure. The present
is lhe interface between th~ tWO Seliro!. Binah iii tt.e Mot her, and
the Go/g<ll it; Her womb.
An important cydc thaI we ha'~ discussed earlier ( 1:4) i. the oscl.-
!ation bet_ Chakhmah and Dinah comciQUsneM. The lim initiation
inlo the spirilual domain romes throulh Ihis cxerrillC. and 1Ioence. as a
GaIga1, it is the entrance into the m~ In this sense. the GaJp is
lhe womb from wbich <lilt ;'..,born inlO a opirilual plane.
The Heorl
Th( hean il s«n .. kin, over Ihe !QUI (6:3). Of all pans in the
body. il il the dominant ooe. The soul ~Iales to lhe spiri tual dimen-
sion. Thus. when Ihe Sefer Yellirah speaks of the m ~lieal expen.
en«. il describes it as a "mnninl of Ihe hean" (J :8).
The Hebrr .... word for hean is Lev (~"). Ind a. mentioned ean ier
(1 : 1). th is ;' also the number 12 in Hebre ..... As Ihe Bahir lIates, the
hean reprellenls lite J2 Paths of Wisdom." Ii is throulh these 12
,
'"
palhS 11ui, one ItcendS in lO the $f),ritual d imc'nsiofl, TM Book of
R<Jzirilimilnly IIlta, -8~'lh ( RlltJdt) nmonal Q from I~ heart, just
like lilt Hdy Spirit (1~UQ('1r lIaKOtksll) fman.ales from 1M: Throne (of
Glory). - ..
The Bahi, abo 'lilts thai Ihis Hun il the scriptural - Hean of
""-" The DIM' pIKe ""~ Ihis is ITIC'nltonnl il in the """"'01 of the
,""elalion II Sinai: -You ca~ doIe , .nd you llood under the mou ....
lain, and 1M mountain b\lmed in fire. .. ntillbe' heart of haven ~
darltnrM, douG, ilnd &lOom. And God spoke 10 )"011 from 011\ of the
fire- (Dtul(l OitOill Y 4: II , (2),.
From the COIlIUI. '"' 1ft lluil the fire IhII' ,t.. bed 10 -1M heart
o f 1It."m- ...., the fir!' associated "; th ~"Iion. from ""bich God
$pOke. Sud! fire is the tbire! !.Iq:I in the initiation of re'~lation, as....,
fiDd in 1M (Ut of Ezekiel', >'ilion., whida WU [n;IUlled ",i!h - ,
storm ...i !ld ... 1 IJ"HI cloud, and Iluhin, fire- (Eui<id 1;4). II was
onl y in 1M fin: WI he visWlllml lhe Chlllllmal. Sim illorty, io Elijah',
vilion, lhe IIIIft MrpI weft, -'lind .. , lO\IlId . . . and fire- ( I Kinp
J9: II -ll). In one pll«. the Midruh abo ",1.les Ihis fire 10 tile: !addn
in J.rob', dream ." This ladder is .150 the ~hicle throush ",-hieh ~
dimbli into the tfllnSttnd('nl..lJ.
lbe thlft Iteps men tioned by EzekiclliJo appeu paflllltl those
tluallt by the &'er Yel~i l1lh (/ : 10- 12). First COf\\eS Breath (Ruadt).
wh ich cln also be tflln.bted .. winu, ... hich il the ~nonnwind~ of
Ezekiel. Then comes R.... I(T from Brelth." ,,-hieh un be usocilted
with the fIIindoud that he sa ..... The: Opaqueness of th is cloud is simi_
lar to the ~ mire Ind da y- mentioned in Sern- Yetzifllh.
The th ird step is ~fire from ..... tn-. R Th il is the -Ominl fire-
seen by E.ekid . T he Serer YcUirlh N)"J that out of this fin: One
depict$. -The t',,"One ofOIory. &fllfim, Ophanim. Ind holy ChayotR
(I : I 2). SimilJ,rl y, aReT upcricncina the fire , Ezekiel,.·u Ible to visu-
al ize the Chayot Ind the Thron.e oroiory.
It il this fift: of ",,-clition that il $lid to I( kh -to the Jte.n of
/Ia'·en.- The hnn illhe ki"l 0''eT" the dimtnt-ion of spirit, Ind one
Ifllvcls thfOl4h thi, difTlt'f\$ion by meanl of fire. -n.n fire lhertf~
Itkhes the -hean.- The Hnn ~rtSmlt lhe 32 palhl on the Tift
of Ufe.
In thil verse. the tmPlurt Sl..lles thai God spoIr;t ·out of Ihe fire."
EIIC~, howc'n. it N)"J. -YOI.I helrd His voKlr out of lhe midsl
of the dlrtneu- (Onnnonom y $:20). 8 uI u the ZoIw IIltes. the
Rfi",- mentioned he", illhe fin: of dartn.ess..... I, is the bu.rnina 1orI&-
ina thaI comes from the 10tal nlllli(lCItion of lhouabl. This il IIso
I~ted .... th the -black fire- .... ilh ..."idI the primcvll TOllIb .....
...-rillen."
•
In the Kabbalah , the word ~h~av~n~ i. usually u~iated with
br Anpin, The ~hean of huven~ is tl\.trefore the heln of Z~
.-lnpi/I. "
It is .ilnificant that the HahiT relat.,. the 'hIi to Ihe hair on the
head, .... hi le Ihe Galtal is rellted to the womb o r bell~ . The Hun is
nalural l~ a$SOCiated ...'ith the chat. Thus, from these thrtt, we hive
th~ head , bell ~ and chest, the Ihree pans oflhe bod~ usociated with
the Three Mot hers, AMSh.
The Tn;, a$SOCillecl with the head, would then relate 10 the Shin.
The Ga/gal, u50cialecl with lhe bdly, 'A'OU1d reLale to Ihe Mem, and
~ Hun, 10 the Akf. Out of tile Three MOlheR, we derive the kinp
o ver the Univcne. Year and Soul. This result. in lhe fiv(>-
d imen5ional conti nuum heinl d ivilkd into opace, tim<:, and ~
spiritual.
In InOlher sense. lhe 'hi; is the u is. reprcxnlinl Ille Ionptudi-
nal anlk. The GI1i811i is the sphere, "'protnlinl the azi muthal anpe
o r latitude. The Hean is the radius or altitude. Thus. thne thrtt
kinp repn:sent the thrtt-dimensional in spherical coordinates.. The
fiv~-dimen';onal continuum can likewise be represented in
hyperspherical coordinates.
The Kabbali 't. note that the initial lellm of 'hIi e>11), G<ll,al
('01"") and Ln (~") spell out 70GeL <'' 1'1 ). This is in the vene. " M y
soul ...·ill rejoicr (1lIGrl) in my G od" (I.sailh 61: I 0)." It i. Ihrouab
meditation on the.se thrtt ekmenu that the soul can attain mysliCliI
O!OtHy.
This word also occun in the vene. "God is kina. let the unh
rejoice (TaGrl)" (P1alms 9 7: I). Thi, CIIn be interpreted 10 say, ~God
i. Kina. Teli Calp] Ltv is the eanh ,~ indicatinl tbal these are the
thrtt kinp over Hi. crealion , as the Stofer Yet1.iralt IlteT niles (6:3).
Tboc an: the deep mystery. as it is ..Ti lten. "The m)'SteT)' or l oollter
do not ",veal (T'G<lL)" (Proverbs 25:9).
,.
'"
TIl," Mrxll=.' AMSh (rJoc)
A;r, -...:I1l'T. and firt'.
Fir? is{l"""' .
and (lir of
"'<l/V is brlow.
BrNlh ;s l ilt' TUIt'
Ihal d«idn M O.""" Ihl'm.
And D Jigll of this thillg
;s that fi" supports " '<lIN".
,lit''" hums. SM" hiSYS.
(Jf!d Aid Is /lrl' breath of ai,
tiro/ d«ides brt"'ffn Iht'm.
•
SUER Y£TZI RAII
'I' ate
Ow'rrSix
'"
If ",-e think about it, the answer is really qu ite simple. The areat·
est pOSsible &ood is God Hi m~f." There is no (){her ultimate true
lood. TIle PWmi$l thus said. ~ I have 110 &ClOd but you~ (Pl:I.lms
16:2 ). In the Talmud, Rabbi Acha interpn:tlthilto mun that no tf\le
Jood nist. in the world. n~t that of God Himself."
The ultimate &ood is therefore to panake of God. and it is this
Jood thlt He planned to live the world. He would Cl'Hte I woOd
where creatures ultimately could panake of Hi I r ..roce. The P$IlImi$!
sinp of thi •• ~TlSte and see that God i. JOOd" happy is the man who
finds refule in Him" (Pulms 34:9 ).
God therefore created the ",'Orld in such a "" y W t ~ rouId
draw close 10 Him Ind pan.ake of His CHen.::C, Of course, we Ire not
Ipeakina of physical closeness, but of spiritual closcne». Such close-
ness in>'OI"n the knowled.., and undentandinl of God. as weU as
r-esemblinl Him to the p-e;!.tn\ dq:r-ee ponibk.
Here apin, ~ hear this in the W'Clrd. of the Psalmi$!, ~ But for
me. the numns of God is JOOd. I have made God my Il'fu&e, that
I may teU of Hil W'Clrks~ (Psalms 73:28 ). The Psalmi," isteacll ina us
thai hi. ultimate &ood is nearness to God. This nearness involves
~tellinl of Hi. worb"- \h,;u is, a dttp tno,,'ledl" and pnuption of
the Divi~."
The ultimate &ood that God otTen is Ih cll'fore the opponunity
to pereeive Him. In one place, our I:I.ln thus teach UI thaI God cre-
ated the W'Clrid in order thlt men mly know Him .•! This is nol a Kpa-
!lite I't'uon. but the way in wbich He brstoW$ H15 &ood upon us."
God thus told UI throua/l His prophet. ". 1m your God, • luch )'011
(or your &ood~ (Isaiah 41: 17). The Psalmist upresscs the same idea
when he says. ~ you Ill' load, and You do Iood. teach me Your
dccl't'CS~ (Pl:I.lms 119:68).
To know God Ind understand Him in any ,,'ay is to have I ~
.~ Ind dread of His M';nty. AU true wisdom is that of God. But
such wisdom and Irnowledje imply the feu and r-evtrcnct of God.
The Pulmist thus l:I.id, ~Th e bqinni nl of Wisdom is the fCIT of
God- (P$IlIml Ill : I 0). Solomon expll'ncd the I:I.me idea when he
said. "n.c fell' of God is the beCinninl of Kno~~ (Proverbs
1:1)."
We CIIn lhell'fore say thllthc ultimate coal of creation il lhat we
should rome dose to God, and therefoll' boIh know Ind fear Him.
Allin we hear the 'to'Ofds of Solomon, ~ Wha\evcr God does shill be
forever , ., God has made it SO that man should fear Him" (Ecclnias-
lei 3:14). The Tilmud comments on this., sayinlthat the world was
CTUled for the fnrofGod.'" Thi l i. mln's true PurJlOSC' in the W'Clrid,
as we find allin. - The sum of the maller, when all has bttn helrd:
Fear God and keep Hil commllKlmnlts, for Ihis ;1111 of man - (fule-
". S£FER YETZIRAU
siastc1 12: 13). In the T . /m ....;\, Rabbi ElaUl' com~nlS on Ihis and
sa~. - s.;,lomon is luchinl u. that all 1M world ",'U CTeated for lhe
fur of God.·"
When our "'11:'1 oay lhat the world "'1IS created for Ihe fear o f
God, they ue not conlradictin, Ille leachinllhat il .... as Crt'lled.S.
vehide for His &0«1. W1u.t Ihey au dQillJ is uprtSlil\l whal this
&ood IIltimUe! y is. II is a lnowledlC of God Ihal is most perfe.;tly
uprnsed by Ihe ",,,(re nee .nd . _ thai "~'e call the -fear of God.-
The ul timale pla~ whell: ...·c " i ll be lO'OI'thy of Ihi s vision and
perttption .... ill be in ....hal "''' call OIam ffa&1t- The FulU", World
or the World 10 Come. Ii is a world of absolute life and coodne,,- It
is of Ihe vision of the World 10 Come Ihal tbe Pylmist is speaki n,
of when lie says. -I believe Ihal I will JUe upon God in lhe land of
the livin,· (Pulms 27: I J). This - land of the livi n,- is lite Future
World."
It is Ihis fut ure world Ihal is the 10&1 of all <:nIllion. 0 ... , ~
Ihus teach us. '"This world is like .n antechamber befo re the World
to Come, Prepare yoof$O!l f in the antechamber before you enter Ihe
pal.cc. ~ "
Sin~ this Future World is the ulli!Julte ""I of crealion , il i. also
Ihe p!a~ of ult imate ]I00(I. In the lanlUa&!' of the T almud, it is called,
~Ihc World where IllI i. &OOd.~" It i. a &OOd that lurpaooes.nythinl
Ihal Ihi. world may pOSsibly hl" e 10 o ffer. This i. what our IaIH
man when they sa y. MOnc momenl o f dcli&ht in the Future World
is more than alltbe ]I0O(I o f this "''OI'ld.~''
We can oblain 5Qme idea of what th is Future World will be like
from . common sayinl of Ra v, qllOted in Ihe Talmud. " He ""id, ~ I n
the Future World, thct'e will be no eatina. drinkin" cltildbc.ri", or
businen. Neith<:r will there be jealousy. hatred or slrife. The riaht-
00\1. ""ill .il ",i lh tbeir crown. on lheir he.ds, deli&hlinl in tbe nidi-
antt of 1M Oi"ine Presc:nce. ~
Our sqes teach liS that Ihis ~radian« of the Di vine Prncnce"
is, percq>tion of the Oi"ine." [n the Fllture Worid. wC will pcII% ive
.nd comprehend God in the .,.ealesl de&= possible.
Th is pcrcq>tion of God in the Future World i. totall y beyond
our preloCnt ""'P. 'That of the lUll o f liS will pale tile achj.evcmenlS
oflhe arealest satct in this world. Slili. ofOO\lfSC, il will be impossible
to pcrttive God in Hi. enlirety_ This is impossible for any bci",
other Ihan God HimloClf. AItIlOllp. inoomparable to .nylhina in Ihi.
lifc, our pcrttplion will still be less th.n • drop in , n infinite O<%an.
NC\'ertheless, it .... ill far ex~ .nythina possible in this world."
[n order thaI we may a pproach Hi m. God crealed, dimension
of nea mess to His beina. By movina Ihrou&h this dimension , _ are
able to come c loser and closer 10 God, c" en thoup. _ can never
actually reKh Him. This dimeluion is ",hat _ call Ihe spiritual
".
wof1d. Our saRes call tile hiJhe$\ s.pintual world Allilul-lhe World
of Nearneu. All the . piritual ",..,r1d. " "C'" C",,-Ied as >"chicle$ throu",
..-lIi,h " 'c may draw near 10 God. [n • seO$\", they $\'0"'" as I. fiher,
allowinl uS 10 dnw near. and ltilL not to. obIiler.lled by H i, infinite
Licht.'''
In a number of places, our sages sj>(ak of Ihue worlds as the
Celestial Treuuril:$. Th u$, bnlel sings 10 God, "The Kin, will brinK
me into Hi. (hamber" (Son& of Songs I :4). The s.agcs comment Ihll
God will briol Ihe ri",leOtls inl0 His erlestial eharnbeOl and allow
them 10 probe tile treasuries on hisb.-
This is also the mea.nio, of the liJ,hl1h.U ...·u made 00 the firsl
day ofcl'Hlion. Our Yin leacb uS Ihal;1 "'"as not mere physicallilJII.
btH a wondcl'O\Is li&hl wilh whid! one could see -from one end urlhe
uni'~nc 10 Ihe olner."" This was the tiabl of jJtJL~plion. shinio, in
all the spiritual worlds. wilh wllich one could uperien« Illi. vision
of God. OUT sa&eS thus continue. "God sel Ihis 1ielll aside for Ihe
riellleous in Ihe World 10 Come.~"
This is Ihe liJhl of pereeplion wilh .... hich we ",-ill partake oflhe
Divine-Ihe fil1ldi.n~ of Ihe Divine Presen«.~ Elihu was Spe.kinl
of Ihis when he lold Job Ihal God will "Ium bact his soul from
deslruction, and illuminale him in Ihe lielll of life" (Job 33:30). Solo-
mon infonnl uS thai this liellt is Ihe source of eternal life, wilen he
says. " In the Hellt of the King" fl~ is lifefi (Proverbs 16: 1' )."
God's ultimale I0Il1 in crealion was Iherefore the World 10
Come, where man could perceive a vision of God. NO! God Himself.
of course. bul a ,"ision. Perhaps throoell many fillen. but slill, a
,"ision of God. The Ps.almist sinlS oflhis "isinn, "In riellleouSness, I
will see Your face. when I ""Ike. I will be saliated wilh I ,"ision of
You' (Psalms I 7: 15). The Psaim isl is speatilli of Ille lime .... hen Ile
will a"'ake to Ihe delielliS of the FUlure: World . Our s.qes comment
on this ,"erse. "God will s.atisf~ tile riellleouS wilh I vision of Ihe
Divine Presence. ~"
The bli!oS of tile Futu re World will be endl ...,. [n Hi , endl",.
IOodness. God will live us a world oflood without end. The Psalmi$!
i. qxatinl of Ihi. when he Cl.ebims.. "In Your presence is full""" of
jo~, in Your ri&ht hand i. bli., fore"er" (Psalms 16: 1 I)."
or course, everything about Ihi. Futu", World is lotaU~ be~ond
Our PD""tn of dncription. Even Ihe visions of the IITalesl propheli
will pale in comp,:u iJon . II is somethinl thai nO human mind can pas-
sibl~ imaJine in Ihis life. II ClnrlOl. rome Ih roosl\ human undenland_
inl, bUI only as a Jift from God, and when He gives ii, we will under-
stand. The propllel the",(o", sal'S " 'hen speakinl of the World 10
Come: -NeYff has Ihe ear heard it-no eye hn ,...,n it-ather Ihln
God: Thai " 'hieh He will do for those who hope in Him~ (Isaiah
64:1)."
,
SUER YErZIRAH
v ,
••
s.EffR YETZlRAH
o 0 0
000
o 0 a 0
o 0 0
000 0
o 0 0 0 0
(k ... raI fonnul.l: n in • W2
,.
'"
A •
T ...."ty.t......
'h1'tt on it...,,,
",,,,,n on ,....."" c
Fig"" 67. TIt,« (A ) /J«omt Ihl'« QfI ....·'11 /8 ), ..-/rid! MrooMS ........"
"" "....1.... reI. 1'1k> IftMral for"'''''' irtu is 11(11+ I J (,,+8)'6 ,
One on three
The One is the ineffable, which is not ooumed in the leqllence.
Three on seven
WJH,n the tnlnal1ed lrians\e of m/ft is placed on thai of seven,
one has a trullCllled pyramid OODtainint ten points. These re~ot
the T en SeflTOl. Set: rll""' 61.
SErER YETZIRAH
'" When lh;" in II,I. n, is placed (In the IrunC'aled tri.n!le eQntainin,
lwelve points. this yields. trullCllled pyr2mid ...·;II! 22 point!. ~
represcnlthc 22lelte~ of 111<: alphabe\.
,.
'"
r ;!:TI ;lIn1 C':L1 ;'1 '~' U·~ C~ I'!.:IVJ
6:7 ";"I
'llolUV
l'''v 1'n
;'1W~:1 ' 1'::1
;1n',vl :mn ppm 1'"'
InN; .,'11 1"VU lOll "WI( t?01;'1 M l
'11 'it'll ~nJ
''0'1<1 lV" 0'17\,1 'lOt? ".:IT1'
c71V 111 l!1"l'1L" " 1l'"U ~l ':J"~ ~ ~""
"-1.:1 " m :l1 ..,."y " .,;!t1n'l r ON", "'ICl(1t?
' ;0
1t'!I r J 11W";'1 n'U 1(1;;1 1'"1' rov;!]'/( 11:?V 1';1
0""11 ""'j?l ' ' ' 0.,
1'1'"0 :(1;'T1 " '11 1TI!1;!]'/C
' 1'0 1lN 6 ;'1"'11 llW":I ~, ",.~ trm::'l
;'IV;!:';! ~;! mu j\7V1 Wit;! 1i'7T O'ID P'Oll
,nrll.C 117V 0'11:7:1 11:'11
•
,.
And when Abraham ollr /mhef ...
He made a ct)W'nanl
See 1:3_
'I' ate
APPENDIX I
Other Versions of the
Sefer Yetzirah
THE SHORT VERSION
(I n order to show lIow it can be done, this lias !lotto translated in the
im ~ralive. ~ brackCled portions are Ih06C omil1ed by Donuh.)
Copyrighted material
'"
Chapter 1
I. With 32 wondrol.l' paths of Wisdom envave Yah, Ihe lord of
Hosts, {God of lsrae~ the Livin& God , Kin, oflhe univen.e, Almi,JI1Y
God , merciful and aracious, Hi&h and Exa lted. dwelling in etemily,
whose name is Hol y. and creale His univcn.e] wilh 111m: boob, wilh
text (S,ph"l. wilh number (S,p/!ar). and wilh communication
(Sippu')'
2. Ten &firo\ o f NothinJlless plus lwcnty-\""O [foundation Jleucn:
Th roe Mot hers. $e-'cn Doubl~, and Twel ve Elcmmtals.
J, Ten Sefi rOI of NOlh inlneu: The number of Ihe len filljers, five
opposite five, wilh . sinale oo'-cnanl preciscl y in Ihe middle, like lhoe
circu mcision of the IOnl uC and thoe circumci.ion of t he membrum.
4. Ten $efirol of NOlhin,nn.s: Ten and nO{ ninc; len and nol elcvm.
Understand with Wisdom. and be wiK wilh Understandi"&- Examine
wilh them and probe from them. make I Ihina stand on it. euence,
and ma ke Ihe Creator sit on His base.
S. Ten Sefirot of Nothinsness: Thti r meaSure i, t~n whieh have no
end. A depth of besinning, a d~pth of end ; a depth of JOOd., a depth
o f evil; a depth abov~. a depth belo ....., a depth east, a depth "'fft; ,.
d~plh nonh, 1I d~Plh south . The Sinl ular Masl~r, God faithful Ki IlJ,
dominatn them an from H is holy dwell inl until eternity of
etern ities.
6. Te n Sdirot o f NOlhingr>e$!: Their vision is li ke Ihe "appearance
of lilhtnillJ, ~ their limit has no end. Hi s Word in them is ~runninl
and retu rni ns. ~ They rush to Hi! loIyinl like a whi rlwind, a nd before
Hi, throne they pn)l;trale themscl'·es.
1. Ten Sefirot nf Nothio,"",,: Their end i. imbeddM in Ih~ir be&in-
niTl& and their be&inning in Iheir tnd, like 1I flame in a bumi", 00II1.
Fo r Ihe Master is sinlular. He has no second. And before One, what
do you count?
I .Te n Scfirot of N01hin",ess: Bridle your mouth from speaki", and
your hean from thi nkins. And if your hean runs, return 10 the pl.aee,
as it ;s wrilten , "Tbe ChayOi runnintl and retuminl~ (Ez~kiel 1:1 4).
Repminl this a ro~'enanl was made.
9. Ten Sefirol of N01hin,"~,,: One is Ihe Breath o f the Livinl God,
blessed a nd benMictM be the Name of Ihe Life of "'"Orl<.b. Voi«,
Breath and Speech. This is Ihe Holy Breath (RuQ(h Hu.KodnJr).
'" SEF'ER VETZIRAH
14. These are the Ten Scfirot of NOIhinsncss. One is the Breath of
the li vinl God . Bn:ath [from Breath]. Waler [from Breath], Fire
[from waler. and the eXl",mit~J. up, down, eaR, " 'est, a.orth and
SOUth.
Chapter 2
I. T~nl y_two foundation letten: three MOthen, seven Doubles, and
1.....,I>"c
Elcmenlall. Tbe three MOIhen. AMSh, Iheir foundation is the
pan of merit. the pan of li.bility. and the lonlue of d",ree decidin&
bet""""n t~m.
Chapter 3
I. Three Mothers. AM5h: Their fO!J ndalion;$ the pan of liability, the
pan of merit. and 1~ tonl"'c of dec""" de<:idinl bd ween them.
2. Three mothe", AM5h: A lIl=ll. m)'SliC<il, OOllO'aled 5t:CN:! , sealed
with si ~ rinp. And from it emana te fire and "'ller, Sotparatinl them-
seh"cs as male and female. Th...,., MOIhcf'S. AMSh, a~ Iheir founda-
liOll. and from them Ire born the Father'$, from which everylhin, wu
crealed.
J . Th= MOlhel'$, AMSh. in the Univnv a~
air. water. and fi~.
Heaven wu cn:ued from fi re. carlh "''ll.S cn:aled from waleI'. and the
ai r decides between Ihe fi re a nd the water.
4. Three. mOlher'$, AMSh, in Ihe Year a~ fi~, water. a nd breath. The
hOI is cn:ated from fi~. Ihe cold is crealed from waler. and the tem_
perale from b~ath decides belween Ihem.
Th= MOlher'$, AMSh. in Ihe Soul a~ fire . ...·u er. and breath.
The head is c~ated from fire, Ihe belly is cn:ated from water, and
the chest, crealed from breath. decides between them.
S. Three Mother, AMSh : Enlrave them, (I""e them. pe""ute them,
and with them seal Ih= MOl hen in Ihe Univnv. IhTtt Mothers in
the Year. and Ihree MOIhers in the Soul, mile Ind femlle.
6. Ma ke Aid kin, oVer brellh, bind I crown to it, and combine one
with another. And w;lh them seal ai r in the Uni "e""" tile lempel'llie
in the Year. and tile chest in the Soul, the male ,..ilh AMSh . and Ihe
fe male wilh AShM.
7. Make Mem kin8 Over WIler. bind I crown 10 ii, and combine OIIe
with .noiller. And with IlIem seal carlh ;n the Univ.,""" tile cold in
,
'" SEF£R YETZ1RJl,H
the Year, and the belly in the Soul, Ihe male wilh MASh. and the
fem. k wilh MShA.
8. Make Shin kina oVer fire. bind a C'I"OY>lI 10 iI, and combine one
wilh another. And wilh them _I he.ven in the Univerw. Ihe hoi in
the Year, and the head in Ihe soul, 1M nWc [with ShAM], and the
fcmak [with ShMA].
Chapter 4
I. Seven Do..bles. BGD KPRT: Their foundation is life. peace, wil-
dam......,allh. sncc, seed, dominance. beh hiS two !IOUnds: B-Bh,
G-Gh. D-Dh. K-Kb, P-Ph, R-Rh. T-Th. [A Slr1.IC\lIT<: of] soft and
hard, II SIn.>Cture of] $\1"1)01 and weak, double ~IUC they are ll11ns-
poses. The transpOSe of life i. death, the IranlpOSe of puce il evil ,
the transpOSe of wisdom is folly, the transpose or \Io'ttIlh is poveny,
the il1lnspose of IflI(le is UJliness. Ihe transpose of seed is desolation ,
the transpose of dominantt is suhjuplion.
2. [Seven Doubln, BGD KPRT: Seven and nOI six, !le\'cn and not
eiatot. Euminc with them and probe from IlIem, make each IlIilll
stand on it! essence, and make Ihe Crealor Iii on H is base.)
3. Seven Dout>ln, BOD KPRT, paralJcllhe !iCv.,n cxl..,milies. "ll"Ine
are lhe li~ exlremilies: up, down, eUI, ...-est, lIOr1h, soulh. And the
Holy Palace prttisel y in thoe middle upholds Ihem an.
4. Seven Dout>les, BOD KPRT: EnJlll"e Ihem. carve them, combi ne
Ihem • •• pJoIReu in the Univcnc, day. in the Year, and ptes in the
Soul. From them enJlllve seven firmamcnts, seven earths, seven
weeks. Seven is tht'n':fore beloved under an the heavens,
S. [How? Make Ikt kinl over life. bind .. crown 10 it. and wilh ;1
depict Saturn in the Univcrx, Sunday in the Year. and the n,ht eye
in the Soul.
6. [Malte Oimel Itin" bind a crown 10 iI, and wilh il depict Jupiter
in the Univ<:nc. Monday in Ihe Year. and the Id\ C)1' in Ihc Soul.
7. [Make Dalel kin .. bind a crown to ii, and wilh il depict Ma~ in
Ihe Univenc, Tue-sday in Ihe Year. and Ihe ri&ht ur in the Soul.
8. (Make KIf kin" bind a CTO ...n 10 ii, .nd with il depkl the Sun in
the Univene, Wednesday in the Year, Ind the left ear in the Soul.
",
9. [Ma ke Pch kin&, bind a !.TOwn 10 ii, and wilh ;1 depic1 Venll5 in
the Univene , Thund~y in the Year, and the n&hl nostril in llIe
"'"'
10. IMa" Resh kin&. bind a crown \0 il. and witb it depict MeTC\Iry
in Ihe Univcnc:, Friday in the Year, and the left noslril in the Soul.
II . (Make Tn king, bind a crown 10 il. and wilh it depicltlie Moon
in the Uni,-enc:, the Sabbuh in the Year, and the mOllth in 111e
Sou1. )
12. The Seven Doubles, how does OIK permute them? Two stones
build I....., Ilouses, lhlft build six houso:s. fO\l' build 24 IIolises, five
build 120 houses, six build 720 houses, and 'leV!:'O blli\d S040 hOliKI'.
From there on ,0 out and calculate thl1 .... hich Ihe mouth nonQl
speak and the ear amnot hear.
These aK the seven planets in the Universe: The Sun. Venus,
Mercury. the Moon. Saturn, Jupiter, Mars. ' These are the seven dil}~
in the Year: The seven dl~ of creation. And Ihe Seven ,,"to:s in the
Soul are the two eyes, the two ears. lite lwo "",,1riIs. and Ihe mO\llh ,
And with Ihem wac: enaraved the seven finnament', the seven
eanhs, the seven hours. Seven is the",fo", beloVC'd for every desi",
under heaven.'
Chapter 5
I. Twelve Elementals: HV ZCh TY LN SO TzQ. Their fO\lndation is
s;&hl. hearinK, smell, s!)«Ch . laste. coi1ion, action, motion, an&«,
lau&hler. thou&ht, and sleep. Their measure ;s the I...·elve diagonal
boundaries: the nonh-ea51 boundary. the soullt-N$I boundary, Ihe
up~r-cast boundary, the Iower-cast boundary, the up~r- nonh
boundary. the lower_nonlt boundary. the IiOIlth-wnl boundary, the
nonh-west boundary, Ihe up~r_weSI boundary, the lower-west
boundary, 1M upper_uti! boundary, the IowCT-tOUth boundary.
They continually spread for enr and ever, Tiley a", Ihe Arnn of the
Universe.
2. Twelve Elementals: HV ZCh TY LN SO TzQ. Enarave them , (a,,'e
Ihem, weiab them, permute Ihem, IranspOSe: Ihem, and with them
depict Ihe twelve constellations in the UniVl!:iie: Arin, Taul"\Is. CXm-
ini , Cancer, Lro, Vil}O, Libra, Scorpio, Sa,.ittarius, Capricorn.
Aquarill5, and Pisces: Ihe lwelve months in the Year. NilSl.l1. IYilT,
Sivan, Tamil':, Av. Elul. Tish",i. Mar-cheshv. n, Kislev, Te>-"t:I, She-
vat, Adar: and the twelve d irtt"lOn in Ihe Soul: two hands, two feel,
SEFER Y01;IR.A.H
two kidneys. the spleen, the liver, tile pll bladder, the hemMSS. lhe
kiva, and Ihe IwrkAioll,
[How does one I"'mtute Ihml? Make Heh kins. bind a crown to
it. and with it depict Arin in Ihe Univese. Nissan in the YHr, and
Ille ri&hl hand in the $OuI, male and (emale,
[Make v .v kin&, bind a crown 10 it, .nd with it depict Taurus
in the Unive~, Iyar in the Year, and the left hand in the Soul.
[Make layin kin" bind a crown 10 it, and with il depict ~mini
in lite Univen." Sivan in the Year, and Ihe richt (001 in the Soul.
[Make Chel kin" bind a crown 10 ii, and with il depict Canter
in the Uni\'cne. T.mu~ in lhe Year, and Ille IdI fOOl in Ihe Soul.
[Make TCI kina. bind a crown 10 ii , and wilh it depict Lro in tile
Universe, Av in the Year and the ri&hl kidney in the IIOIIL
[Make Yud kina. bind . C'I'OWJl 10 ii, and with il depict Yir'JO in
Ihe Univ...,.., Elul in the YHr. and tlte left kidocy in Ihe Soul.
[Make l.amed kina. bind a crown to ii, and with it depict Libra
in Ille Universe, Tilhrei in Ihe Year, and the liver in Ihe SouL
[Make Nun kina. bind a cro"'l1 10 it, and with il depici Scorpio
in the Universe, Mat-(heshvan in Ihe Year, and Ihe spleen in llle
Sool
[Make SoImekh kin" bind a crown to it, and wilh il depict Sq,il.
tarius in lite Universe, Kislev in lite Year. and the pll bladder in Ihe
"'" [Make Eyin kina. bind a crown 10 ii, and with il depict Capricorn
in the Universe, Tevel in the Year. and Ihe irm.u u in lite Soul,
[Makc Tzadi kin" bind a crown to it, and wilh il depict Aquarius
in lhe Unive~, Shevu in the Year, and Ihe Iei.all in Ihc SouL.
[Make Kuf kin" bind a crown 10 ii, and with it dcpict PiKeS in
th e Universe, Adar in the Year. and Ihe korUba" in the SouL]
), Three Mothen ...,ltich Ire three Fllhers, from which eman..e fire,
breath and ""aler. Three Mothen. seven Doubles, and Twdve
Elementals.
4. ThC5C are the lwenty-two !ellen which founded by tbe
wn'C
Blessed Holy One {Yah. YHVH of Hosts, God of Israel. lite Livin,
God, hi&h and exalled] d_Uin, in eterni ly, ...'hOK name is Holy,
(eulted and holy is He],
Chapter 6
I . Three are the Fathen and their olTsprin,. se,'en are Ihe plaocll
and Iheir hosl, and I_lve are Ihe dillonal boundaries. And lite proof
of this, lrue witnesit'S, ate Ihe Universe, Ihc Ycar, and tl>e Soul. He
",
dee.ud Tw~h'e, (Ten). Seven and Thrtt. and He appointed them in
the Teli, Ihe Cycle, and the Heart. The thrtt .~ fi~, waler. and
bl'l'ath; fire above, waler IIflow, and breath, tile dt:<:ree that de<:ides
~I""un IMm . A siln of this ;s \ha\ fire upholds water.
Mcm hums, Shin hilSe$, and Alcf is Ihe decree thai decides
OOWttn them.
2. The Tdi in the Univcne is like a king on his throne. the Cycle in
til .. Year is li ke a kina in the province, Ihe Heart in the Soul is like
a kin, in bailie.
~Aho every desirt', one opposite the other was made by God
M
(Ettle":astes 7:1 4). c.-I opposite evil. aood from lood. evil from
evi l. Good makes evil f«OI.lIizable, and evil makes ,00<1 reco&niu-
ble. Good makes evil T«OIllizable, and evil makes good recognizable.
Good is k~1 for thelOQd, and evil is kepi for Ihe wicked.
3. Th=: each 0'"' sland~ alone. Seven are di vided, three opposite
three, with a deer« d«idillJ, between them. Twelve stand in war:
tll= who love, three ",,110 hate, three who give life, and three who
kill. The three ,,·Ito love IK Ihe hean, Ihe can Ind Ihe moulh; Ihe
three who hate Ire Ihe liver, Ihe pll bladder. and Ihe 101liue. And
God, Ihe faithful King dominal" them all. One over three. three over
seven, seven over t .... el~e, and ~II of them are bound. one 10
another.
4. And when Abraham our father ",:.:ed. he looked. saw, dcived.
underslood. enlJ'3ved. carved, permuted and depia<'ll, and he was
l uocrslful. And the Masler of all , Blessed be He. revealed Himlelf 10
him, and look him in Hil bosom, [kiS$Cd him on the head, and called
him, -M y bclnved-j, He made a covenant wilh him beiw«n the ten
IOC$ of his feet-this is Ihe COVenant of cirrumcision-.and belween
the ten fin&ers of his hands- Ihis it tbe Cnvenant of the too&ue. He
bound the t_nty-Iwo Icllen 10 his to"*"e and revealed their fOllnda-
tioo. He drew them in water, hurned Ihem in fire, agilated Ihtm with
breath. He i&niled lhem with the sevea (planets), and di~ed them
with the twelve constellations.
'VI ate
Copyrighted material
THE LONG VERSION
•
Copyrighted material
'"
Chapter 1
L Will, Ihiny_' ''''' mystical path. of Wisdom enpved Yah, YHVH
of Hosts, God of Israel. the Livinl God, God Almiahly, h'ah and
culted, d well;n, in eternity on biah . and His name is Holy, and He
("~aled His universe ",ilh lhrtt books, wilh le~l, wilh number, and
wilh romml.lnication. [They are] Ten Sdirol 0( Notllinaneu and
twen ty-two foundation lellers.
2. Ten Sdirotlike the number of len fiDle,." five opposite five. The
Sinlul,r covenant i. direo:tly in Ihe middle, like the circumcision of
Ih e IOlllOt in Ihe mouth. and like Ihe circumcision of the
membrum.
). Ten Sefirol o(NothiolOcn: Ten and nOI nine. ICo Ind nol eleven.
U ndenll.nd wilh Wisdom, and pr<>bo: wilh Unden1J.ndina. Di~m
wilh them Ind probe from them. Make a Ihinl stlnd on its essence,
and make Ihe Creator sit on His base, fOl' He alone is the Former
and Creator, and then: is none besides Him . And His measure il ten
a nd they have no end.
4. Ten Sefirot of NothiltJD.ess: Bridle Y01,lr hean from Ihinkin" bridle
your mouth from spt."akillJ.. And if your hean nln5, re1um 10 Ihe
place. as it is written , -And the Chayol t1,InnifIA and re1umillJ.. R
•
m SErER Yn2IRAH
(Pulm.l04:4).
M
14. Fi.'e: He sealed "above. He seleeted Ihrcc lellen from amona
Ihe Elementals and fixed them in His veal Nlme: YHV. Wilh tbem
He SHied the si~ direcl ions. He faced upward and sealed il wilh
YHV.
SiA: He 'iealed -betow. faced downward. and ~ed it wilh
M
YV H.
$even: He sealed easl. raced forward. and sealed il with VYH .
Eiahl: He ..,aled wnt. faced ~bllrd, and ..,aled il wilh
VHY.
Nine: He ..,aled 5OUlh, faced to Hi, '-;abt, and ..,aled it with
YV H.
Ten: He sealed nonh. faced to Hi. left , and sealed it wilh
HVY .
Thrae a~ Ten Sefirol of NOIhinaness: One il the B~llh of the
LivillJ God. twO i. bm.lh from Brealh , thlft is water from hreath.
four i. fire from "-:Iter, above and below, CIlSI Ind ....esl. nonh and
south.
A~I :n
Chapter 2
I. Twenty-t_ foundation letters: three Mot hers. seven Doubles. and
twe!'-e "EJ<,men tal•. And aU of them an: enpved with voice. ,,,n'ed
.... ith b""ath. and SCI in the mouth in five p!a<:a: the !enen AChHO,
GYKQ, OTLNTh. ZSTzRSh. BVMPh, They a", bound to the IOnlut
like a flame bound to II bumin, coaL ACb HO is pronouna:d wilh
the base orthe tOlliuC and the throa t BVMPh is pronounced between
the lips and " 'ith the tip of th e ton,ue. GYKQ is pronounced with
the (back) third of the tongue. DTLh'Th is pronounced wi th the tip
of the tonsue. tosethtr with the voia. ZSTzRSh is pronounced
between the tceth, " 'ith the to n,lJe Iyina flat and sp",ad out.
2. Twenty-two foundation !ellers: They a"" set in the Cycle in 231
Gat es. The eyde OK;Uates bad and ronh. And a sian for this. if in
,ood. the"" is nOthin, hisbeT than deliah l (ONG), and ifi n evil. the",
is nothinllower than the plalue (NGO).
J. Twenty-two foundation letters: He envaved them. carved them.
" 'ei&he<l them. and transposed them . Alef with them aU. And He per-
muted them. and wilh them He fO<lTlcllhe soul of aU Ihat was ever
fonned. and Ihe soul of all thaI eVtr " 'ill he fonned.
4. How'! He wci&he<l them and lransposed them. Alcf with them all.
and aU of them .... ith Alef. Bet with them all. and aU of them wilh
Bet. [rontinuina] likewise wi th all the [Ieuen]. And all of lhem oscil.
late qclicaUy. Thus. they emerce throuah 23 1 Gates. and every thin,
fonned and everythina $!lid emanates from one Nam<:.
5. from 0._ He formed .un-tan«. and He made thaI ..'h~h was
not into that wh iCh is. He carved ""al '10,," o ut of air that ,annot
be I ra'!)Cd.
Chapter 3
1. Thrtt MOlhers. AMSh: Their foundation is the pan of merit, Ihe
pan of liabi lity. lnd the ton,ue of deeRe decidillJ b':I"-cen them.
2. Th rtt Mothers. AMSh : A I""at , concealed, mystical secret. rovered
witb si _ rinas, From them emanale fi"" . ...... ter and bn:ath. They an:
d ivided ., male and fema!e. Know. think and contemplate thai fin:
suppons waler.
1. Th ree Mothers. AMSh : The Pro&eny of Ihc heavens is fin:. lhe
progen y of the air is """ath, and Ihe pfOlCny of the earth is Wlter.
,.
SEFER YETZIRAH
Fire is abo~e and .... aler is below, and brealh is Ihe de<;rte decid;nl
between them. From them were bom Falhers. and from Ihem all
Ihinas ...·ere crealed.
4 . Three MOlMrs. AMSh . in Ihe Universe Ire breath. WIler and fire.
The Ma'·en, were created from fire, the anh was created from
wlter. and Ihe air from breath drridn bet~n them.
5. Three M othe~ AMSh. in the Year Ire the hot. the cold, and tile
temperate . The hot was created from fire. the cold from watC'!". and
the temperate from breath decides bet"'ttn them.
6. Thrte MOll1e~ AMSh, ;n the Soul ~ Ihe head, Ihe belly and Ihe
chesl. The head was created from fire, \h(: belly _. crealed from
..... Ier, and the clIest from brealh de<;ides between them.
1. Thrn: MOIllers, AMSh: He e",",ved them, carved Ihem, permuled
Illem . and Kaled wilh them Ihrte Mothcn, AMSh, in Ihe Universe.
Ihree Mothers, AMSh, ;n Ihe Year, and three MOIhers. AMSh, in tht
Soul, male and female.
8 . He mlde the ),eller Alef kirIJ over brealh. bound a crown 10 it,
permuted one ...ilh anolher, and with Ihem formed lir in the Uni·
verse. the temperate in tM Year. and Ihe chest in the Soul, maIc and
female.
He made the lener Mem kina over "'lIler, bound a erown to it,
permuted one wilh aootller, and with IlIem formed tM eanh in \h(:
Universe, thc cold in the Year. and the belly in Iht Soul, male Ind
female.
He made tile ktter Shin kinl nVC'!" fire. bound. crown 10 it, per_
muted one with anOiller, and with them fonned lbe heavens in the
Universe, Ihe hot in Ihe Year, and the head in tile Soul, male and
femlle.
9. How did He form them? AMSh AShM, MASh MShA, ShAM
ShMA. The heaven i, fire, the. . ir is brelth. and tile anh i .....ater.
M.n', head is fire. his belly is Wiler, and hi' llean i. breath.
10. Three MOlhen AMSh. With Aid He formed brellh. ai r, the lem-
perate. the chest, the tonsue of decree bet~n them.
Wilh Mem: w'ler, tanh, the cold, the belly, Ihe pan of merit.
Wilh Shin: fire, heaven, lbe bol , the head, Iht pan of liability.
Thi s i. AMSh,
Chapter 4
I. St'·cn Doubles, BOD KPRT: Their foundation is life. peace, wis-
dom. wealth . seed. JIlIcc. and dominallCe. They fUlK1ion wilh two
m
'VI ate
SEFE/I. YETZIIlAH
'"10. H~ m~fk Ihe ktler Resh kin, o'~r
peace. bound a crown to iI,
permuted one with anOlher, Ind wilh Ihem H e formed Mercury in
Ihe Universe, Thursd.ly in the Year, and the ri&hl ear in the Soul,
male and female.
II. He made the ICller Tav kina over &JlICe. bound I crown \0 iI, per-
muted one wil li another. and with them He formed the Moon in the
Universe. Friday in Ihe Yu r, and lhe left ear in the Soul, male and
female.
And wilh them He enaraved ""'cn firm.menll, $even earths,
ilCven selS, seven riven, seven deserts, seven dIIys, ..,ven weeD,
$even years. ..,ven sabbaticall, seven jubilen, and Ihe Holy Palace.
He therefore cnaraved the seventh for every desire under Ibe
heavens.
12. Seven planets in the Universe Ire: Satum. Jupiter, Man, Sun,
Venus, Mcrtllry, Moon.
Seven days in Ihe Year If(> the seven da~ of tile week.
Sexen &alI'S in Ihe !K>ul, milk and female, are the lWO eyes, lWO
ear&, two noslrils, and Ihe mouth.
13. ~en firmamenl5 a n: Vikm, Rakia, S~hakim, Zl:V\lI, MJ,'on,
MIChon , aDd AravOl.
Seven earths are Adamill. Tevd, Neshiyall. 1'I:iylll, CI'Ialld,
Eretz, Gai.
And He made each one $Wld alone: The Univenc alone, Ihe
Soul alone, and the Year alone.
1• . Seven Doubles BGD KPRT:
With Bet He formed SlIum, tile Sabbath, tile mouth, li fe and
"". With Gimel He fOnned Jupiter, Sunday. the rialn~, peace and
e.,.il.'
With Dalet He formed Mars, Monday, tbe left eye, wisdom and
fooli.hne ....
With Kif He formed thoe Sun. Tuesday, the riJIIt nostril, weal!b
and pa.,.eny.
Wilh Peh He formed Venu5, Wednesday, ~ kft nostril , 5Ced and
delOlltion.
With Resh He formro Mercury. Thursday. the risllt ea r. VICe
Ind uiJincu.
With T • .,. He formed the Moon, Friday, the kft elr, dominallCC'
and s.ubjuplion.
These Ire BOD K.P RT.
•
..,.,.., m
Chapter 5
1. Twdvc Elemcnlab, HV ZCb TY LN so 120: Their foundation is
siJ,hl, bearin" smell , speecll, laSle. ooition. mOlion, . naer, Ial,lJh1cr,
Il1ou&lll, joy, and $Ie(op.
2. ~lve Elemcntab, HV ZCb TV LN SO TzQ: Their foundation is
twelve Ind nol cleven, Iwd,'c and nOl \lIirteoen. The t_lve diaJOn.al
bounduies peel otT IS si~ orders divided bel",,"" each direction: the
eastern lIpper boundary, the eastern northero boundary, the eaSlem
lower boundary; Ihe southern I,IPpeT boundary, the soulhera eLltem
bol,lndary, the southern 10""", boundary, the western upperboulldaT)l.
Ihe ",esl<~rn southern boundary, tile WHlem lower boundary; \he
northern upper boundary. the northern wntem boundary, the north_
ern lower boundary. ~ oonlinuou.ly spread IIDlil e!cmily of eler-
nities, and ;1 is they lhl\ are the Hei"'l. of the Universe.
4. Twdvc Elementab, HV ZCb TY LN SO TzQ: He engraved them,
carved Ihem, pennulf~d Ihem, weiJh.ed them, IranslK sed them, Ind
with them He formed twelve constellations in Ihe Univerx. twelve
months in the Yellr. Ind tweh~ directo", in the Soul, male Ind
femlle. Two ~joice {Om two slander (WZ). IWO advise (ron),
two ...,joie<: (om ). And Ihey a~ the korla!bon, the teeth, tile tWO
hands and the IWO feet. He made them like a controveny, lie
arnnled Ihem like a war, one opposite the olber.
S. Seven: Th~e opposite three, and one deddinl between them.
And twelve stand in war: Three aUies, three enemies, three
lifepvers, and three killers.
Three allies are the heln. Ihe eaQ and the ~. Three enemies
are the liver. Ihe 13.11. and tile tODJUe. Three lifepven are the tWO
nostrib and the spleen. Th~e killen I~ the two orifices and the
moulh. Aod God faithful KiItJ dominates Ihem all from His holy
DwelliltJ unlil etemily of eternities.
6. One over Ihree, three over seven, seven over lwelve. AU of Ihem
are Inlched, one 10 the OIher. And I sign for th is is Ihe twenly-two
obja:IS and one body.
7. Aod these I..., the lwelve directon: two bands. two feet, IWO kid-
ney" the liver. Ihe pll. Ihe spleen , the MI'OMU, the I«xla!bon, and
Ihe ki Wlh.
8. He rtI.Ide tile lene. Heh kin, over speech, bound I crown 10 ii,
permuted them one with another. and with them He fOTlTlCd Aries in
the Univerx. Nissan in the Year. and Ihe liveT in Ihe Soul, mile and
female.
•
m SEfEil Y£ntll.A.H
9. He made the kiter Va ... kin, o"cr 111001111. bound a crown \0 iI,
permuted Il'Iern one with another. and with Ihem He fonncd Tau"",
in tile Unh"cnc:, lyar in the Year, and the &all bladder in tile Soul.
male and female.
10. He made the kttcr ario kin, over mOlion, bound a CI'(\WTl 10 it,
pcnnutro Ihem one wilh anolheT. and with them He formed Gemini
in 1M Universe. Siv.n in Ihe Year. and Ihe &pittn in Ihe Soul. male
and female.
II. He made Ihe kiter Chd kin, (WeT licht, bound a cro ..m 10 it,
pennutrd them OM ",,;111 another, and with them He formed Cancer
in the Universe. Tamuz in llot Year, ar>d Ihe Mmuu in Ihe Soul,
male and fcmak.
12. He made the leller Td kin, ov~ hnrin" bo ... nd a CI"O"A'Il \0 it,
permuted them One ",-illt anotMt-. and wilh them He formed Leo in
Ihe Unh'cnc: , Av in lhe Year, and the ri&hl kidney in Ihe Soul, male
Ind female .
I 3. He made the leiter Yo.od kin, over action, bound ... crown 10 it,
permuted Ih~m one wi th anoth~r, and with them He formed ViTJO
in th~ Univ~I2, Elul in lh~ Year, and the left kidney in the Soul,
male and female.
14. He made the letter Lamed kina over COilion. bound a crown to
ii, permuled Ihem one wilh anolher, and wilh Ihem He formed lihra
in the Univel2. Ti$hr~i in th~ Yea., and the Jwrhb<ln in Ihe So"I,
male and female.
I~. He made the letter Nun )(illl o~r smell, bound a crown to il.
permuted them one with another, and "'ith Ihem He formed Scorpio
in the Univerv. Chesh,'an in the Year, and the kivaJJ in Ihe Soul.
male and female.
16, He made Ih~ lelle. Samekh )(illl OVef s!rep, bo<Ind a crown 10 il.
permuted them OM- ... ilh IJl<)lher, and ... ilh Ihem He formed Sa&ittar-
ius in the Univerv, Kislev in the Year. and the "",I hnd in the
Soul, male and female,
17, He m.de the letter E~in kin, over . nlCr, bound a crown to ii,
permuted them one with another, a nd with them He formed Capri.
com in Ihe Univerv, Tevet in the Yaf, and the left hand in lM Soul,
mal~ . nd fern. Ie.
18, He made the letter Tradi king over tasle, bound. crown to ii,
permuted lhem one with another, . nd with them He fanned Aqua.-
ius in the Unive...." Sheval in the Yeaf, and Ihe riJhl fOO\ in the Soul,
male .nd female.
'I' ate
'"
19. He made 1M- leiter Kuf kin, over lau&hlcr. bol.lnd • t rown 10 iI,
permuted them 0t\I' wi[h aootMr. and wilh them He formed Piscn
in th e Uni,"crsc, Adar in Ihe Year, and the left fOOl in the Soul, male
and female.
20. He divided the wilnessn and made cadi one stand alone: 1m.
Univ<'1'Soe alone. the Year alone. and the Soul alone,
21. T""clve E1ementalt: HV ZCh TY LN SO TzQ:
Willi Heh He formed Aries, Ni$Sllll, the liver, S;" " and
blindness.
Wilh Vay He formed Taurus. lyaT, Ihe gall, hearin, a nd
deafness.
Wilh Za yin He formed (Xmini, Sivan, th e splnn. smell and tbe
inability 10 smdl.
Wilh Chct He formed Ca ncer, Ta ml.l7, the hcmuu, speecb and
dumlmeu.
With Tel He formed Leo, "'Y , the ri&hl kidney, lasle and
hunJ/'r.
With Yud He formed ViTIO. Elu l, Ihe left kidney, action and
paralysis.
With Lvned He formed Libra, Tim,.,;. the IwrkLoo". coition and
impotence.
With Nun He formed Sro..,io, Mar-<heshVlln, the kiva, motion
and l~mcnet.S.
With Samekh He formed Sapnariu., KisJev, the right hand .
• nl('T and 1"",1< of liver.
With Eyin He fonne<! Capricorn , Tevet, the left han d. lauJ,hter
and the lack of spleen.
With Tu di He formed Aqu;lrius, SlIe""t, the ri&ht foot, tlloll&llt
.nd the lacl< of hean.
With Kllf He fonned Pi.ceo. Adar, the left foot. sleep and
insomnia.
These are the twelve Elementals, HV ZCh TY LN SO T:tQ. And
all o f them are alilched to the Tel i. the Cycle. and the Hean.
Chapter 6
1. Th= Mothen , AMSh ; seven Doubles. BOD KPRT; twelve Ele-
mentals, HV ZCh TY LN SO TzQ. These I K the twcnty-two ]CIICTli
wit h .... hich formed YH YHV H of Hosts. God of I....d. the livinS
God, £1 Shadd~i, hi&ll and cuhed, dwellinlJ in eternity, and His name
i. Ho ly.
"YH YHVH"- lwO (divin~) N.. m....
"Of HOSIS" (Tzar", '.n}--BttauK He is .. si", (01) in His host
(IM,'a )!
"God or !srul" (YSREL}--A prince (StlR) befo~ God (ELI,
"The Li vi n, God"-Three a~ called "Iivin,": the Livil\l God,
livin, wlten. and the lree of life.
"EI"-is h~rsh.
"SlIaddai"-BttauK (He decreed): Unlil he~ is enouJ.h (da/V·
"Hiah"-Beause He sitl in the beiahl of Ihe universe, IDd is
hiah above all Ibe hiJ.h.
"Ellaited" (Njsa) because He supports (naJa) and lusl~inllbose
on biJh and below. All tbat suppon are on tbe bottom , witb IheiT
burden below Ihem, but He is on top. ~nd His burden is below bim.
He supports and S\l$tains Ihe enli~ Universe.
"He dwells in etemily"-Bttause Hil kinldom exisli for eternily
of eternit ies, withoul intemaption.
" Holy is His Name"-BecaU:Ie He is boly. His ministers arc boly,
and 10 Him Ibey uy. "Holy, holy, holy" (Isaiah 6:3).
2. Twelve below, seven over Ihem , Ind Ihree o"er :leven. From Ille
three He founded His abode. And all of Ihem hanl from One and
stand on il. And a . i", of One, He ha, nO 5eC(ln d." He niles .. lone
in His universe. for He is One , and His name;s One. "
J. Three Falhers and their Pto&eny, seven sllbduers and ~ir hOSl,
twelve dillOnal boundaries. A proof of this. truSled witnesses., I~ Ihe
Universe. the Year. and Ihe SolI!.
4. The SefirQ{ of the Univen.e arc len Ind twelve: fire. brellll, ''''''Ier,
seven planels... nd t ...-dve ronSlell"lions.
The Sefirot orthe Year are len and lwelve: oold, hot. temperale,
seven days. and 1~lve monlhs.
The SCfirot orthe Sou.l.~ ten and twelve: the head, (hell. belly,
:leVen ptes. and t ..."clve dirtaon.
5. A rule of len. three , seven and Iwdve, .. nd He .. ppointed them in
the Teli. the Cycle. and the Hean. The Teli in the IIniverse is li ke a
kina on hi. throne. the Cy.::le in the Year i.like a kina in the province,
and the Heart in Ihe Soul is like a kine in battle.
6. The ceneral rule i. th i", Some of theK combi ne with others, and
some are the transpose of others. Some arc opposite of others. Ind
olhers are the opposite of thes.e. If some exist, Others do DOt, and if
others exill. these do not. And all of lhem are IIlached to the Tell.
the ~Ie and the Hean.
7. Al so every desire. "'God made one opposite ~ other" (E«lniQln
7: 14). Good opposite evi l. and evil opposite JOOd. Good from JOOd,
and evil from evil. Good diSttms evil. Ind evil diSttms sood. Good
is stored a"'"lIY for Ihe &00<1. and evil is ",ored a ...... y for tile wicked.
8. And ...hen AbraIwn ourfather, ofl,!o : :1 memory, (2JJ1e, be kxWd,
saw. probed . undefllood. m&raved, carved, permuted, fanned, and
thou&I\t. and he was successfi.d. The Lord of aD. may His name be bk II: 1
fOf eternity. ~ HimsdflO him, b-ed him on the head. and ealIed
him, ~ AbraIwn My fri,:,od" (Isaiah" 1:8). He made a W 'ClWlI with him
and his teed f~. "And he 1Jelieo,~ in God. and He romiden:d ;1
ri&lltcousness" (Gene5is 15:6). The Glory of God was dru tul upon him,
as il is wrillen. - Befon: I fOt Ihat )'011 in the womb. I knew)'Oll" (Jemniah
I:S). He made a W"\'enant m..«n the ten fmzom of his bands, and ibis
;$ the Holy Ton,ue (the Hebte"'lan&uagc~ He bound \he tto"Cllty-two Jet,.
~ on his 10IlJUe. and the BWmd Holy One n:vaoIed 10 him \heir mys-
Iny. He.mw lIIem in "'"liter, ianited them ...ith fire, q:itated them with
breath, burned lhtm with \he ~ pIaneu. and dim:ted lhtm ...ith the
I",'e!\"e wnstcllaliom.
9. HeavCTl fire ileal head. Air brealh lemperale chest. Eanh waler
w Id belly. This i. AMSh.
10. ~Ium ~bbalh mouth. Jupiler Sunday I'iJ.hI eye. Man Mondlly
left eye. Sun Tuesday riaht nO$tril. Venus Wednesda y left nO$lil. Mer-
c.. ry Th .. ~ay riah l ear. Moon Friday left ear. This is IlG O KPRT.
II. And Ihne Ire Ihe t...,lve oon!lell al;ons: Aries Nissan liver siahl
bli ndnen. Tau",.s l}Car p.II hearilll deafness. Gemini Sivan spleen.
vnell inabilily 10 smell. Cancer Tamw: hemsns speed. dumbness.
Leo Av I'iJ.hI kidney USle hun&er. ViTIa Elld left kidney action paral_
ysis. Libra Tishrei kt;w~n coition impale""". Scorpio Mar-
cl!nh\'ln kio-ah molion lameness. Sqi ua rius Ki,lev ri&lllhand. IJllCr
lack of liver. Capricorn Tevel Idt hlllld la uall ler lack of splee".
AQurius Sht:vat rilllt fOOl thou&htlack ofbeln. Pisce1' Adar left foot
sleep in!oOmnil. This is HV ZCb TY LN SO TzQ.
12. "Three enemies are the ton&ue. the liver. the pU. Three allies are the
eyes. the ears. the heart. Three ijfqiven are 1M leeth, 1M nooe, and thc
SJllr ill. Three Icillers are the lwolowtr orifICeS and 1M mouth.
13. Three nOI in one', wnlrol I re hi. e)"e1', his can a nd his "ose.
ThT« &00<1 !oOllnds to the ~IT are I bleuina. cood news, praise. TIlT«
bad ti&h tS to Ihe eye are In adllltTcss, and evil eye. a rovinl eye."
Three cood sistlts are humilit)", a sood eye. a lrue C)"e. Three evil 10
the tQnl1K are lIande. , talcbcarin& sayinlone thinl wilh the moulh
and another in Ihe hean. Three aood for Ihe tonlll<: are sile""",
",-atchinllhe 10n,Ue. and lrue speech.
'YI ate
Copyrighted material
SAADIA VERSION
,
Chapter 1
'"
I, With thirty-two mystical Paths of Wisdom envaved YH. YHVH
of Hosts. God of Israel. tile Livin& God, EI Shadai, hish and exalted.
dweltin, in (temily and Holy is His name. He CTtale<i His uni,·c~
willt \hree boob. with Knpl, number and leHina. Ten Sefiro\ of
NOlhin,1IelS. Iw(nl)'_I ...·o klters: three Basics," scven Doubles,
1"',lve Elementals.
2. Ten Sefirol of NOlhin&nen. like the number of ten finlers, Ii,'c
opposite five, with a ~nilary covenant directly in lhe middle , as lite
circumcision of Ihe conguc and mOillh. Their masu", is ten wllidt
have no cnd: A depth of be&innilll and a dcpllt of end. a depth of
plOd_nd a depth of,vil. a depth of.boyc and a depth below.• depth
cast and a depth W'l'S1. a depth north and a depth. south. And the uni·
tary Maslcr. God faithful Kin&. domin.," them .n (rom His IIoly
abode. unlil Clcrnily of eternities.
3. T,,'en ty-t wo letters, a foundation of thrtt Basics, ...,"en Doublfi,
and twd"e Elementals,
The three Basics arc AMSb. Tlleir foundation is a pan of merit,
a pan of liabi lit) , and Ihe tongue of d«ree d«idin& bet","n them.
The seven Doubles all: BGD KPRT . Their foundalion is life and
peace, wiodom and ",'ca1th, seed, grace and dominance.
TIM: I,..el~e Elementals af<: HVZChTYl NSOTrQ. Their founda-
tion is silht, llearina. W1cll, speech, taSle, coilion, action and motion,
haughtiness, laughter. lhoutVl1, and sleep.
4. Throulh them YH , YH VH of Ho.ts, God of Israel , the livinl
God , EI Shadai. H ilh and E!<ahed, dwellinl on hilh and HoI) i.
His name, enlraved three Fathers and their prOJeny. ",",,,en dire.:-
lors and their host. and twelve d ialona] bounda rieo. A proof of
Ihio, tru e wilnesses af<: the U niverse. Year an d Soul, a rule of len.
three, seven and twelve. He appoint ed t hem in the Teli, Cycle and
Hurl.
Chapter 2
I. Ten Sefirot of No!hinsneu: len and nOt nine. ten and nOi eleven.
Undersland with Wisdom, and IK wi$e wi th Undentanding. DiS«l'1l
with them. p~ from them, and know, Ihin k and depict. Stand a
thinl on ils e...,nee, and make the Crntor sit on His basis. And their
measure is ten Which have no end. Their vision is like an appearance
SE~ R YETZlRAH
ofli&/ltning, and their limit has n.o end. His WOld in t!Km Mruns and
return ••M they punue Hi. sayirIJ li ke a .... hirl ...;nd, and before His
throne they prostrate themseh'es,
2. T went y-two Icners are a foundation of three Basics. seven Dou-
bles. and t welve Elementall. The three Buies, AMSh. arc. Ifelt.
roncn led. mystiCl1. exa lted II«ret. from wh ich emanates tire.
bruth Ind water. from which every thin, was created. The seven
Doubles function with two ton,ues: &i Bhe i. " Gimd Ghimel.
Dalel Dhalel , Kaf lUIaf. Peh Pheh, Resh Rhesh, Tav Thav. Hard
and soft. they Ire .tr0lll and ",'uk structure •. They are doublel
because th ey Ire opposites. The opposite of life il dellh , the o ppo-
.ite of peace il evil , the opposite of .... i!dom i. foolishness, the
opposite of wealth is poverty. the o pposite of seed is desolation.
the opposite of 1""« is u,liness. Ihe opposite of domi n.n« 11
subju,ation.
) . Seven Doubles. BOD KPRT: Seven and n01 six, SC>.U and I\Ot
eish!. Six ribs for si x orders, ""ith the Holy Palace precisely in Ihe
centCT'. Blessed by God from His pla«. His il the place of the uni-
verse. and the universe il not His pla« .
• . r-lve Elemental s: Twelve and nOi eleven, twelve and not thir·
teen. The twelve dillonlli !)ttl orr
10 six orders, separalinl betwttn
one d irection and IIlOthCT: an east ItOnh boundary, In east uJlPl'r
boundary. I nd east lower boundary; a nonh west bouodlf)', a ItOrtb
upper boundary, I nonh lower boundary; a wat ,""th boundary. a
west upper boundary, I west Io_r boundary; I §OUth eHt boundary,
I south upper boundary. a south lo.... er boundary.
5. Wit h them YH. YHVH of Hosll. God of Israel. the Li vinl God.
EI Shadai. Hi lh and Eulted. dwellinl on hilh and Holy il Hi.
name. enlflved t""enty-Iwo leners and set them in the Sphere. He
oscillated the Sphere back and fonh, and Ih e Sphere (cont inues
to) oscilli le bad and fonh .....s a siln of this. there is nOlhinl
hilher than delilht ( ONG). and there is nothinl more evil than
plague (NGO).
6. Proof of this. lrustwonhy .... itnesses, are the Universe. Year and
Soul. TIte $efirot of the Universe are ten; lhree are fire, breath and
water; ijCven a", the se,-en planets; twelve Ire the t_lve a)nSlell.-
tions. The Scfirot Qfthe Year are len ; three I re lite cold, lbe hOI and
the temperate; seven arc the lCVen days of creltion; twelve Ire the
twelve lunar months. The Sefirot of lbe Soul are len; three are the
ltead , chest and belly, seven are the seven ptes, twelve are the twelve
directOR.
'I' ate
·i~1
Chapter 3
I. Ten $efirol OrNolhilllneu: Bridle your moulh from s~akin&; bri-
dle your hean from thinkin ... And if your hean runs, relurn to the
place. for it is wrillen, "runnit\j an d retuminl- - Reaaniillllhis I rov-
enanl was made. An d their measure is ten .... hich hive DO end. Their
end is imbedded in their bqinn in" and lheir bepnnini in their end,
like I flame ItUtched 10 a bIImini 00«1. Know, think and lkpict that
the Crealor is One, Ihere is no other. and before One .... hal do you
count?
2. The t""enty-two letteR are I foundation of three Basics. sevCD Dou-
blH, and I_lve EkmenLl.ls. The three Buia" AMSh, Ire fire, breath
and water. The offsprin, of heaven is fire, the offsprin, of lir is
brealh. and the offsprin, of eanh is Wiler. Fire is above, water is
below, and b.-eath is the d<:<:ree Ih.1 dC(:id.,. bct~n them. Mcm
hilmI, Shin hiues. and Alef is the decree deddit\j bctw~n them.
AMSh is sealed with six rinp and cocooned" in male and female.
Know, think Ind depict \hll fire upholds water.
1. The i1Cycn Doubles. BGD KPRT. function with two tonplCi: Bei
Bhei. Gimel Ghimel, Dalct Dhalet, KafKhaf, Peh Pheh, Rtsh Rhcs.h,
T.y ThIY. They . re soft and hard, a struct ure Ihlt is stronl and ...-eat.
They.re doubled bec.uiIC they.re opposites. l1t( opposite of life is
death. the opposite of ~ace is evil, the opposite orwisdom is foUy,
Ihe opposite of wealth is po'"t:ny, tite opposite of seed is desolation,
tile opposite of &net' is usJinns. Ind the opposite of dominance is
suhjugation.
4. The t.... el~ Elementals are HVZChTY LNSOTzQ. He cn .... ved
titem, carved titem , pennuted them, wei&hed them and transfonned
them . liD.... did He ~rmute them? Two stones build two houses,
three bIIikl six houses, foor build 24 hOUSCI, five build 120 hooses.
six bIIi!d 720 houses. i1Cven build S040 houses. From then: 00 ICI out
and clkulate that .... hich the mouth cannot speak and the ear cannOl
hear.
5. With IhCilC Yah, YHVH of Hosts, God of !srad, the Livin, God,
El Shaddai, Hiab and baIted, d_llin, in eternity on hijh and boIy
is His nanN:, en.... ved.
YaH: iotwo nalnC$.
YHVH is four namH.
Hostl: (T:r.avaol) means lhat He is a silll (Of) in His hosl
(l:a)"II).
Israel: He i. a prince (sa,) before God (£1;.
•
SEFER YO~JRA H
Chapter 4
I. Ten Sefirol of NothinJlleu: One is Ihe Brealh of!be Livi", God ,
Life of worlds, His throne is ntabliu.ed from eterni ty, blessed and
t..nedictcd is His nlme. constantly, forever and ever. This is the Holy
Brealh (Ruadr HaKodesh).
2. T ....o: Breath from Breath. Wilh it He enarued and carved four
direcl;ons (breaths) of hel~en: CIS\, wesl. north. and $Oulh. And there
is . brealh in eKh onc of Ihem.
3. The twenly-IWO IettCI10 are. foundation con.isti", of tbree Basics.
"Vcn Doublo. and t"",lve Element.ls. The letten are Clrved with
Bre.th. enaraved with voice. Ind SCI in Ihe moulh in fi\"c pla".,.,
AHChO, BVMP. GY KQ. DTLI'fllt. ZSTzRSh. AHChO is pro-
nounced .... ilh Ihe base ofthc ton~.nd tbe throal. BVMP is pro-
nounced between the lips.nd with the lip oflhe lonlUC. GYKQ Uli.
lizcslbe fi rsl lhird oflhe 10001ue. DTLNTh is pronou~ wilh half
Ihc lonlue and the voice:. ZSTzRSh is pronounced t..la..,cn the leelh
.... ilb the lonlue ~eepinJ.
4. The twenly·IWO letlers: He CTIJI"lI~ed Ihem , carved them. ~nnUled
them. wciahed Ihem. lransformed them •• nd from thcm He formed
IlIlbll WIS ever fonned and all Ihal would evcr be formed. How did
He pcnnute Ihem1 Alef with Ihem aU and.1I of them .... ilh Mer: Bet
"""""'ixl
'"
wilh Ihem Ill. I nd all of Ihem ",-ilh Bel; Gimd wilh Ihem all, and all
of Ihm! ...·ilh GimeL All of them oscillite C}'diatlty, Ind emer&e
lhroUJlt 23] Gates. As I resull, C'o'erylhi lll spoken and everything
formed emefl(S I S one Name.
S. He fonned subslan« from chaos, and made that ""hich was nol
into that which is. He carved veat pillars from ai r that (annot ~
grasped.
6. Three: water from breath. With il He enaraved and carved ch_
and vo id, clay and mil"<'. He mlde them like I ,arden plot. He carved
them like a ......11, and He d«ked them like a ceiling, He pouml waler
on lhem. and it became dUSI, •• il i. wrinen, MFo, 10 ,now He 5Iid.
become eanh M(Job 37:6). Chaos i,the azure line thai , ulTOVnd,lhc
universe. Void ronsi,l, of Ihe splil nones imbedded in Ihe abyss,
from ~t,,-een " 'hi<:h ..."te, em~ ] 1 i, thus written. "He spread
w
over ;1 I line of Chaos Ind .Iones of Void (isaiah 34:] I).
7. Four. fire from "'''tu. With it He en&n1"ed Ind carved Ihe Throne
of OI<>l"}' Ind III the hosl on hiah. It is thus wrillen , MHe mIkes His
anlel. of breaths, and Hi. ministen of flaming firew (Pulms
104:4).
8. He chose three Elementals, and IItt them in His areal name. And
wilh them He scaled Ihe six directions.
He sealed Mabove: faced upward. and sealed il with YH V.
Si~: He sealed M~I<> .....M faced down"'ard, and sealed il with
YV H .
Seven; He sealed eaSI, faced forward , and sealed il wilh HVY.
[ ilbt: He sealed "'·est. faced back'to"atd, and scaled it with
H YV.
Nine: He sealed 5Outh, fattd to His rilbt, and sealed it ...-jt h
VYH.
Ten: He sealed north . faced 10 Hi. left. and sealed il wilh
V HY.
These Ire Ihe Ten Sefirot of Nothi nanc:ss. One is Ihe Breath of
lhe Livinl God. tWO i. breath from B...,.th, Ihree is wlter from
breath. four is fire from water: above and ~Iow, easllnd "''CSt, north
and soulh.
Chapter 5
l. He made Alef king o'"er bre.th, bound a crown to ii, permuled
one wilh Inother, and wil h it He fonned lir in Ihe Un;""I"1t, the lem_
,.
SEFE R YETZIRAH
perale in I~ Year. and the chest in the Soul. male and female. The
male w;lh AMSh•• nd Ihe female lOIilh AShM.
2. He made Mem kina o~er water. bollnd I crown 10 iI, permliled
one wilh .nother. Ind 1OI;lh il He formed eanh in Ihe Uni ~ene . Ihe
cold in Ihe Year. an d the belly in the SouL
J . He made Shin kina o~er fire, bollnd a crown 10 iI, permuled one
with .nolher. and with il He formn! ""aven in Universe. Ihe hoi ;n
Ihe Year, and the head in Ihe soul.
As male Ind femlle, how did He permule them? AMSh AShM.
MShA MASh. ShAM Sh MA. Helven is fire. lir is bmllh, earth is
water. Man's head ~ fire, his hean is breath. and his bclly is walcr.
4. The IiC~Cn ()QublC'l are BOD KPRT. He eosraved them, carved
Ihem. permU led them. ",~iahed Ihem, and transformed Ihem. With
Ihem He farmn! planetS, days and plCl.
5. He made Bet kin" bound a ero....,., 10 iI, permliled them one with
Inother, and with it He formed Salurn in the Universe, t~ Sabbath
in the Year. and lhe mouth ;n lhe Solil.
6. He made Gimd kin" bound I crown 10 it, permuted them one
wilh anolher. and with it He formed Jupiler in the Uni,·cne, Sunday
in Ihe Year. Ind lhe ri&hl ~ in the Solil.
7. He made DaICl killJ., bound a crown 10 it, permuled them one wilh
another. and with it He formed Mars in Ihe Universe. Monday in the
Year, and the left eye in the Soul.
8. He made Kaf kin" bollnd aCTO"''''' 10 il. permuled them one wilh
anOlher, Ind lOIilh il He formed the Sun in Ihe Universe, Tuesday in
the Ynr, and lhe risht nostril in Ihe Solii.
9. He made Peh kin" bound a crown to it. permuled them one witb
anolher. and ""ilh il He formed Venlls in the Uni~ersc, Wednesday
in the Year, and the left noslril in the Soul.
10. He made Resh kin" bound a crown to il. permuted lhem one
wilh another, ami wilh it He formed the Star of the Slin (Mere\lry)"
in the Universe. Th ursday in the Year. and the ri&ht ear in Ihe
SoIiL
II . He made Tu kinl. bound a crown to it. pennutn! thl:m one with
.nother. and wilh il He fonned Moon in the Universe, Friday in lhe
Year. and Ihe left ear in lhe Soul.
12. He separated Ihe wilneucs and stood them alone. one by onc: the
Universe .Ione. Ihe Year alone, and the Soul alone.
Chapter 6
1. ~ twelve E~men!als are HVZChTY LNSOTzQ. He envaved
them, carved them. permuted them, "'"ci&hed them and tnmsfonned
them, and with them He formed oonstell"ions, months and direc-
10rs. Two are extn:Im', two mbilize. two advise, and lWO ",joice,
They an: the korknxlllJ" Ihe \wo hands, and the two fecI. He made
Ihem like I dispule, and amm&ed them like a balllc. ~And God made
one opposite anolher- (Eoclesiasln 7:14).
2. TII=: each one is 11o~. Seven an: divided, three aaainst three,
wilh one u tile deer« decidinl MIWffO them. T ..-elve: twelve stand
in "'"ar, three aUies. three enemies. Ihl'l'l' killers, and three lirqi~rs.
All of them are altaclKd, onc 10 another. A silll of this ii '''''enly-lwo
objects In d one body.
3. How did He permute them? HV VH. ZO! ChZ, TV YT, LN NL,
SO OS, TzQ Qn.
•. He m.ade Hell kine. bound. ero ...·" 10 iI, PClllluted one wilh
Inothn, and wilh it He fo~ Aries in lite Univcl'$C, Nitan in Ihe
Year, and Ihe li'"cr in the Soul.
S. He made Vav kin., bound a crown 10 ii, ~rmuled one with
anolher. and .... ith it He formed Taurus in IN: Uni verse, lyaT in IN:
Year, and Ihe pU bladder in tN: SouL
6. He made byin kin&. bound a crown to il. ~rmuled one wilh
aROIN:r. and wilh ;1 He formed Gemini in the Universe, Sivan in IN:
Year. and Ihe ",leen in Ihe Soul.
1. He made Chet kin&. bound I crown 10 it. ~nnuled one wilh
anOlher, an d wilh it He fonne<!. Can"". in the Un iverse, Tamuz in
tN: Year, and the m~ in Ihe SouL
8. He made Tel ki n&. bound a <.T(lWn 10 ii , ~nnute<!. one wilh
anothe., Ind .... ilh il He fonned Leo in the Un iverse. Av in the YHr.
a nd IN: n&hl kidney in the So\II.
9. He made Yud kin&. bound a cro .... n 10 ii, ~nnuled one wilh
another. a nd ..ilh it He formed Virgo in Ihe Universe, Elul in the
Yelr. a nd IN: left kidney in tN: So\IL
10. He made Lamed kin&. bound a cro,""JIIO il. po:nnUled one wilh
anolN:r. and with il He fOTl1\ed Libra in Ihe Univl"1V, Tisrei in the
Year, Ind IN: i«NknJtJn in IN: Soul.
SEFER nTZIRAH
Chapter 7
I. Air. temperate. chat. Earth . cold. Nlly, Heaven. hot. head. And
Ihis i, AM Sh.
2. Saturn, Sabbolh. mouth. Jupiter. Sunday. riabt e)~. Mal'$, Monday.
left rye. Sun. T~....,j · y. nlht noslril. Venus. Wed~y. left nostril.
Sun Star (Mercury), Th ur'$day. riabt ear. Moon . Friday. left car. And
this is BGD KP RT.
3. Ari«. Niwm. liver. Taurus. [yar. pli bladder. Gemini, Sivan•
• plttn. Cancer. TamUL ' rrfft'SJI. Leo. Av, rilht kidney. Virao. Elul .
left kidney. Libra. TishK'i. J:orkma". Scorpio, Mar..::hesh van. kivalt.
Sa,;n ariu •. Ki1k~. nabt lLand. Capnrorn. Tcvel. left hand. Aquarius,
SlMovat. ri&ht fool. Pi sces. Adar. left fOOl. And tltne aK' H V Z Ch T
YlNS O T~Q.
Chapter 8
L Wilh Aid He formed these: bK'lth. air. temperate. chat. and the
ton,UI: of d~ree. Wi th ~ [ em He formed these: water. earth. cold.
AppnwA< / 29)
belly, and tbe pan of liabilit y. With Shin He formed these: fire,
hea~m , hot , head, and the pan of ~rit.
'VI ate
Copyrighted material
APPENDIX II
The Thirty-lWo Paths
of Wisdom
~ Thirty_Two Paths ofWilldom an: prnented IS different slales of
consciO<lllnen. This p~nUllion most probably dillIes from the
Gaonic period (71h- IOth ~nlurin.). and is found in I number of
K..bbalisl;c texts.' Thes.e stales an: also ",lolted \0 the 32 tima wilen:
God's name appears in the first chapter of Genesis.
Copyrighted material
,j14" did/
'VI ate
Copyrighted material
APPENDIX III
THE GATES
•
Copyrighted material
The 221 Gales 01 Rabbi Eliezar
Rokeach 01 Wormes
The tables on pllft J04.3O'I are prescnled here exactly as Ihey
are printed in the Prtem ~1 edition, (1889), of Ihe commentary on
&fer Yelzirah. [n onkr to den"c the proper arrays from lh_ tabk$,
lines ronllininl only duen !etten must be doubled. The other linea,
which conllin twenty-two kmers. Ire left as they ~. All the ICllers
are then paiml inlo &TOups of two. One can see how Ihis is done by
comJW'in. the "ble for Alef ....il11 tile array aiven in chaper 2:4.
The$( are the 221 Olles Ihal Rabbi Elieur prescribes for U~ in
creali",_ GoIem. They can also be IIsed from less advance:! medita-
li,'C ncn;:iK1 When ulilizin, any klier, the appropriate .""y m\lS\
be uK<!.
~ P P. g 0 2 a ~::l;! a Q:n!S~:tp~2Q F.!: t: ~ ~ f"~;: I:i t; J; t.'ttl='E~h!;
'J~~!?~l't~ <~':~"'Sq c 51 f.I~ R-!:!l ~ r::{ ~J h~ 2 ~~ ~ Q
Ii~~"
0;
1:"" -1=:. r;;;.~b~t'PQE~
}~"1 Eg"!'~'
< ,.,~, ,,'1·H~~·
EIlt-rF .. !l c;~ =: "~jf;~"~§'if
~E .. l!t=~lC~ro ~".t,.:-i'"
_" oI"2i:1>§.5P .l'p p2 .. ... fr"t to ~nt I! pP "J'.,., , ~
.l!:~ ~ ~ Jl Ii- ~ !' ,
H •• , :' .l'l8 , it~;i~ II'
~H
i t [
~
~ ~
~
~"i;'.Eg~ .
! ' = I· 8 ~.. ,t{.1i
" ~
~fjt~{:.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"
~~"!·l!'~IP-)I; fl ~liI1!~li~~I'=! Pf!""f!S>'"Y6 P- ,,:>.a;:;ap!>':i"
p t: .. 8 !Utl! ~ t"l """'8!"
~~~ Q I>I "",P"',
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Printed Editions
Mantua 1562,4' 108 ff. First Edition. Includes commentaries of
Raavad, Rambll n D, M .,.~ BotTil, Sa.1dia B, Elieur of
Worm~1 B. Major lUI is the Short Version, but also includes
the Lon, Version as an aj)pendixlff. \02-108 ). Published by
Yakov ben Nahal; Guola.
LcmbnJ, 1680. Contains six venian! of the leu '
Amsterdam. 1713, 12' 48ff Abo includes 1M ZLJ/Jaric Sifra
lHTtf'fliula an d para of the T.lm",dk lra(:! of Tamid. With
introduction by R. M<»he (ben V.... kOv) Hqiz.'
Constan tinople, 1719, 8' 23 Jf. Includes abridaed commentaries of
Ru""d, Ramban D, and the Ari. PublisMd by Yonolb bn!
Vukov IlIId Yeshiah Ashkenazi.
Con51a n!illQP!c , 1724, 4' , Same as 17 19 edition.
Zol kiev, 1745, 4' , Contains 111 commentaries in Mantua edition. as
_II as that of the Ari. Also contains 1.01\1 Yenion.
!(ore\:<, 1779. 4' 36 if Includes commentary Ol:llr HaShl'm. allrib-
utrd 10 R . Moshe ben Yittthak of Kiev (q.v. ).
Grodno, 1797. S' , Includes commentary Pri Yil:chai<, by R, Yitzcllak
Isaac ben Yekuliel of Mohelo ... (q.v.).
Grodno, 1806, 4" 86 ff. With ... ocalized le~1 and all commentaries in
Mantua edi tion. Also includes commentary of An and R.
EJi.hu Gaon of Vii ..... (Gno). Edited by Men.them Mendel of
Sklav.
Dyhrenfu rt h, 1812.'
Vil..... -Grodno 1820, 4". Conlai ns al! commentaries as in Mantua edi-
lion. as well as Illal of Gra.
SIIlonica. 1831.'
Cracow. 18- .'
Prque. no date, 4". Contains commentaries as in Manlua edi tion.
Lvov, 1860, 4- 170 ff Com ains com mcmaries as in Mamua edition,
a$ well a$ Otza. HaSh~m, Pri Yilzchai<, and commentaries of
An and Gra.. Published by flenjamin Biscllko.
•
SEFER YfTZl RAH
•
l ivomo. 180 1.
'"
lj vomo. 1303.
Livomo,
Li vomo.
Li vomo, 1821.
Livomo. ISH.
IkI&Tlld. 184 1. 12" 127JJ Edited by R. Chaim ben Da vid
Chaim.
Li vomo, 1342.
li vomo. 1861.
Veni~.
1866.
ISMer) Kiryal MoM. Kabbalillic and oIlier n:adinas for Ihe nilbls o f
the Sevenlll of Passo'Oer, ShavUOI. Hoshanah Rlbba h. and Ihe
Seventh of Adar (ann iversary of Moses' death).
Constantinople, 1136.
Livorno, J141.
Constantinople. 1754.
Veni«.1756.
Pi.... 1786.
Li,-omo. 1195.
Vienna. 1801.
L vomo. 1805.
Vicnna. 1822.
u vorno, IUO.
Livomo. 184!.
u vorno. 1865.
Vicnna. 1870.
l ivomo. 1892. go 259 JJ
Uk"lt'}' r:.;, KQI Be. Waruw (Levi n-Epstein), no da le, p. 105. Fi .... '
and Last sta nzas. as p,lrt of Shavuot niJ,h1 ~rvic:e.
Misbnarol (vocalized), Venice. 1704.
Same, but in a IIOmcwhal d iffeunl version. Venice. 1737.
N("tdo.f BaKiJdnlr. Contains An (Gra) Venion, 1000lhcr willi lara
R(J.biIa, Jdr(l ZUla. and SifT" INT:lfi~lll. as reciled on Shavu.ol
ni",l. Introdllction by R. Moshc H"';L'
Am5lerdam . 1721. ~61!
Is mir, 1738.
Ismi r, 1746.
lsmir, 17 5S, 8' 70 1! Fl'(>m manu.cript in li brary o f R.
Iknya min HaLe ... i . edi ted b y R. Shuliman ibn Ochna (~
Chcmffl £ lcI!im).
Shlltl"y TZi(m, ediled b y R. Na th an NOlch ben M05he Hano\·C!'.
Prayen and read ings for va rioll5 occuion. based on 11K Icach_
inp of\he An , Prque, 1662.
121 SEFER VITZIRAH
With
IISSi, 1843.
Zitamar, 1&49.
Livomo, 186 1.
Vienna, 1864, 142 pp.
Lvov, 1863.
LVQv, 1811 .
Prumysl , 19 17, 12" 1% ff With commentaries, l'rxNCIt
Sltao.rim, SlrtUlTt'}' Ora". MiUlSi m Torim, as ~Ills Tikkun
JlaKdali, by R. Nachman of Breslov.
New York, 1974. Reprint OftM above.
Tikkun LQyi SJrafll<H. RudinI' for SltavUOI oishi aa::ordinl 10 ~
order IrnllJ(d by R. Shlomo AIK.abIIL Contains fin! and last
stanas of the Lolli Version.
Vcni~. 1648.
Venia, 16~4.
Venia. 1655.
Vcni~ Hij9.
Amsterdam, 1700.
Amsterdam, 1708.
hnh , 172), .. 70 If
Funh. 1728, 12" l 83ff
Venice, 1730.
Venice. 1739.
Furth , 1739, 96 ff
Venia:, 174), 97 ff
Frankfort 1m Mei n, 1751.
Sulz1)ach, 1754.
Venia:, [766. 1·42D
Vienna. 1194, fit 141 ff.
Vienna, 1803.
WYorno, 1805.
Blizorb., 1808.
Sklav, 1814.
o,tl'OL 181 4.
0$11'01. 1823.
Blilo,-b. 1824.
Livomo, 1831.
'VI ate
SUER ,(ETZ!IlAH
Manuscripts
Je ..... i!.h Theol(l&ia.1 &m inary, Ml. Adler 1327. 161h ~n lury.
Short V"1ion
Brili!.h MU'fum, M,. 736, If. 4Qa-4Jb. 13 crnlury. Earlirsl and be~1
tUI of this vers;,;.n.
Pari" Ms. 76J.8 la-la. 13th tomtury,
Parma. MI. ])90,ff. 36b-J8b. 141h crntury .
Pari" Ms. S02,ff. ~7b-S9b. 14th century.
Hebt e .. Union Colleae, Cincinalti, Ms. sn. 141h «nlury.
British Museum, Ms. Gaster 4U.JJ 29.-32 •. 14th century.
V.tican, Ms. 441 ,ff. 11 8._122•. 16th (entury.
Oxford, Ms. 2455 . .0: 3a-8b. 16th century.
CIombridae, MI. Add 6<47• .0: 7b-9b. 16th crntuf)'.
umg VersiOn
Vatican, Ms. 299, ff. 66;o·7I b. Very ol d, prnbably from !be 10th Of
11th century. Th is is tM earliest and best complete manu5Cript
of Sefe!' Yetzirah. Is Ilso contlins In introduction by an early
lnonymo\lS ...·riter, publishro by Yisne! Weinstock. Tllrbilz
32:157 ( 1963). SilUli 54:255-56 (1964). The text in thil manu-
ocript is often referrulto in R, Ychudah BllTCC'lon;'s rom men-
IIry on Seler Yettira.
•
Oxford, M •. IH1,ff 11>. 12• . 13lh ~nwry.
'"
British Mlllleum , M$. 7 ~ 2,ff 79._8Ia. 141h cenlUry. Contains same
text iI$ Vatian 299. willi some errors.
Bri tish MUKum, M s. 737,ff 3791;>.38 7•. 161h cenll,lfY.
Saadia Version
~ni1a Fr.I&m~nt, Taylor &hedner 32.S. Illh century. This manu-
script Ipparently oonlairted the enl ire &fer Ycnil'llh on . si n-
a1e~. Published by A.M. Habermann, Sifltli 10 ( 1947).
~nila Fragment, Cambridgc-Weslminltcr, T;llmud 23-2~_
British Museum , Ms. 7H .ff 2 12,..216 •. 141h Cl:nlUf}'.
Paris. MI. 170, If 4la·45a. I Sth century.
Commentaries
Aaron (1x:1I Yote!) Sarpdo, 890-960. Portions of Ibis commentary
are tiled by R. MOSM BoITiI (q .... ).
AbrahlUTl (lxn Shmuel) Abulafia. 1240-1296. Galt Naul. Wriuen in
Sicily in 1289. Munich . Ms. 58. Printtd in part in Wtr
HllPcliyah (&itT' HaKo/lalt), KOrell. L784 , PI'. SOC-S6e.
_ . Otuu Eden lIaGanuz. Also <:(Imains imp<)ru.m aUlobiQll'aphi_
cll malerial. indudinll lisl of Ihinetn e~rlier COmmentlria
on Sefer Yellirah used ht Abul~fia. Wrinen in Sicily in \285.
Oxford, Ms. Or 606.
Ahrah.am tltn David, ·Th~ RIlIl_ad. · Commentary printed in lhe
M~nula. 1S62 edilion. as well as lotelher wilh Rinl~rs
Latin translalion (Amslerdam, 1 6~ 2), and included in mOSI
major ~ubsequenl editions. Ahhouch the Raavad i. usually
idenlified IS R. Abraham ben David of Posqu~re!;
( 1120-1198). one ofthe early Kabb.oli.lS, the accepted opinion,
both amonl KabbaLists and hi.tonans, is that he was not th e
author of this commentary.' F rom internal evidence, it was
wrinen in 1430. Many authorities attribute this commentary
to R. Yosd HaAtukh ('I. v.) or R. Yosef (ben Shalom) AsIlke-
nui (q .v.~ ' Thi s COmmentlry appears to follow the sy"em of
R. Yitzchak Bardashi (q.v.). oo
Abraham ibn Ezra, 1092-1167. This commentary is """ntioned by R.
Abraham Abulafia. where il is described IS combini", pbilOS()-
pht and Kabbalah ." In a leiter to hi. brother, Ibn Ezra himself
,. S£FER YETZIRAH
'VI ate
Chakammri. See Shabbaui Oonnolo.
'"
ea"id e babila, I Sgg..166L E~i~l~nl in manuscript belon,in, 10 Ihe
laIC Wanaw communi ty.
Donaoh (or Adonim) Ibn Tamim, 10th century." Written in " air-
.... an, T unisia. in 9SS. based on the lecu.l~ of I)onal;h's mas-
ler. R. Yi lzcha k Israeti. Originally wrillen in Arabit, bul l~5-
laled in several , -ersions inlo Hebrew. Menlioned by Abraham
... bulana. Finl commentary on Short Version. ExiSlenl in
manuKripts Berlin Or S· 243:4. Paris 1048:2. fraaments of
" 'hieh "'~re publislled by Owrze5 Vajda. " A translation by R
Nachum HaMaarabi is in Munich. Ms. 47. and parts ofil_n:
published by Yehudah l<'ib Dukes, in his introduct ion 10
K iln/f a HaM~. Tubing.,n, 1846. The romplete lext was
published by Menashdl GI'Q!.SIxI'l on Ihe basis o r Oxford, Ms.
2250:2. London, 1902. 8· 79 PI'. Reprinted, Israel. 1970.
Eliner AshkenlUi. This rommenla11' is mentioned by Abraha m
Abu lafia. wl>o says that it is deepl y Kabbal istic. No known
ropy existent. "
Eliaer Ha-Danhan Ashkenazi, Men tioned by Abraham Abul.fi •.
" 'hO ,utr$ that he did not see it. E>:tant in manuscript , Munich
uip.zig lO. Some identify this wilh commentlry of R. Elieur
Rokeach of Wormes. "
ElieIer Ha-Kali r, around sixth ~n t ury. Con~pt' found in Sefer
Veuirah all: _"en in to some of his poetry." So~ authorit ies
place R. Elieur HaKalir as early as tile sooond ~ntury. identi-
fyin& him with R. Eliezer. SOn of R. Shimon bar Vochai.
author of the Zohar.'·
Elieur (ben Yehudah) R okea~h of Wonncs (Garm iu). 1160- 1237.
His tll:ltmcnt to the first th= cha plen is hi&hly my~tical. but
the astrolOllical coneepts in the laler chapten is taken la!'Fly
from C"a/{{lmOlli . He is unique in utilizing 221 Gates, Tllller
than 231. Brilish MUM'um. Ms. 737. 161h century . Edited by
R. Tzvi Elimdekh Shapiro of Dinov. and published by his
II1Ind5Oll. Moshc Shapiro. a. J>enW, HaRA M dillFm iw" Pn:e-
m)'s1. 1888, 22 fJ
_ . Abridltmenl of11\e aoo'·e. finl PIIblisiled in the Mantua, 1562,
edilion.""
EJehanan Yil:z~hak (ben Vakif) of London. middle 131h century.
Based on lectures of R. Yil:zChak of DampicTIl:." Fulda
Llndes.bibl>Otllek, Ms. 4, published by Georges Vajda. KoI:><n:
al roo 16:14S-1~7 (I ~66).
Eliahu ben Menachem Ha-Zeken, around 1000. Often cited in com-
mentary of R. Moseh 801til.
Eliahu (ben Shlomo). Gaon of Vilna, MThe Gra," 1720-1 797. Con sid-
,
S~FE II. YETURAH
,
lis of Ni!1aO{ Malwral MiPragu~, Piottrkov 1909.
Moshe Botril, early 15th ~ntury. Written in 14(19, and Quotes many
earlier sources no kmatT in e~istence. " Vatican, Ms. 441 , 15th
century. Fint printed in Mantua, 1562. and in mosl subse-
Quent editions.
Moslle Corde...ero. ~The R.mal:,w 1522_1570. [)ean of the Safed
School of ~bbalah. Existent in manu.cript, Jerusalem S'
2646." The So:fcr YelZirah i, also di5CUSSed extensively in tile
R.mak's olher ....urks.
MO$Ile (ben Maimon) Maimnnides., wTI>e R.mbam,w 1135-1204. The
e~i$tence of such a commentary is mentioned by R. Yechiol
Ht ilpem in !min HaDcrot (~f(Uim., ~f" Y~lzirah). No ropy
i. known to exist. and in ",nent. the Rambam'. philosophy
.ppears to oppose Ihe appTOllch of the So:fer YetziBh .
MMhe ben N.cbman, Nachmanides. wThe Rlmban,w 1194-1267.
One of the leadin, Tllmlidistl .nd ~bba1iSts in his time.
Commentary is mentioned hy Abqham Abularla, JCTU~m,
M,. 8' 31O:28,ff. 259._26Ib, publilbed by Genhom Scho\em,
Kir)'lZl ~fn 6:3SS-410 ( 1910).
_ . Ramban B. Commentary fint printed in MantUi. 1562, and in
many subsequent editions. ~ nOt coincide with many
quoted (I CrptS from Rlmban's commentary cited in early
SOUTttS, as d()e$ pre"iO\ls lex1." Accordin, 10 mMt authoriti\'$,
this is commentary of Ezn Of AZliriah of Gemna (q. v.).'"
Moshe ben Yaakov of Kiev, ]449-]HO, OrZQr HaSlr~m. Fint pub-
lished in Koren, 1779, and included in many laler edilions.
R. MMhe of Kiev is also kno,"1n as author of Shoslum Sodol
(Koren. 1784).
MMhe (ben Yaakov) ibn Shoshan. Written in 1511. Munich. Ms.
104."
Moshc ben Yosd of A1isaL So:c Saadi •.
Nlchum HaMllralri. See Donash ibn Tamim. Yitzchak Yisraeli.
0 101 U·Moodim. See YehMhul Eisenbach.
Ot:ar Ede" HaGamn. See Abrahim Abulalia.
O,zar HaSlrm •. See MMhe or Kiev.
Peretz (ben YitIChak) Ha-Cohen. 13th century. In his noted work,
MaarncJr~r Elokur, Mantua, 1558, he mentions that he wrote
I commentary on Sefer Yetzirah.iO
Pri Yitrchak. See Yilzchak Isaac of Mohalov.
Raavld. See Abraham ben Dlvid, Yoscf HaArukh, Yoscf
A5hkena~i.
Ramal:. ~ MOShe Cort!evero.
Ramban. See Moslle ben Nachman. Azrial, EZIll.
Rlmbam. ~ MMhe Maimonides.
SEFt.R YI;'TZJRAH
'VI ate
_ . Trans.lated inlo Hebl'l:w by anonymous author in the 11th cen-
'"
lUry. Vltian, Ms. 23 6. 16th cenlUry. This is the lell quoted
in commentary of Yehudah Baruloni (q.v.).
_ . Translated inlo HcbTt'W by R. Moshc ben Yosc:f o f AlisDa.
Parma. Ms. 16!;, 14th cenlury. Url'lll! oflhis IraMlalion "'ffe
publislu~d by A. Jellinek, Lilll'falurb(all d", Orimu (OLB).
1811 , p. 224.
_ . Sudi. B. Fir1l puhliobed in Mantua, 1562, and in many laler
editions. On Lon, Version, cannol be al1ribuled in ;1$ enli~y
10 Su dia Gaon , si nce i\ me ntions m any Lalcr sa&e$. such as
Abraha m ibn Ezra and R . Yaakov T am. Mo.l probably ",,"lien
by a 13th century Ashkenazic $ClIolar, J'IOUibly named Sudi • .
A mOrl: complete venion, includillj an introduction not in
primed editions is existent in manuscript, Munich 4O.1erusa-
lem 8" 1136, ISth cenlury."' lnlroduction WIS published by M.
Stcinsdmcider. Maga:in fib' die Wi5YlUChajl tin JudenlumJ.
1892, p. 8J.
Shabb.:ltai (~n Avru.am) Oonrtekl. ~3-982. Chalwmolli or
1IIchktJmOlli. Wrilt~n in 946. and memionro both by Rashi."
and by Abraham Abllbfta. Panna, Ms. 41 7, I Sth ""Dtllry. and
Mun ich. Ms. 36:2.'" First published by David Castelli, as II
Co",m~II/O di StJblxlIJrtJi Donnolo SLIT Libro dr/f(l CTftI~iOlle.
Firenze. 1880,8". Also included in Warsaw, 1884, edition, pp.
62a-74b. Published tOlCther wi th Kit!ur Ch<7>'C1 HaWa"".
JeruuJ em, 1945.»
Shklmo ibn Gabriel. I021-IOW. In a num~r of his poems, he ebbo-
nun on the doctrine5 ofSefer Yeuirah. Sec Shi~ Shlomo ibn
Gabriel, edited by Bialik and Rawnitz)::i, Berlin_Tel Aviv,
1924-29. Vol. 2, No. 58.
Shklmo (~n Shimon) Toriel. 16th cent ury. Oxford, Ms. 245S:1.
Shmuel (~n Saadi~) ibn Motot, 15th ceDtUry. M n hol'l"l' Nelil'Ol. Vat-
ican, Ms. 225. 15th century, Paris, Mss. 769: 1, 824:9, 842:2.
Shmud (~n Elisha) Porteleane. london. M •. Je .... Collq~.
TIKhkamoni. See Shabbatai Ooonelo.
1OIdot Yiluiulk. See Yitzehak Kahanah.
TzahalLel (~n Netanel) Gaon. Some of his poems upound upon the
teachinp of Sdcr Yernrah. Publilhed by DavidloOn, 1I~
Union Colfq~ AnnllaJ j:225-55 (1926). with additions by E.
Baneth. M OIIaluc/rrijl for Gt'1Chichl~ lind Wi_ "sch(lj/ dn
Jwkntums (MOWJ) 7 1:426-42 ( 1927).
Yaakov ~n Nisim of Kai r...-an. 908-9 76. Philosophical oomm~ntary
based on teachinp of Yinchak Yisradi. and much like com-
m~ntary of Oonash. Munich . Ms. 92:20. Published by
Yehudah Leib Dukes, KUfIITn II(lMr.wrt'I. Tubiogen, 1&46.><
,
m SHlOll YET'ZJ RAH
,
Nahor. Jerus.alem. Ms. 8' 404. published by Genhom
Scholem. Ki r)'Cl/!kf1'l' 11:179-196 (1 9H).
Yilzchak luria. MThe Ari.M 1534- 1572. leadin, luminary of the
Sared school, and the mOOt influential of all Kabbalisl$. Com·
mentary weaves le.chinas of Sefc-r Yel~il1lh into the Ari', gen-
C1"III scheme. Fint published in ConOiantinople, 17 19. Zolkiev,
1745. and in Other editions. [n-clu-ded at end of Waruw. 1884,
edition. A discussion of the Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom by
the Ari is found in Lilcul~ ShIJ!!. 1783, ff. 27a. b. and .Iso at
end of Wanaw edition."
Yiuchak $ali Nahor (haae the Blind). [1 6().1236. Son of R. Abra-
ham !Jo,n David of Posqueres, and master of A2riel and Ezra
of Gerona (q.v. l. Consider«! one of tile lV<'atest of all
Kabbalisl •. His is 0"" of the few commentaries 10 openly diir
CU"ll tile meditative aspects of Sefer Yct.irah. Rome, Anaelica
library. Ms. 46. 15th «mury; Oxford. Ms. 2456:12; le~dcn,
Ms.. 24:16." Publi shed b~ Gershom Scholem, al end of
JlaKabOOfah Bd'rowtlCt'. Jerusalem. 1966."
Yiuchak [!NllIC (b<'n Yd<utiel Zalman) of Mohalov. 1728-1806. Pn'
Yilzchalc. Kabbalist ic commentary bas.ed on Zohar and tcach-
i"", of the Ari. Fint published in Grodno. 1797, 8' (also
including additions 10 his B«'" Yilzchalc. his commentary on
Ti*un~ Zd!ar. fint published in Zolkiev. 1778). Also
included in l vov, 1860. edition , and in second part of War_
saw, 1884. edition.
Yiuchak (b<'n Shlomo) Yisraeli. 830-932. One of tile ,",atesl sase'
of his limc. Accordin& 10 his disciple. Oonash ibn Tamim
{q. v·l. Saadia Gaon (q . v.l would often consult him ,.;th ...,p.ro
to scientific matten. PhilOSOphical and a!lronom ical COmmen-
lary, much like thai of Donash ibn Tamim (Q.v.). ori&inall~
" 'ri llen in Arabic. hislent in manuscript. BibholC(]ue
National. Paris, and in translation by Naehum HaMaarabi."
A frailllent oflhis translation was published by Yehudah leib
Dulees. Kum'ef lIaMaesoffl. Tubinp:n. 1846. pp. S-IO.
Yo ...f (b<'n Shalom) Ashkenazi, 14tll c:..ntury. Acoordina to mosl
schOlars. he i$ Ihe author orthe commenlary printed under Ihe
name of Ahn.ham b<'n David (Ruvad, q.v.). Pouibly idenli-
fied ...·ith Yosef HaAruleh. EAistent in manuscript, British
Museum. Gastc-r 415 , 14th «ntul)'."
Yasef Edels (Ashkenazi). Bi,lull YOH! Kabbalistic commentary on
Gra Venion, base<! on teaehinp of 1M Ari. $alanica, 183 1,
12jJ.
Yosef Ha _Aru kh (Joseph the Tall). 14th c:..ntury. See Yosef Ashke-
nazi. Abraham ben Davi d. R. Mo.he CoroC'o'cro cites the com-
,.
SUER Y£TZIRAH
Translations
Arabic
Saadi. 0""", 891 _941. In Sidduf c{Saadia Oa.>n. 01ford. Ms.. o.vid
Oppenheim 101 0."
Czech
Ot. klf Orie.e, 1921.
English
Alfred Ecknh .. im . 1825- 111&9, in his book. TIl, Uft anti Timn of
Jnus. London. 1884 (and other editions), Vol. 2, pp.
692-698.
Irvinl Friedman. Th, Book of erN/ion. Translation and comments.
Samuel WeiS<"T, York B.-ach. ME. 1971.
Isidor Kalish, -~her Yezira, a Book on Creoation or the leMsh Met-
aphl"liCli of Remote Antiquity." With prd'.ct, explan.tory
notes and Ilonary. [n A SJ,;,tch of the Talmud. New York,
1817. 8' 57 pp.
Phineas Mordel, !kftr )"tziroh. Heb..,w tut .nd tn.nsl.tion in. MW
"enion deduced 10000ny by the auillOr, but not accepted in
kabbalistic or Idtolarty eireles. Philadelphia, 1894,2. 10 pp.
_ . TIlt Origin <J[ Uttl'TY and NummUs ocrordiltg /0 the &for
" 'Uirall. Same as abo"e, but introduction OOIILl ins important
historical data .nd quotes si&nifJCInt m.nu~ript •. OriJinally
published in l",~sh QUlnerly Review, Ne .... SeriH 2:~S7.~13
( 19 12).3:'[7-544 (1913). Published separately, Philadelphia,
1914. Reprinted by Samuel WeiS<"T, York Beach, ME, 191$.
Saul Rlr.kin . in Kabbalah in Ifq,.d and lllUlgt. Hebrew tut with
Eflilish Ind Yiddish translation. New yo .... 19S2. 80 pp.
Illustrated.
Knut Senrin.. The BooI: of F()I'malion (!kpher Yn zirall). With intro-
duction by Anhur Ed .... ard Waite . New York. 1923. 62 pp.
Reprinted by KtlV , New York. 1970.
William Wynn WestC()l1 , !kphtr Ynzirah. tile Bock of F{)f'matiun.
Oased on tn t of Ritlan,,"1 (q.v.). London, 1887. Reprin ted
with addit ional notes IS a vol\lme of ColI«lilMS IItrmalica.
london. [893. 43 pp. Printed sepanlld)" London, 19 11 , 49
pp. The 1893 edition .... u ..,printed by Samuel Weiser, York
B.-ach. ME. 1975.
French
~Tlrd
".Enclusese (Papus ), !kin Ye/tira, Plril, 1888.
Karppc. Eludt Ju' In Originn . .. du ZoIuJr, Paris. 1901, pp.
139-1~8.
Me)·e. Lamben, Commtnlai,.. sur I~ !kf" rairah: Our Li.,..CTt-
aliOlt par It GaOIt SaadjD dt FaYN"m, Paris, I 891 , pp. 1·1 I.
s.Ef't1l. YFTZIRAH
German
E. Bischof. 1913.
Lazarus (Eliner) Goldschmidt. DaJ Burn dl!r ScMpfuf1g (~phl!r
Jqirah). With introduction. bibliotmphy and notes. Heb.-.:w
tats compa.-.: aU printed editions . ... valuable .-.:fe.-.:ntt work."
Frankfon am Mei n. 1894,92 pp.
Yohann Frcidrich von Meyer, DaJ Burl! )rzirah: die A/rlv
Kabbalirlischen UrurtdN dn H rlJrtJn. Heb.-.:w text and Ger-
man translation. Leipzi&, 1830. 4' Mi pp.
Friehn. Alben von Thimu.. Die lIarmQltlka/e Shmb<JIik d~
Allnlhums. Analysis ofSder Yetzin.h. K()ln, 1868-76, Vol. 2.
Hungarian
ltaliall
S. Savin i, 1923.
La/in
Athanasius Kirscher. [1""Juo Oedipus AI't}'PIIlOU 2: I. Rome. 1653."
Johannes Pistorius (John Piltor). 154~1 608, "Libn tk Crralloru
C"ba /iJI;n;J. HebraiC'! ~~ Jnita. Auchore Abrahamo,~ in
hi. Artis CabGliJliCQe 1'1« r.tl RLr:ondilae Thl'OlOgial "
Plri/()<f()f!hiae Scripol'Um. Some scholars aUribute Ihis lranm-
tion ta Johann Reuehlin, or to Pau l Riec; (an ap<lState Jew ...bo
also translated Yos.ef Gikatalia's Shoor". Orah into Latin). "
At CM end of British Museum Ms. 740, tbere is a nOle that it
" 'as ""rillen in 1488 b~ a Jew, Yitzcllak of Rome. Basille. I Sa7.
Vol. I. pp. 869-872.
Gulelmus PO'Ilellus (William POllell), ISI()..IS81, Abnlhami Palri-
ar~lra Liber Jeziralr s;.,., FormaliQltls Mundi. I'rltTibt13 qUide,"
A /)rahilmi u mpoN prinhnlibilS rewJ/alus. Fi rst t/lmslation of
Sefer Ycuirah . This translation is bawd on the Sllon Venian,
but in a somewhaC different fQrm tban HIlIl published in Ihe
Mantua . 1562 Wi t;Qn. A similar version is found in some ear-
m
Yiddish
Saul Raskin. KahN/ali in If.".d "lid Imagf. Conlains Hebrew text
with En&lish a nd Yiddish translations. New York, 19S2, 80 pp.
Copyrighted material
NOTES
•
Copyrighted material
.,
Introduction
L Tll i. is diK\l~ .llenl!h in my }.In/ita/ioll (l~d KllbbaJah, and
M Milation and tht Biblt (Yon Srach, ME: S.mud Weiser),
2. Kuzari 4:27 .
1. Barttloni. p. 100. This is in Ihe Bri tish MUSI'lIm, Ms. 600. s..e
M. Mal'lllliO\, Cala/~ of lJeIJrrN and Samarilan Mal1wsc,ipls
in /hf BritisA M uU'\u'l, Vol. 2, p. 191. Also in the Vatican, Ms.
29'9. and Ille British Museum, Ms. 751. Another account also
statH 1hal Ra v.. lind Rav Zein. pzcd (r:zajah) in the S4er
)nzirair for \11= )"U~ (B.redoni, p. 268).
4. Thus, in a num~r of placn in Ihe le~l, lite word Tzar i. used
instead of Yamu. This is m~ easily read in Ille imperative
lhan in the third person past.
S. SanhnJrin 67b, Bam:loni, Ioc. cit. Also ~ Slr.uklran ArukJt. >«m
ONh 179: 15, Sif tt!y Coil.." 179: 13: nhUl'Of RIMibaz HOS.
6. Yehu dab Mn NilSim ibn Maj ka, Cammell/ary 0/1 SeIer Ynzirah
(Oxford, Ms. I B6), QUOted in Geo~ v.,;.Ia, Juda ~n NiQim
ibn MaIka. Plrilowphe j~if Marocailf, (Paris. 1954), p. 171:
Genhom Schokm, Kobba/oll ond its Symbolism, (New York,
1969). p. I 77. Then: is O(!me qUr$lion as 10 wheiller Ihis Razirl
is the same IS the publillhed edition. AbBham Ab!Jlafi • • IO(!
menlions havin, studied this book, sef: SIr",'tl NniW)l
llaClrakhmall, in A. lel1inek. PlrUosop;,;t und Kabba/alr, (Lrip-
l i" US4), p. 21.
7. A. M . Haberman n, Sinai 100lb ( 1974) with reprd 10 Geniza
frqrnent Tl ylor-Schechter 12:5. This is tile Saadil v enion,
which is Ihe lonsest.
8. Yisrael Weinstock. "LeBiru. HaNuoach $MI s.,fer Yrui rah:
1fomiri" 1:20. nOle 41, 1: 16. note 31.
9, ~ Ne'n/or 8 aKocksIr. Sh(l(lre)' nian.
10. Ban:eloni. p. 105. In the Pinons lransiatioo , chapteR five and
iix are combined . IS well a. in many ma.nUOCnpls.. S«
Weinstock, Ioc. cit .• nOle n. The divisions in Donosll ."d
Cllakomoni "l'Te put in by the printer. and do not exin in the
anginal manuscripl"
I!. Sudil Glon. Comml!ntary on Seier Yelzt,all, lranslated iOlo
Hebrew by Yosd Kapach (Jcnlsalcm , 1972), p. 34.
12. See In troduction to RiJzit /; SIIjmuslr~ mil/im in TslluW)l
R(lJllba 413; R. Moshc COfdc\"CT"O. Commenlll ry on Zollo. SIIi,
,
"' SH'ER YE'TZIRAH
,.
J+I SEfEil. Y£TZIR,o,H
,
~ SUU YFrZtRAH
••
.,
74. We thus find thai a disciplf of Rabbi Yehudah the Prince
npounded upon the Marta". before him, YmlJluJJmi,
Cllagigalr 2: L (91 IOP~
75 . SQ in '1l;utfol. Gilli" 56a "Agl"." Brl::ll0r0t 19. "INHat:h.· Cf
Rash;, Sanhedrin 6~b, Shl/bl)Qt] I., £",.j" 63., PmK/Iim 68 ..
Al1Jkh. "Tiltu..· T. 'Ium J. Ibn Ezra on (Xncsis n:9. where
olher interpretations are found. Some say thaI il indicates a
"lh= ~ar old calf," while olhers, "a calf a third Ille size of its
mother."
76. Sanhedrin 6 5b. C[ Pesik/a ChadD/a. B~ HaAlidril$lr. 6:36,
..'lIkh Slales that they are the longue for the Saturday niabl
meal.
71. SanWr j" 67b.
78. we Ihl,l5 find the lenn, "1'1.Iin of medicine" (hil/cJrol nt/iw),
lmuha/m i, Y"""m(ll 8:2 (4 7.), Sifri (247) on Ikuleronomy
23:2. We al so find an npression, "h is a rule (ha/akllah) Ihal
Esau hates Jacob," Sifri on Numbers 9:10. Ruhi on Genai!
B:4.
79. Baruloni, p. 268. Valican, Ms. 299. 661..
80, Bartdoni, p. 103. Cf rad Ramah. Stl1lhed';11 6~b.
81. N" £/011;111, quoled in G. Scholem, HaKabbalah shft &1"
H~I~I1IUllah V~SelrI Abrahal1l Abulafta (Jerusalem, 1965), p.
2 17.
82. nhUW1l Rashba 413.
83. Sallhedrin 17b. Pum~d;ta wa'I fOllnde<! ;n Ihe ~ar 2~~ , and
stood for some 800 yean.
84 . CMgigah 13a. Cj Mah arua, ad loc NOle that on the bollom
of Ihi, folio. Rav Ythl.ldah txpla ilt$ Ihe ChuhmaL
8S. 5« Rl$hl ,h, ad loc.
86. See nole 34.
87. Shabbal 1~6a. See nOle 30. See chapter 3. note 38.
88. Kiddl4l1ill lIa. Some sa y Ihal lhis NallH: is the rssence of
MaaHh 8"n hil, TOM-f«, Chagigah lib "Ain Donllin.· The 42
leller name i, actually ~rived from the finl verses of Gcnnis,
..,., Zoha, I:JOa. r;l<unry 7-eJtar 13a. l'PIi)IG/t 37b, $LIn
HaKanah (Cnr.cow. 1894), 88.&, Pa,dn Rjl1lonjm 21: 13. It is sil-
nifieantto nOle Ihalthe inil;al letten or MaaHh B"~.Jhit, Mem
Ikl , spell 0111 Ihe number 42.
89. Slrabhal 4la.
90. Ibid. 12a. Sola!! 33a.
91. Clragjgalr 11&.
92. Rash; staIn thai Ihe lexi of lfakJuJIOI Rabatai was the n.sence
of Maauh Marko.a, Rash; (in Eyi n Yaakov) on CMgiga/l lIb.
See note 72.
).48 SHER Y£T'ZJRAH
93. See oote 16. Also see kyah Mrlrrm",.. "ZcItar 2:J8 7b; Tikll~
ZciJar 70 (l12b end). [t il I;anifkantthat most commentaton
on S,f" Y~zirah. ~en th~ u latc a, R. Moshe Botril, ","110
li"ed over a a-ntury aflCT the 7..(J/rllr ,,-as published, do nQ1 quote
the Zohar.
94. Chllgigah 13,.
95. f"ushalm i. Sanhedrin 1: I 3 (4 I I). Bunhil Rabbah 39: I 4. &4:4,
1lJl)chul1I(J. L«h L«ha 12. Thil is also stated anon)·mou.ly in
Sifr; (32) to o-.utuooomy 6:S. AI\:H Rabbi Nalltan 11: 1, Rabbi
Ela;ar said mil",. Ihinp in Ihr namr of R. Yasi ben 2imn:t. if
8fflJiJIol 32b.
96. Midrruh Trlrillim 3:2 (17.). Bracketed pOrtion is II<)t in III edi_
tions.The,.., i. al..,. tCKhin, Ihlt God placed Ihe s,kt" Yrlzirall
in the Torah. see IHt lIaMidrash 6::J(i.
97. Sanhn/ri" 65b.
98. CIIII!in 122a end.
99. Sara Alnzia 85b. See below. chlpler ) , notc It. R, Zeira also
had his throal wit Ind ",-al mirKUlousty I"CIUrT«ted, Mqillall
1b.
100. Barceloni, p, 268. q IHt HaMidrasIl6:36,
10 l. Sa"lItdri" 65b. Rash i saystlu!.t they ""«:nTiplilhcd this usin, the
S(frr Yrt:ln:th, .100 xc Raavad on 6:4, Mrlzarr[ LlChakllmah
27a, b. The,.., ill question as to whethcr Ihi. ""as an actual CTe-
alion or In illusion, if Yad Ramal ad Ioc. . Barceloni. pp. lQ2,
103, 1lIlu>'Qi Radba: ):405, IHt YQ.J(/ on Y"",,, l)mh 179,
Tshlll()/ Ma/tllr$hlJl 98. Some Iuthoritin here ...,..d R.bbah
instead of Rava. sec Yaako~ Emdin. ad Ioc.• M1fJOlios on Bahir
196.
102. Ballir 196. Cf Al'OdallfaKtxksh 3:9: Hillel orVerona. 1IIgmulry
HaNrfi':Jh (Lyck, 1174), 9b, RiUIlban on ~nesil 2:1.
10). Cf nhll>'Qi Chadram fui 93.
104. PeIi}'Qh 2c: ~He ,..,"ened his name (RItt ) and c,..,aled (BIU).~
lOS . Ta"um 1. on (knesi. 1:27. The lum 612 il aoo the numerical
VIIIII<' of Bril, mean;n, covenant. See below 1:3. 1:8.
106. It il lianificant lhat, when ..Tiuen !.h;. way, AbBCadabra CQn_
lains the word BRA (Bal'll), mean;n, to Creale , while the
.... maininl kttcrs add up to 26. thc numerical value of tile Tetra-
vammalon. Abrac;odabra is usually written in dC5CCndinl order,
and similar devices arc found, sec Rubi, Al'Odah Zarah 12b,
Ratiel 40b (139). Ora on St:.kr )'"/tirair 2:4.
107. ~lUloni, p. !o2.
108. QUOlw;n Barcelon;, p, 104. Also see nOle 72.
109. SalOOn Ms, 2 18. p. n described in Ohd Dawid (Oxford , 1932),
p. 27 1. Also see L Zunz, Lillffmurgndidlu (Berlin, 186~), p.
~.
Chapter One
1. Xuzari 4:25 (4 31-44a).
2. Ruvad, ad lac.• Tilam'Y Zellar Chadash llle. Peliyajr 213a.
l'rIrdn Rimonim 12: 1, MfMI ShMri", 5:2:6 , Elz Clmim. Sluulr
HgTul~", 2.
1. AVOl 5:1.
4. BaMidoorRabbdh 14: 12.
5. Rosh HtJSlmMh 321, M~ilIgh 21a, ZoMr 1:1 5a. 1: 16b,
Tikl/llry ZoMr 12 (2 71). See note 185,
6. Ruvad, ad loc.. Peliyajr 49c.
1. Bghir 106, Ban;e1oni, p. 106, Tikunry Zclr.lJI")O (7S&).
8. See chapter 6, not~ 57. C/ Isaac of Acco, ad lac.. p. 19i1i.
9. Barttloni, p. 107. Isaac of Acco, Otzgr eMi", (MOKOW, Ms.
GuenzburJ 77'), p. 11 lb. Cf. Btlhir 147. TlKre is thus & U2di.
~fl:1! Y£TZIRAH
tion that God placed the ~for >nzirWr in the Torah. !Itt Bn
HaS4" 6:36. Clraka",on/ (in Wana.w, 1884 edition), 661. Also
see 01;01 DtRabbi Akib<:. end of Bet.
10. hliyah 2d . Reclnti (Lvov, 188()), Ik , 1fJ/f'Tf'1 IItJTiJw, ClI~lo<
IItJScd 2.
I L. Su R. Y<*f Tzayyach, E~" IIrzSltoIttJm (Jen.asaJem. Ms. 8'
416 ), p. 241. The ~M:ral formuLa for the amoy dUeussed below.
1:2, is I I n- I, and 32 is OM: of the only i'IO"1:n of two thaI ful·
fins Ihis ...·hen " i. In inle",r.
12. ZoIlar 2:3 11 bollom. Su CIIOlem TtJk)rnil (A msterdam, 186S),
p. 101, Hirrh on p".]ms 119:3S. Also see Ramban on ~kr
}'tf:iralr (Jerusalem . Ms. 8' )30: 28, published by G. Sd.oIem,
Ki rJ'tJ/ &for, Vol. 6. 1930), p . 4{)212, Isaac of Acco on MIn
Ynziroll 28313 .
ll. Su Raavad. S..dia, Ramban, ad /oc. ALso see ~is 18:1 4 ,
Exodus 1S: I I. 8: 18, Leviticus 22:2 I , Deuteronomy 17:8, Judces
13:18, Psalms 139:6, and commentaries ad kx" especially
Hirrh.
14. ZelttJr 3:193b.
15. Ibid., Priiyalr JO..
16. BtJlri r 141 , Matlmclrn Elo11"l (Mant1.ll. 1558). p. 83b, Tiklin<'Y
ZoIltJ' 32 (S7a), 19 ,"Ib).
17. &llri, 14 1. Su ClrtJgiralr 13a, Ecclesiasticus 3:21. Note that this
is attributed to s"n Sirah, who, accord;n8 to tradition, was
involved with the Sd'er Yelzirah . Reprdinl qUOIinS from s"n
Simh, see Ritva (in £),111 Yaakoo ), IJawJ Balra 98b.
18. Slratlrq Oralr 10. Also see Tikullq 7PltJr4 2 (Sib).
19. RtJzirl9b (22 ).
20. See Ramban, p. 4{)2.
21. A>(JJ 4: L. Ari, ad 10f;" SIIatl, MatlmtJ"Y CIwZtJI (Tel Aviv. 196 1),
p. )la, 68a. Cf. Ralhi on Exodus 3 1:3.
22. 7bldcl Yatlko» Y<U(f. PPk"tky (Warsaw, 1881), p. 18b. q uoted in
~fn Batll Slrt'm :tlw, Xi Tnzr, note L.
23. Tamld 32a. See note 37.
2" . Ibn Ezra on Exodus 31:3, Hirrh on Genesis 4 1:33.
H. Slratlrq OrtJlI 8. Also see Tllr, Orad CIw;m S.
26. Pardn RimCflim 27:27. Su ROl e 65.
27. B"akJtci 6 I a, Tikll....,. ZoIuJ, Db. 14b, I 7• . See note 8_
28. See chapter 6, note H . Also see ZoIrar 2:201 • . Wllt'n the ..'Ord
ClwkllmtJlr is spelled QUI, it adds up to 613 , R"zid 12a. The
letten of the word CluIkJrmtJlr also spdl oul Ktx>clr />ftJlr, "the
Slren&th of Wh",w ZoIrar 3:28a, 3:23Sb. Tilaurt'y Zohar 69
( I02b). The word Koocll, hQv.~er, h... numerical val..., or 28.
When the final leiters are counted, there: are 27 !ellers in the
v ,
Hebrew alphabet. Tile number 28, then. n:p~nts Ihe level
'"
above this. which cannot be cxpres~ with lclle~ Peliy<lh 2b.
2~. See Hirsch on Genws 26:5.47:22. hodus 1~:25.
30. Thus, ..Titil\l by (",.ina i. called Cltak TokIrOl, Gillin 20a. Slrll/-
d.an Anlkil, Ora,," Cha;m 32:18. Also 5« OIzar Chlli,., 202b.
Maarrldrl'l EIohUl 1~6b. Gra on !:l0 .
31. Cj Isaiah 10: 1. etc.
32. Zcha' !:IS •. Zohar HaRakia. M ikdash Mrll'kA ad f{)C;. . Slu,/a
Tal 6 (Hanau. 1612), p. 45b fT., Em6 11aMndch (Am$ludam,
1653), 6b. LikUl~ 1/xall (R. Shneur Zalman of Liatli),
B,chu/roUJi, 46b. Also 5« Razial Ila (27), R. Oananel on
Clragigah 11&. Cf. Lil<lIll')' MolltmJn 64. AI..., 5« chapler 2, nOle
"
33. See Bahir 2. Ramban on Genesis 1:2.
34. Yil2chak Sagi Nahor, Yilzchak OeMin Aoco (301121 ). Ramb;ln
A, • I , R. Ychuda h o.ayil. M inellal }r/rudah. on MaarrlQrl'l
£fohlll, 196b.
35. Prli}'oh 2c.
36. SanMdrin 65b. See Introduction, note 97.
37. See nOle 23.
38. Baal Shem Tov. QUOted by R. Y~sachar B<:r o f Zlotchov.
Mevaser Tudrlc. BHf'1lril (Dubno, 1798); Quoted in &Jtr Baal
Sh~m T"". Rt'tlr 8.
39. ~ Bl'rtShil Rahbalr 12:9. M idflllll lM-iIIim 11 4 :3, Ramban on
Ger>e$is 4J:20, Tos4ot YQItl To_ on Surollr 4; 5. HaGra, tOrn.
/Hair 276: 19. Also ~ Ra~hi on Genesis 2:4, Pulms 68:5. M id-
nulr 1Millim I I 3:3. It""';n I 8b, Ibn E~~ on Exodus 15:2. Rashi
on EIodus 17:16. R.dak on Isa iah 26:4, Mincha! Shai on
Psalms 94:7, 118:S, KUZ4ri 4:3 (91). MorrlJ Ntl'WdIim 1:63.
40. Eliezer of Wormes A. R.mlwln B, ad /0(.• from Sidra Rllbba
~Btr~slril I, in Balry Midrrlllu}{ 1;19.
4 1. Zo/,,~r 2:104b. 2:169b. 2:257b, 3:35a, Ti/n",1'}' Zonar 21:
SlrlUlrry Oral! (Wana .... , \88 3), pp. 33a, JSb.
42. Ramban A, Id Ioc:,
43. /HrakJwl JIb. Cj I Samuel 1:3.
44 . See Slraa ff}' Oralr 2. Also _ Mi)"r1.1r 2d, Ihallhis is Chakhmah
and Binah. AC"lually. ho .... ~ver, il i.lhrough 1M union of the 1""0,
.... hich is Ihrouall Yesod.
45 . Balrir 17 1, Pardl'3 Rimonim IS. See Radbaz. Ma&en David,
Dalet.
46. E,z Cllaim. Slraar A.iklr Anp;n 9; Cj 'Zohru 2:4b, 3: 131b. For
viriOUS OIhe..- Oi>inions. ~ Rashi. Ibn E~~. Ramban. BlUllry
T0s4ot. ad loc.• TOs.ifoi. Ra#J HaShanah 17b. "Silo/osl!.. · Sejer
ClrasMim 250.
lSZ SEFER YETlLRAH
,
'"
HuMiMash) belo .... The Temple is also called MllkJIO/!. sec note
'.IS. ,I[alchon is .1'«1 On~ ofille ..,vell heavens, sec chapter 4, note
70.
tOl. Radac, ad loe. Also sec lI'l'feslr lIaCllaim I:D, in Hagalr
·U'uFi. •
102. See Mnffhla AI:ilu/ 5, Partin Rimoltim 16.
103. The Universe of Yetzirah pal1l11els Ihe six Sefil'(>l: Chesed.
~vul1lh, Tifcret, Nellach, Hod, Yesod, Makhall is the si~1h of
th e seven heavens. and hence. parallels Vnod-.
104. Ora. ad loc. See Keirilal raakc~ (lvov, 1870), Vol. 2, p. 22&.
Also 5tt TikulI~ Zchw 1Sa, b. Also !ott note 109.
lOS. This is obvious in the Saadia Venion 2:1.
106. Cf Ps.alms 11 1: 10, Bahir 49, 103, 142.
107. Chatigalr 141, Sanhedrin 93b. Raslli on Exod l.tll 30:3.
lOi. Shaar /{aPnukim (Tel Aviv, 1962), p. 5. Cj Slr=r~ Oroh
63b.
109. Siddur ffaAri: Siddur R. Shtlbatai(LvQv, 1866). p. 67b: Siddur
!WI Y"ako.' (Slavita, 18(4), p. 156&, Siddur R. Ashar (lyov,
] 788 ), p. H ... See Shoor lIaKa.anOf 2:208 .
110. Midrwh millim 31:6 (120a), 78: 19 (178b).
II I . Cj Chayit 41b. The &firot contain the tssmce of tbe Di ... ine,
see I'Drdn Rimonim 4: 7.
112. TiIne nercisa are aCI\lally describn'l by R. Eliezar ofWormes,
Sodi Ra:ia, p. 41 .
113. Ramb.on B. ad loc .. Y,/zclralc SaKi Nalror. line H.
114. SIrIUlff)' Oralr 37b. 38a. '15a. Yiuchak DiMin Aceo, p. 3l1l1. s...
nOle 109.
I H. SanlrMrin Il Ia.
116. Ibn Ezra on Genesis )7:5, Gra on Psalms 22:29.
117. C/ Y"rushalmi. Nfdarim 9: 1 (2'1a), Riunban on \)!,uleronomy
22:6. s../I'r lIa Clrinuch 545. Shoml'r Emunim (HaKadmon) 2: II
no. 4, Nr/esh lIaClraim 2:4. Also see Job 22:), Psalms 16:2,
Radak, ad loc.
118. \)!,ulmmomy 26:15, Jeremiah 25:JO. Zechariah 2:16.
11'1. Radak ad loc.. Midr~It rrllillim 9fr. 10. Barceloni, p. 198. See
Lonl Venion 4:2. Also see Bl'rnhil Rabbalr 68: 10, Slt'moI
Rabbalr 4S :6, Ruhi on Exodus 33:2 1.
IlQ. See Hirsch o n Lr ... ;tK:uS 1'1:26, Deuteronomy 33:27. Psalms
9(1:1 ; C itOltm Taldl1!iI. p. 111. Othen say Ihat lhe rool of the
word is Eyin, meaninl eye. sin~ it is the place from wbich G<.>d
looks down althe world. Ibn Ezra on Psalm5 90: 1.
12 1. Isaiah 65:11 , P.almJ 83:18, 92:8, 132: 14. See Yitzchak SaJi
Naltor, lint 100. Also see C1wtl'm Tllkirnil. p . 200.
1l2. See 81'resliil Rabbah 3:7. Morffl Nrvuchim 2:30, Jilinm 2:18.
,
SEFEP; YETZ.I IlAH
"
176. q: Xdlar 1:6S•.
177. R. Yehudah AlBotini. S ../"m llaA liyah 10 (Jerul&lem, Ms. S·
ll4). quoled in G . Scholcm. Kilvty lad BaKabb41ah. p. 228.
178. M orelt N~udrlm 3:49.
179. Prvdn Rimonlm l:S_ However, others I&y thll Ihis is
Oakhmah, q: Ch.yil l71b. Also sec Ruiel lOa (23), Sodl
Razl" p. I , M~toclt HaR"y)'Oft lib, {)tz"r £d~ Ha<riln ..z lib,
14b. K ..z"ri 4:2S (Hb. SBI) I&ys Ihuthis is PUll' spiri t.
••
180. See ilLrulllj. tJd /«. Also set Num~rs 24:2. I Samuel 10:10,
11:6. Cf 1:2.
lSI. See ChtJiwnwlli. R. ElicU"!" of Wormes (3b), Ora. ad /()(. Also
'Itt R... id lOa (H). 22a (73). Compa~ this to Elz Cllalm. Slt=r
TtJflffA ~, from Psalm H:31. Nl'f~1I HaCllaim 1:1~.
182. It is lhus tushl lhal Yesod of Ankh Anpin (Ketcr) CJllcnds inlo
Ycsod of ur Anpin, " 'hich i1 the t",c Yesod, MtJYO SIItlD.!"im
S: I: 16. Also 'Itt EIZ Chaim. Sluulr Drrwltry ABYA I (298b). Cf
Prliygll 2d.
I U. ~ Ora, ad Ioc. Cf &Iti, 141. Also 'Itt ~kr IItJRazim (Ed. M.
Ma flOlius. Jcrusalem.J Wi7), p. 108, line 23_2 4. quoled in
n m irill . p. 72. Also in SlIas/tall Ynod OltJm (Sasoon, Ms. 290).
pp.61-71.
184. nlllll\X R/J.$1!/;a U I. Cf Bo.ltir 4.
18S. RQsIt HaShtJ"ah 321. See nOle S.
186. Ibid. See R. Do y Baer. Magid of Mczri lCh. Or Throh (~hol,
New York, 1972). p. 21.
187. Also sec Ru yad on 2:3. Raziel 1011 (2S), SIIltJlt HaAliyglt (Jeru-
salem. Ms. 8"' 1302), pp. lib, 12a. qUOted by O. Scholem in
Kl')'ClI~" 22: 166.
188. Rash; on ~odus 31:3 Slales Ihal Kno"'ledce (Dul ) i. RUKh
HaKodesh. Kabbalislically. n Ul is Ihe con fluence be!.weflI
Chakhmah and Binah . Allhoush Ruach H. Kodesh is derived
from Kelcr. ;1 ;s manifesl in DIal. See Elz ChtJim . SlttJtJ,
Dmlhq ABYA 1.
189. See Yiuchak Slanoy. ~fol Emn. p. 44b. Some interpret 1M
first Ruach I(> ~ spirit. and the second to ~ air, see Xll zari
.:2S (S8a ). RtJziei lIb (29), 12b (32). Also see Chlyit 1%. HI.
Othen say thaI they I", Ch.khmlh and Binah. s«
commentaries.
190. £u Cllaim. Shaar llaAkudim 8. S.
191. See Ell ChtJim. ShtlD.!" Alik 4, SIt=, &ri" ABYA 1 (356).
192. See Ari on ~" Yn zi'tJlI. Also s« Lik.lllq AmtJrim. ShtlD.!"
lIaYichlld VrlleEmllllllh 4 (79b).
193. See Don..h.
194. Tik.llllq ZQIItJ, 17a.
195. ltudn RlmOllim 10:S, KtJloclt Pilcltq ClttJJcJJmtJlr II.
I Wi. II also means writin&. see Job 19:24. Also see Partin 16:9, 27:27.
Yitrchal<. Sqi Nahor, line 138.
197. Wc thus find . MGod's~ voice carves (choll.e v) names of fi",~
(Psalms 2~:7). There is an indication that Ihi5 ...·ord misht indi-
CItc a ' YD<:5thetic procns, Cf MdUrilla on ~odUI 20:\S. See
~Iow. 2:6.
198. Gra. ad loc.
'VI ate
SHEil V£T'ZIIUIH
199. Ell Olllill1. SIIIlIl' TIl"',A 5 (p. 70). Cf Bilhir 119. 'ZdI1l' I :12b.
OtZllr IIIlKa'lOd (~tmar, 1926), p. 371, Recanti 3b. A similar
id ea i$ found in Ecclr$iast icus 24:25-11. Abo sec Rlltirl I2b
(1J ). 14a (39). Maa'l'khn £ 1011111 J2 (16 7b). Chayi! 19b. 16 ~b.
Yitzchak ~ai Nah",. li m: 142.
200. Sh 'lI1/){ Rllbbillr 15:22.
201. Raavad. (JI/ loco
202. See romment on t: I 2.
203 . 1Il1lIlil7 •. q SM, IIIlSJJirim RIlhbah 1:19.
204 . Hna,. a per"S(ln cannot prophecy at will. sec lad. Ynadt',.
1I1l1/:1rol! 7:4. S.
lOS , Kllzlln" 4:1~ ( ~ibl. Also..,., 1Iqy<>n IlIlN({nIt 3b. Cf lIn'a hil
R"hball 4: I, S:2. SlI'mOi Rabbllh. 1S:22. Midrosh TdtWim 104:7,
from Psalm. 104:3; YrrwYr,,[m;, ChagitaJr 2:1 (Sb). M'*1tillll on
Exodus 15: 11 .
206. BaJJi. 2. Ra mllan on Genesi, 1:2. II~ HIlNQ'nli 2b, 31.;
R.zie! 12. (32 ). Chayit SSb, £1: Chllim. Sh.IlIl' TbNTA S (p. 70).
This i. intermed iate between actuali ty and ex istence. ..,.,
Ru,·ad . Introduction to $#fn )nzirWr 21..
207. Thus., in the Tzimtzu m-<:onSlrlction, the centc:r 001. ""hkh i.
Ma lkhul, came inlO exiotencc: llefo", the other Sefirol, sec Elz
Cltll i"" Druslt 1;'-8f)I;'" 1'.. I<U~llr 2.
208. Ramban , ad /0(. Also sec Rashi, ad lor:. Cf Chayil 19b. PIlrd..,
Rimonim 3:5.
209 . Chayi! I9\). 20a. Emel< IIIlMt'leI<lt 6b. c: Ell Cllaim, I« cil.;
Also sec Raavad of N , Razid 12b (32). 14a (39).
210. Pllrd.., RimQflim 3:5.
211. Pi.kry Rabbi EN<"Zt'r 3. SoII'mOl RIlbbIlIt 13:1. Cf Yoma 54b,
B"nit ll Rabbtlh. 1:6, Rrdd 141.
21 2. Cf Rashi. Ml lbim. ad loc. , SAabbal Bb, 8ercIIil Rabbillr 98 :4.
See my WIlIt'f'J # EIktI. (NCSY . New York. ]\11 6). p. 62. See
Pirkey Rabbi Elie zer. E ll Chllill1. /0(...il.
21). 8ah.i. 165.
2 1". EI~ Ch"im. /tx.. cil.
1 15. Raavad, OiZllr IIllSh ..m, ad /0(.. b ut 1100 sec lkJoa Xllmll 4b.
2 16. Cf So.adia Gaon. p. 125.
2] 7. Radlk, Ibn EZra. ad loc.
21S. Ralirl 1 I b (29): 1Iicltkllmoni. Raavad . Otuu HaSht'm Ild lor:.,
Barttlon i. p. 197. See Bn : 1l 4:6 (33a). lU.hi. Ild loc., -M ;"
HIlM llyill1.- Yad. )tim TO>''' :I, & It;. 188.
219. Cf & MidbllrRabbali ]4:12.
220. SIt'mot RlJblxlh 1S:22. S« ZJJh.1lr 1:J2b, ]:lOlb. Rada l On
Ark..,. Rllbbi Elitt" 4:J.
ryl ate
.,
221. Chaglgah 14b, Rash ;, ud IIX_. OlZlU Oaim 2a. See Htillalr.x
Rahata; 26:2. that the e~perien~ is like ~inl ....sllro by thou-
sands of waves of "'~tCT. AII') s« fWd/'! Rimallim 23: 13 (27b).
from nk,,,,~ ZoIrar 4{) (3Ob).
222. See Rash; on (Xnesi, 1: 1, Noo.m E/imri,jd" Cll"....y St.."h
(b-ov, 1&88). p. l ib.
223. I(I/zan" 4:2S (Sla).
224. See INrdcl! lIaSMm ' :S, 4:6:13.
l2S. See M.lb1m on uekid 1:1.
226. See Prurks RifOOllim 23:22 "Siva/." &hi/fat ya.;ko. "Storaj (2311),
227. Sod; Raria. p. 8. Ruvad, JlllrotiucriOll /0 &1" rn:lrall ole.
KUlari 4:3 (22b). Rambll n on CXnnis 18:2, Exodlls 3:2. NUn!-
ben 22:31.
228. Razjrl12a (3l).
229. Balli'3O.
230. See Rund, Ram","n B, on ):2: Erl Cllaim, Siloa, TaNTA 7.
23 L. Shaar HaXJr.llnot, Kmanct Na{","im (TtL Aviv, 1962), p. 310; SNJ.
dur /faAri. $iddur R. Sha/Jalai, p. lOOt. Siddur R. Ashff, p. 38L
2)2. C/ Zollo. J:243b.
lB. The Ten Sefirot "'ere originally derived from five, and this ;1
...'hy lhey ..-en: lateT di\Oided into fi ve Panzufim. See Ell Cllaim.
Shll4r IIGMrlakllim S, p. lS I.
234. Sec Otzar Edl'lIf1aGallllZ 20a, /lJajtl'tKh flGRaYYCII 3]b.
23S. Sec Elz Chaim. Shll4r Akudim S. Shll4r !'I'llimiut VI'Chit zolliut
]0, 12. Rqardill, tile five ~t]$, see 8"/'$hil Rabbair 14:9,
DI'\'arim Rabbair 2:9. S/uJar lIaGiwuim I.
236. It is thus on the k"cl of At~ilut. which is Qllcd ~nothi nl'\C». ~
~",fo"" Befl yah , the world below ii, i. QlIcd "lI)fTKthinl
from nothincness."
237. Sillam HaAli)'Qh 7 (Sa). CI ~kr HaClushrl< 22 •. Otzar Ed~
flaGaltu;: p. 16. Sec below, 2:6.
238. Sec Raavad, MO$he Botri], ad loc.
139. Sec QdOnl, M.. IS31 , P. 4~a (boltom). quoted in G. Sd>oIem,
M ajor 11mdf ilt 1 .....'" Af~i&m, p. 361 , noIe 42. Also lee noIe 43.
240. Sec note no.
241. Sec Abraham Abulafil, ChG)'Q)' O/am IIGBah 18a, quoted in
Philoscpllil' ultd Kabba/aJr. p. 45, wbe", such a method ;s
<kscrihed in detail. This i•• Iso ",lated to tbe ~thod of the
flGkhillol Raootai. (hapten 17,26. Also see Sod" Razia, p. 32.
CI Chapter 6, note 37.
242. This techniquc is described in ShlUllY)' KftiJl.Jhah, Pan Four. p.
16a. Sec chapin 6. note 37.
243. Ot::ilr C hGim 1073. b .
SEFElt YErlI Il. ... H
Chapter Two
l. Yirzc/rak $iJgi NlJ~, line 24).
2. ~i/l:ra 167... q: RoM IItJSlflJIIlJlr 17,.. 5« Al'(II 2:1.
l. AWN 1:6. See Lihrt')l M oII&lrall 211.
4. See ClrilkamOlli. Ilarcdoni, on l :1. See Elz e lr&li ",. Shaar
DfflWI". II&1Tzrl~'" 2. p. 13b.
5. Raavad. oJ loc.
6. Yirzehak $iJgi NiilIor, line 262 , Ollar l1&IKorod 19b. Rcprdilll
~pillars of Chashmal ,~ see RHiel 14b (40), and compare Ihis 10
!>dow, 2:6,
7. CluJgiph 13b (lop). See I?r 1Ia&klrrl 4:2 (4 8b).
8. Ollar Ednr lfuGonul 541.
9. See ~ Baal Slrm! Too. Bt:rnlrr"r 111-1l5.
10. Zclrar 2:54a. See !\Ole 54.
II. See Rashi. Yalklll Rellveni, on Elodlls 2: 14. SIr'",O/ Rllbbah
1:30. 5« Shallr Ifal'nukim, Wewte)' baJr llaAri, ad Ioc.
12. Slrruhllll Sod« 72b. Also see OIlllr Eden lfaGallUl 6b. The
"Zq/rar a)'$ th,t these ~pl(Kn . the 2S let.er.s in tM YCn(, "Hear
M
o Israel ... (Deuteronomy 6:4), "Zq/ror 2:l2b. 2:117" 2: 11%.
Tikwll.." Zohllr 6 (221).
11. See !\Ole 6l.
14. !itt Or lIaSnlrrl7:3 (94~ Get IIIISMmOI \lOla, Cha)"il 19b. 5«
below, 4:) .
I 5. See Sudia. InlrotillClion /0 Sd" Ymirolr. Eiah lh Theory, p, lO.
Also see IntrOOlIC1ion, DOle 34.
16. See Ch.iPIU I. noles 237, 242.
17. Clrokak .manito write. sec chapler I. note 31. See OtZilr Ed~II
IIIlGIlIIUI pp . 160-162.
U. Bclinninl of SwlaJr llaAliyui!. Cf Of"1IaSckJr.tf 7: 1 (9011),
19. £WC1l lfaSlroiIllm 121, Shciril }IM/(Vicnna. ~h. 260~ p , 2b.
Re.... rdinllhe cipbcr.s, see Pt",Je RimQr.im 21 : 13, 30:5.
20. Purdn Rimonim 27:27, Elt elraim, Slraar Dnlshey lIaTzN m
2, p. 12. Slraar RllJhbi 297. Zl;Jwr 2: 12la SlipponS t he usump-
tion thai lhe fir.st tWO are the lutturall a nd palatal •.
21 . See Sudil. Eliaer or wormcs, ad 1«., TikullC)' ZMtu 1321.
ZoIta, 3:2281, etc.. Donl5h has a th ird orderi"" where the lut
two Ire intCKhanlN. sec note 36.
22. £ 11 Chili"" foe.. cir. Cf Shaar Rwaclr IIIlKrxinil p, I ll.
23. Slraar~" "ZoIrar Q n Safrlm 9:1.
24. Slrabba/ l04a, M~i111l1r 2b , lIcrr$lr/r Rllbbalf US, BaMidbo.,
RabIx!lr II: 17. Tanc/ruma, ""'iKIf I 2, Pirkry Rabbi EIi~=" 48.
•
Cf. Charit 19a. The fact that these lellen are nO! mentioned in
!)<for Yl'Izil'llh may be indicative of its utmne antiquity.
lS. EI: Chaim, Shaar Rashbi, loe n l. See Barceloni. p. 140, G~ on
1:3 No. 2.
26. Tikim~,. ZeIIar, Introduction {4b}, 70 ( 135b).
27. Pardn Rimo,!im 21:1.
13. Tikl/nr)' Zoiliu l<la, R. Elienr ofWormes 4b, Ell Chalm. Shaar
TaNTA J, p. 66, Ginal EgoJ 24c.
29. Also see chapter I, note 54.
30. l'ardn RimOllim 27:27.
w
31. H ence,~. wom.n's "oi~ is • 'sexual orpn: B~kJwt 24.,
ZoIIar 3:1 44.
12. Pard~s RimOllim, Ioc. cll .. Ell Clulfm, Shaar DmuII".
lIan~l~m 2. Shoor RaslIbi p. 297.
13. KiM}' Afmkh on Tiku.n". ZeIIor 4b (1I1~ ACC(lrd in, \0 lhe
Tiku.n')' ZeIIar 141., the order of PiIIl(II,), Clloum pII'Illels the;
five phonetic families in alphabetical order.
34. Another reason for this onkri. becalUl: they add up 10 'M~ri:II,
M alakh. YimlokJr. · See ShatU HaKirwJl'lCl, p. 1090II.
}S. Ell Clulim. SIIOllI' lJa)'ilMJrlr S ( I. 133), ltJrdn Rinumim 13:1.
Also see )'0/101 E lim , QUOled in KrhiitU )lIakM. Vol. 2. p. 31.
36. Tikl/nry 7.d1ar l<la. Si",ilicanlly, lhe fam ilies then come 001
like lhe reveRe of Donash's order. See nOle 21.
37. Raavld, ad loc. See Em~k HoM~ddt 6b.
38. Otl lU ClIlllm 1071.
39. Sudi. B, ad /oe.
40. Acronym of R. Yiuchak be Asher, d ied 1132. Scholem , in his
KQbbolalr and ils Symboiism. p. 186. claims th.t this acrostic
nlnds for R. Yishmael ben EIUha. In British MlUCum, Ms. 7S4,
the a~i.lion is R. Tz., which Schokm sunniles m.y be •
certain R. Tzadok.
4 1. Sudia B. Ioc. cit. EnwI< HaMNkIr !k similarly ..-rites thaI if one
says Ihem t.d;w.rd, he will be SIIo'allowed up by the earth.
4 2. ClIokaml/fli, PrJrdn Rimonim 3O:S, R. Eliczar of Wormes, pp.
Sa. 17bff; O1:oT Ed~n HaGan,,: 39., O1z0T Nn:llomad On
KI/:arl 4:25 (6Ib), E.wn HaShoIw.m IS4b. SIIml )'~ 91,
SlIosllun J'. -wd Oiam No. 4~4, p. 207.
43. RIIV.d, oJ Ioc. Abul.fll prese nts Ib illystem in the nlme of R.
Yitu.:hal< Sarduhi, see 01;ar Elkn HaGan"l 16b, 371; Appen·
di~ ~ , nol~S 10, )9 , Also in KoI YrIIlJdaJr on Kl/zlU; 4:25 (61.).
The fact thaI each IrTly contains 231 pain, ",hid! is 21 limes
12, wi lh the leiters AL in 1M middle is aIl1.>ded \0 in th~ '"eRe,
MOnly in You. 0 God (Ach &JcIr Eft (Isaiah 4~: 14), see ZoItar
I:}lb. comment";". ad I()C., 0 .. on 6:4.
J60I SEFER YFrnIV.H
E._
46. Glnal Ezoz 55b. Ouar Chaim 1081. Pmuh JlaNililld 4Sb, 49 • •
lfaShoIram 134&. l71b. T:taror JlaChu /m (Jews CoIk&e.
London. Ms. 318). p. 10.. Gan Yah 25b. Sec Chayay O/am
UaBah 22b.
47. Bt'l"QAir Rabbah 1:4, Gan tah.lot. dr.
48. Emt'k HaMdrldr 6 •• Limlldl'}' Alzl/1I1 (Munhtch, 1897), 31.
22a: MiluJash Mtkkh on ZoI!ar I: 16b (Zolkiev, 1794), p. 31 b,
R. Shncur Zalman of Liadi, Ublt'y Tht-aIt. Hom/ot on VaYikn:!
Hb. Sec chapter L, n.ote 12.
49. Emd< HaAft'lt'kh 6b, Limudl'}' Alzilul 3• . The sum of 1M four
names Ab (72) Sag (63) M alt (45) and Bnr ('2) also equals H2.
It may he that the arrays of the Jlter Kabbalists relate to the
Sefirot themselves, " 'hile those of the eanier KabbalislS relate
to the lettt''''- Thn would rnoIve the diffe",nte hetween the two
sratems.
SO. Donw.. Barceloni. p. 20i.
'1. Sec Sudia. B.arttlon i. ad loc. Thne mention the r<:adina. but
reject it
52. R. EIielar al Wor hW;S ad b:. po 5a. He abo aleS the previous
mctbod in the name alhis fatlw:r, R. Yebudah bm Ko/yIUtnOI.
H. Raavad on 2:3, from )brlUl 76a. Sec Btf Lni. Emtk UalaeM.
ad Ioc.• quoted in M;lzpah E;lon , who live otber reasons for this
numbet-. An elaborate com plu cakulation is aloo pTC'Wnted in
AI....., RllSh on Eyi" Yaako>-. Thne commentaries obviously
well: OOt a"'ale of what the Raavad ...-,.;t« her<:.
54. Cltll}G)' O/(llft HaBah 4b, qurned in Scho1em, Kitl't)' yoo
BoKabbalal!. p. 25. OWl' Edt" UaGa""z 162b (bottom),
Shoort')' T:tedrl: (Jerusalem, Ms. 8- 148). pp. 66h, 67a. quoted
in KirJlflI ~for 1:135: S"lam llaAliyaJ. 10 (JcruYlem , Ms. S·
334). p. 981, quoted i" KilYr}' Yail Bakabblah.. p. 228. Cf. Psal ml
23:5. 45:8. I ()9: 18, 133:2. It may be mort than coincidence Ihlt
the first two letters of the Hebrew word for oil. Sh.~m~". are
Shin and MtIlI. sec abo'·e. IIOIe 10.
SS. Omr £dm HaGanra. po 341, &for lIaTunq lOa, Gj",,1 Egoz 4Sb
("";!h ti ' '''.). This is abo the system po mteel b, R. MOIhc Bocril.
who apparently attribute'll it to Hai GItOiI. In 01_ Edm 1IaG<uua.
Abulaf", abo Ipparmlly ItuibuleS it to III earlier -lOUra'.
v ,
••
.,
~. Ol:~ Edm lIaGan"z 38a. On pp. 75b, 76a, he apparently
speaiu of tile lOS, 432 com binat ions of 11 letters.
57. Also see Psalms 37:4, 100 22:26, 27:1 0. For other SOUJUS, _
rOiz.... Dr, p. 56.
S8. R. Bal'\lkh TalJOmi. Mafttdrol lfaKabalair p. 230. S(for
HaTz"",! p. la, £n'('n lIaShcJtam, p. 177b. Sheinl Yost!: p.
168.a, Tzaror lIaChaim. p. lOa.
59. S« BI «:eloo;, p. 104.
60. Comm .."/tJrl' on ~fn }" rzirtJh 4b. l.Sh. Also see R..vad, ud
loc.• ShruMn )Nod OIilm. pp. 100. 199, 20). Cf Ibn Ezra On
Isaiah 26:4, Psalms 68:5.
61. R. EJio:ur ofWormn, ad Ioc. lSb, Emtk HaM rlf'kh !k. The lal-
ler is translated inlO Lat;n in Knorr von Rosenrolh, Kabbala
IUl/udota II (actually III): Liber Sohal Tnlinnus (Sulzbach,
1684), pp. 220- 1.
62. See Introduction, noleo 8G-82 . Also see Sh .. ·..IQl HaZakLn 97
(Oxford. Ms. Neubauer 2396). p. 531, quoted by Scholem in his
Kabb.lJalr ami ils SyrnOOlism, p. 188. note I. TMre also appears
10 be. similarity between Ihis and t~ PlU1zufim mentioned in
tile Zollark literatu n: and in the writings of tile Ari. a relation-
"'ip wllk ll should be more tllorough.ly explored.
61 0, 1Ia&kM18: J (I08bff)qllOted in Pa,d~ Rimoflim 21 :1. Also
qUOted in Sulom llaAliygh 9 (95. fT.). in KI' ygl &/" 22:1 67 If
The Ramal!: writ~ rqardin8 Abuldia's leacllina: MThis is cilber
a direct tradi tiOfl , given over from mouth 10 mouth, or else it
M
was TCvealed by a Ml&J!,id .
64. In Porrin RimOllim 2 1:2 Iliere is s))eCific men tion .-.prdinl
u.i"3 Olhn !encn wilh a similar . ystem.
6 5. See Raavad. ad Ioc.
66. SanhNrin 38a. TOM/IO 8 (end). Yl'I'IISholmi 4:9 (23b).
67. Chogigoh 12b, Zona, 1:82., 1:1863,1: 231 • •
,
68, Ibn Ezra, ad fIX" Chol'Ol HoLro-avol. end of SIr4o., HoBoc/rino/r
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
'I' ate
28. Shabbal 15611.
29. S« inscl.
30. Thne an: described in detail in E.",," lIaShoIJam and S~'il
YOM'/. Also !Itt Israel Reprdie. 11(1'0110 MilkI and Ur;, TalismI1-lU
(WcllinlborouaJ! UK: Aqu.arian Pmos.. 1972).
)1. Mooc:o.... , M5. Guo:nzb\l~ 77~, u nnllm~rd folios al ~linnil1l
32~-)J b (pp. 62.64 in my manllscripl). These a", ~lIribuled 10
Nobl niel Gaon, but no record of such 1 pon a islS. Also 5tt
Tbidot Adam IS8, ,... hen: Ihe'le 'leals ~n: dra .... n and anribuled 10
lhe Ramban. They an: .100 fOllnd in SIr""lran Yncd Qiam, pp.
268. 322. 460.
32. ehagi,"h 14a. Stt MOI"rit Nt'I'uchim 2:6.
33. See Ba<;:hya, Abarhlnel. on Dellterooomy 18:1 4, Dndlt
lIaSlrl'm 2:7. Aloo !Itt Selah !lb, ThJt'/cI. ShabbtJl 1S6a,
lk.klUim 4:4. Many .... rilers 1"lIme Ihal Maimonides d id nol
~I ieve in ulroIoJy II all. based on ""hll he .... riles in Yat/,
APOdal KoidIa>im 11:16 and in MOI"rh N~Hldim 3:)7. Else-
where. how<:'·er. he a ppears 10 I d mil Ihll. II IuS! 10 some
dqrtt. il an ~ used 10 predicl the fUlure, !Itt Yad. Ynodry
lIaTorah 10:3. St'jn HaMir=_. P05ilive Commandmenl 31.
AI:IO !Itt lIaKott'V on £ yin Yaako,~ Shabbal U6a: 8t'1'niIil
Rabbalr 83:2, Rashi , SQlalt 36b.
34. &r.,slrir Rabbah 10:6, 'Z(Jra, 1:)41. 1:2511. 2:Ua, 2:Ub, r
lOb. 2:8Ob. r I7Ib, 3:86a.
H . AWar Yirul!ak 2, Or lIaShrm 4:3 (87a). See Shaa, Rashbi on
,,"ric Shirah (p. 299).
36. See note 32. Abo see Bf'fnhil Rabbah 78: I.
H. Bn-Wlil RabCaJr 1:3, 3:8. SIr'1'IlOI RabCaJr 15:22. TallClruma.
Chayay 54rah 3. Midrash TrlIillim 24, 86, 104, I'irkq Rabbi
Elirln- 4. CI Bam:loni . p. 187.
U. Bahir 21. Stt ~II on l'irUl' Rabbi £Iinn- 4:1. from Zoirar
I: I7b. I: 18b. 1: ) 4a. I :46b. Also see Radal il)id. 4: I!. Ba<;:hya on
Genesil 28: 12 reverses Ihi" and SlIles thaI pnmanenl anlCls
"'-ere created on lhe second day, and tem porary anaell on Ihe
fi fth .
39 . Slrabbar I S6a.
40. Niddah 16b.
41. See ChapleT I. nOle 155.
42. Abarhlnelon Deuleronomy 18: 14. Also see anonymous l'rrush
on Yad. y~ lIa 7Qrah 2:~.
43 . 'Zi)/rar 3:169b.
44. Bvnhil Rabhah 78:4. Yajah JOQr, ad Ioc.. Sh'mo( RabCaJr 48 :2.
Ballfidbar Rabbtlh 11 :7. Tlmchuma. Val akhrl4. Sifri on Num-
ben 6:26.
no
45 . BlJrtlila DeShmuf'i IItlKulall ~. Bani/a Di MazaJOI 1S; Rule!
17b ($1), &for J/aKaNJh (Cracow, 1894). 86b, Yo/kilt R~I'MI
J Sa.
46. PirUy Rabbi Elitzn 6, 7; Rashi. Bn",klIol S9b "SJ,D.1xJ,/ai, ·
Slrtlbbtll 129b, En/yin 561; CllakDmfl1li 70e, 72b, Ba"i/lJ
DeSJJmur/ JlQKaUlII 3, Bam/a DiMazalOl 7, BalUloni. p . 247.
47. tad, t QQdt}' JluToroh 3:1, Baf?ila DeShmutl H aKDlan 7,
Ba"ila DiMazalOl 12. Barceloni, Ioc. cit.
48 . See Ibn Ezra on bodu. 16: 1, R. Shmuel Falkaliilh. ~tr
Avrollot (Prque. L797). introduction, qUOted in BaIt}'
Mid'ash« 2: 10; J/ad"y Kodl'$/t (Dibemfunh, 1812). p. 5b. Cj
CllakilmOlli 7Oc:, 72b, R. Elie:zC'r of Wonnes.
49 . A similar concept;s found in SlIabNl 129b.
SO. StlnllN,in 65b, tod, A>'Odat KokAavim 11:8. TuT. Yonh ~
179.
51. Cf n,o,UOOI Raslrba 148. 409, 7S1r1l1iOl Ra.shb<l HldfdiM;;h~
i.rRllm/:KJn 28), 1$1r1l1Pl M aluui AlSiId 2:24, nhu"'" AVllt)'
Tudri:, y",rIr ON" 44 . Aloo 5tt YOI'm DNIr 179:2. Nimukq
YOM! on Sal/lln/,ill (Rif. llib). s,j" Clrtuidim 59. ZoIIfU I: 169b,
) :234.1..
H. Tikum'y ZohtJr 70 (128b). Kiw/r Mf'l~. (1d loc_ (S8a. No. 18).
A.lso see Gra here. For. differenl orderin, of Sclirot .nd 111)"5,
see MlUlrt khn EloIrlil 183•.
S3. Stt Pardn RimQnim 10 , 32:2.
S4. RU" ld, Dd Ioc. Stt SIrDar Rundr IIDKodrslr. pp. 86, 14S.
SS. Shoor Rllfl(h HllXodn lr. p . 31. from Tikllnry ZoIIIU 70 (129b),
Silr", 1/)r(1h. ZoIIIU I: 108.1..
j6. Gra.1UI kx. ZQlro, 1:4 1b-45b. 2:H5a-H9 • • Partin Rimonim 24.
51. RO$h Iftl$JrDnDh 3] •• Sanhftirin 971. tlmdiih ZiJrDh 91. This
appeaR 10 be Ihe opinion of PirUy RtWbi Elie:n-. see Radal. 1Ili
Ioc. 18:48 . A.lso see MlUl,ann Elohlll 139•• Ruid lSa (43).
S8 . 7amid 7: 4.
59. ~for ~mllNJJr (Korell. 1784), 31.1.. MIUl,t!khn Elo11l1l lllOil.
S,f" HDKDnDh 78b .nd Olher p1acu. TlhIlV()( RIJJhbo 423. Shiw
K()fflDh 83. Radbn. MIl8,n Da.id, Gimcl. Dalct; M nzudcf
Darid 298 , R. Yos.ef T zayach, T.:rJFf;w /la eha/If!. pp. 83b, SSb;
ShDD"y GDtl Edtn. Oroc" T.zllliikim ]:1. Cj 8aehya, Ro:g.nti.
Tzion i. on Le"iticliS 25:8. Ramban I)f\ Ocne5is 2:3. 54"
lfaClrinw;" 330. Ibn Ezra on Genesis 1:5,8:22. For a detailed
discussion. see Dr14Jh Or JlaChDim 3• .1.1 end of Ti/n-n Yisron
I)f\ M islrNl)'QI N,ziki n. This i5 also apparently supponed by Ihe
ZiJlrDr. see Radal .loc. cil. Thi! doctrine wu oppMed by lite Ari.
see LiKulry TortJ" (An) Kfdashi m. V, )akJtrl MOl'" Ja.
60. O':Dr Clulfm 86b If.
'I' ate
) 7l SUER YETZIII. ... H
~
73. ~~~:~,:;~; . Ra!iel 15b (43). J6a ( 122).
Rabbi N"lh"lI 31.
74.
75. BaWl BiII,a 2Sb.
76. Bava BUIFll74b. Cf. Ymulrulmi. KtfUbof 12:3. Knilyim 9:3.
77. Gra. lI.>rZtra; ulHx. Cf Zenar ~ 78b, 83b, ZohDr 1:.12a.
71. BekJtOl'Of Ha.
79. (ira. Cf. Radal on Pirkey Rubbi Elinrr 11:47. Sec Midraslt
r"",,);m 92b.
80. Gra. lid Ioc In itl entire history. Israel CelebnUM ~nlec-n
jl,lbikn. '"' Arkll;,r 12b. lad; SJremifulr VeYoorl 10:].
81. S« Bernltll Rllbbtll! INi. 26:2. BIlMidbar RubbWt 13:12 .
1Imclrllma. 8e, a lrll 6. Rambin , loI""mll' HaGel/11l1l (in Kitvry
Rambin). p . 269. Rambam. commenta ry On Sa"lrtdri" 10:1.
J~n T;cIrlyol UllMnim. p. 1]. Cf Knubix 39•.
,.
32. Otrar HaClulim 87a.
'"
n Ibid. 87b.
84. Otzar Edm lfaGalluz H b.
35. ltaav.d , Pri Yil. drak. ad loc.
36. See S,,/am llaAliyah.
87. Ibid.
88. Rush lfiJSlIanoJr 271, rqardina (he fact thaI Sham.". and ZochOf'
were said ~";Ih one ...'Ofd." C/ )"d, Y/':JOdt)' HaTorol! 2: 10.
89. Ot:ar Ed~1I HaGan!;: 7S b.
90. &raklwl 32b. The C111culllion there yields 1.16<434 )( 10" . A
variant n:.dine ~Id. to". See Razir/ lh (54).
91. See DOles "3 , 44.
Chapter Five
I. Sudi., p. ~8, thus says thaI they include tbe five senses. See
Dona~h, p. 64. CltahJmoni, IIowever, interpreu il as
JWallowillJ,.
2. TMre are v.nov. ditfc~t orderil\lS in Ihe 8ibk. In Jacob',
bles$inllo the lri1:>o:. in Cknni. 29, 11M: order ;1 Reuben, Sim-
eon, Levi, J udah , Zebulun, lsachar, Dan, Gad, AsMr, Nanali,
Joseph, ~njamin . In ~nnjs 46, the orderins ilthe same, bul
Ihe soos of Leah's lundmaid p~ !bose of Rachel's. In
Num~ 1:5-15, the or<kr illhe same I. in Exodus l. eJloxp\
that Joseph preudn Benjamin, and tile order of the sons of the
handmaids is Dan, Asher. Gad. Nalta.li. In Numbers 13:4-15,
the order is Reuben , Simeon, Judah, Is.achar, Ephraim, Benja-
min , Zebulun , Manassah, Dan, Alher, Naftali , GMI. In Num-
bers 24:6-29, it is Judah, Simeon , Benjamin, Dan, Man .... b,
EpIlraim , Zebulun , lsachar, Asher. NablL (Reuben and Gad
I~ not included, sintt ~y remained on ~ other side of ~
Jordl" .) I,., Moses' blessi,.,.. the order il: Reubtn , J udah, Levi ,
Benjamin. Joseph , Zebulun, ISllchlr, Old. Dan, Nlftali, Asher.
(Simeon is not mentioned, Ott Rubi on Deuteronomy 33:7.) I,.,
Delue ronomy 27: 12_13, for the bleuillp the ordeT is: Simeon.
te ..i. Judah, ISIIch.r, JOKph, Benj.min; for the curses: Rnlben.
O.d, Asher, Zebulun, D.n, N.ft. li.
3. Genesis 30. H: 23.
4. Otz"r CMim 201b, Rll vld ~I.
5. Btml S(lt1"(J 11 8b, from Genesis 48:16.
6. Slrn rir YaH/ I 21. T:;OII; 58<: iislS them in the order ofNumllen
,
Hidden page
27. Cj ).ford! N~im 1:70.
'"
28. See chapler I, nOle .. J •
29. Tzlani. ad IIX.• BntSlJi/ RIl/JbQh 68:9. Rashi on Avot 2:9. See
ChapleT" I, note 119. q Mort" Nrruclrim. lot;. cil.
JO. ShWlFr>' Onih 10 ( L03a).
31. Elz ella/m, Sitaar Arlklr. AllJli ll 3. Also see Rashi. Radak, on
Judges 20:43, Habal::kllk I :4, Psalms 22: 13: Radak, Shmullim.
"KTR. •
32. ChuUlI89a. SIt'mOl RQbba/r 38: 4. Accomin&IO Rashi. il il then
read, ~from IInder. he is the arms of the unj,-cne." It thertfort
rtfe .... \0 the penon who lowers him5elf 10 be -"nlk •."
33. Cllagip IZb. See Ra:WI !4b(<4(l~ 15b(.w~ See chapter 6. ncMe 30.
34, SttchapteT l. IIOtt 143.
15. Zohar 2:811, 2: 131&, 2:2011., 3:227•• Aurin Rim""im 15:7 ,
SIrM"y 0raJr S (SOb). These confu$C tlH: mind. 'ZoIw!' 3: t23a,
Tikl/"..,. ZoIIar lib. RnJril C/t"/d!",,,II. SA,..., HaYi"'" 4
(l6c ~
:Hi. The nexl verse. "And Israel d"-eli safety alone (biJdad). the eye
of h.<;:Ob," aliio has mys1ical connotations. The word bodqd i$
often used 10 indicale meditation, 5eC Ibn Ezn on Isaiah 44:25.
The '-ene can then read, ~And 1~J1ld d...-ell yfely mediati n&- ~
37. Cj Badl)" on (;enesis 49:26.
38. The third is Habakkuk 3:6. This i$ I hiJ,hly mystical chlpter,
dilCuued extensively in the Balrir 68-79, 147-148. 181-193. The
quC'Stion mlY .nl.e " 'hy the Lon, venion UKS ~heiJ,hts of the
uni"ene,~ wb k h it only in lhe blcuin, of Joseph, instead of
~Irms of the univtne.~ .... hich .pplies 10 III Israel. But if Joseph
~ Ul;el was Ihe luthor of Iht l.onJ Venion. ht mlY hive
done th i'! to Illude to his nlme.
39. ZoItar 1:so.. I :214b, 2;221. Cj IWJh lfaShanair Ill, Sifri on
Deuteronomy 31: 15. The An. h~er. states that lhe T"-el'-e
Boundaries ~ in Tiferet. 5« Etz Clraim. SJeaar TaNTA 7.
40. Rash;. S/IDbIxlt ~, "Jlelt/#SS, ' ren<kn il Cenli~llio. Cf OIUU
lfaSlram here. Also 5« l'a Yikr" Rabhalr 1:4. ShukluJn Al'tlklt.
Yoffl, Dtvlr 48: I in Jlaplr .
41. Sud;a. p. 13S. CluJkamoni, Donash. R. EJitzer of Wormes.,
Tzion; 4d, Aruklr. MQJQS3. Cj Rasb; on E!;desiules 12:4.
42. Kollein Rabhalr 7:19. 12:1, Mid=1r T,lrillim 103: 1. Rash;,
Slrab/)o.t Ula, Bmlkllot 61 b.
41 . R. Aaron o{Bqdad, ql>Olcd in 801nl. Cf Ibn Emo on mlniu-
les 12:4.
44. ZCVIldrim 6'1 (bottom), Tl:>ralr "km;malr on mln;'sles 12:1.
", S. Hffllkiwf 61b. SlraalKu 15la. Rilhi im,nlifies ;1 with the
He~. Alto l.eC AIOOl Rabbi Natlran 31 :3, Otklt DeRabbi
,
S(F'ER YET'tIR.o.1I
'VI ate
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no SErE!!; VETZIRAH
,.
)12 SUER Y~lItAH
Appendix I:
Other Versions
I. The order is Ihal of the pl. ncl$ <;> n Sunday mornin" the same
as in Shabbal I 56a, Cf JlagahOl/kr Clradash (8«11). ad Ioc.
2. A p;lraph",.., of Ecclesiastes 1: I.
3. Paraphra5e of Psalm 9):2.
4. The word Yllrok is uHlall1 t",n.lated as veen. Rashi. h<;>wever,
identifi.-s Yarok with the Biblical ~blue wool" (TnJrdett, iCe
Rashi on ElIodus 2S: ~ . Numben lS:H. &TUklwI ~b - Tekllrln, "
Gillin lib -Sarbala.· Also iCe T~. Surrah Jlh "lIaYarok,·
Chulin )7b "Ekh." Also ..,e R.n hi. Chagigalr 12. ' ~'iI Yashd_ ·
In Razirll2b (11). thi, is likened to the vee" line....,n on the
horizon. when one climbs the ma.t of a ship in the middle of
Ihe sea. This is also identi fied as bein, the..".., Klipah as the
~Iorm ..ind of Ezekiel, iCe Tikunf')' ZoIrar 17 (18a). Pardn
Rimonim 25: 7.
S. The Hebrew here is MePlrulamim. Rashi inlerprel$ this as
meanillllTl();st (moisten), Cllagigah 12a. Betz" 24b, Wachim
45a. Alw S« Razi~1 l Ib (2~), R. Eliner HaKalir, quoted in
Bol ril on I: II ; Yad. Bn II"Bt'Chiroh l:l4. KnejM ishnah. ad Ioc.
Si n~ ,"'ater n:P'"""nts the prime>"al mauer (S« chapter I , note
20S ). this ,•.-~tMSS denoles material exiaten.::e. see R. Levi bet1
Shlomo of Lunil . quoled in Botril, loc_ d f. Othen $IY that lbe
...·or<! indicates un known , nameless SIOIl6, from Ploni AlmOfli
(Ruth 4: l. see Rashi, Ibn Ezra, ad loc. ). Raavad . Ot:ar HaSh~m.
on 1: 11 , R. Aaron of Baghdad , quoted in Botril, loc. cil .. Ralba,
on ~ncsi. 1:2 (Veni~. I S47), p. 9.:.. Saadia Gaon siaies Ih. 1 il
'"
means ~5pli! f(ld.$,~ from Ml'PhullUh. Sudi. on 4:6. p. 123.
On p _ 124, ho,,"'cvn. he Stiles that Ihis denotes the bed r", k
of the carlh, Another opinion is Iha! these arc ~incrrablc
rocb. with MI'Phu/am comin, from Ihe word HOI/10m, since
M
'VI ate
S ~ ff R \ ·ETZIR.O.II
Appendix II :
The Thirty-Two Paths
I. Raavad. Inlroduction ( 11.1.). Pard~ Rim<mim 12. ShDs/latl SedOf
l3b. 76a. ~/iyan 4Sa. prj Yilzc~ak (Warsaw. 1884). Pan 2.
28.1..
2. Set- No. 13.
3. Paraphra~ of I Oronid<1, 29:1 1.
4. l$.Iial! 1$: 1.
5. TM word is M t·AI:iI. mannl lM $.IDle 1"001 WI Atzilut.
6. Probably alludinllo No.3 .
7. Thi5 allgd il idenlified al Sund or Surilh. !ott &raldwt Hoi.,
"una /Of Ralla/ai 16:4. Abo !ott Tikll./V}' l<J.Ira, 70 ( 127b, lop).
Oth(T sources idenlify Ih is anael as s"n(i(iphon. !ott Zona,
2:26Oa. ZoIlar CIkuJasi! lSd. Cf KII.:ari ):65 .
8. Greatness (GeduLah) is Ih~ earlier name for 1M Sefirah of
Chned, ba~ on 1M ,'erse I Chronicles 29: i I. The Ophan is
an anlel of Asiyah. Set- Pardn Rimcnim 1:7.
9. Th is same idu i, found in &frr H"I,..,," (No.7) qUOIed in
Pardn Ri mQllim 1:7. AlII) !ott Pardn Rimonim 12: 4. 23:8:
Bolril on 2:).
10. Su No. L. 2.
I I. Seo: chapler 2, nOle ,.
12. IIra/alt")' Ta/wI" in Hebrew. The exprusion i. fo und in IIIe MU laf
s.ervitt for RMh HaShanah" 1M. bqinni", of Shofro/, relalilll
10 Ihe revdalion at Sinai. AlII) !ott xf" "a /ylln. in A. / ellinek.
(iltlzt J' Ch.akhmal "aKaixlllah. p. I I . where il il identified with
Ihe Cha.Jllmal.
I 3. b odu. 20:2 L. Deuleronomy 4: I I. 5, 19. Cf Psalms is: 10, 97:2,
1 Kinp 8:12.
14. It is therefore a PO"'(T (hal surroundl and holds. Su Appc>ndix
I. nole J6.
15. Allud inlto Psalm 91:1. Se.. nOle 18.
16. T he verse spc>aki of the Mshado ... of Shaddai,M the name aSSO-
cialed ... il h YHOd. Yesod il called Chai . ... hich has a numeri-
cal value of 18. T his is Iherefore the 181h stale of
oonsdousl>C5S.
17. SuNo.3.
is. AUudinl to Psalm 91:1. See note IS .
•
.,
Appendix IV:
Editions and Commentaries
I, This edition ;s nOI ~nlioMd in Otu,. &farim or in Btl EkM
&fadm. It is only listed by W~. p. 10, and Waite, p. J.
2. See """'Na, BaKc>dt.$h in pan 2.
3. Not in Ol:ar &forim or Bet EkM &farim. Mentioned by Waile,
p. 3.
4. The sa~ is true of Ihis edition.
5. Not in O/Zll' &[arim or Bel EW &farim. Men tioned by
GoIdsclimidt.
6. See Shem UaGMoIim. Samd::h 1: Mei, Iknayu, lbIdQl JI(lAri
(Jerusalem, 1%7). pp. 43, 12, 24 1. Repnting Bl'lI.iamin HaLev;
and his fu~r Shmlld. _ Sinai 43: 100 ( 1958). Much of Ihis
boot w:a. taken from CIr..mdat !foYamim (Ismi., 1731). Also
!ott Nt'Na, BaKodeJIr (IsmiT. I n~).
7, Stt Amste rdam ( 1713) edition of &/« Yl'Itirah..
8. Sec £1: Chili,". Jnlrod U~lion. pp. 19.20. Sh"m JlaG~im. A.I~
11, A. Jcllinck. UIIN'IlI"rNall d~ Orit'nu (OLB) 185 I. p . 425,
G . Scholcm. Ki'}'fll &1'" 4:286 (1928). KiI''n' lad BaKlltKlllah
17:7. p. 48 .
9. In Pardn RinrO/1im 12:2, Ihe 32 Palh. found in lhe Raa,'ad a n:
anribuled 10 Y~r HaAru kh , Also s« Oizar ~forim, Pel! 315;
Sh~m HtJGMoIim, Seho lem. foe. cil.
10. Especiall¥ in hi.lellin& up ofl he 23] Galtl. S« Oi:ar Ed~n
HaGanu: 16b. 311; c ha pler 1, nOfe 43.
II. Qr;:ar E4fll /{aGallu: ]6b. quoted in A. Jdlinek, Bn Ifa&f"
]:XU I. AI ... s« Oi:ar S,forim. Peh 316.
12. R. Kir'lheim. Lilltraluri)/al/ dn Ori~IIIJ (Ol B) 1846. p. 666.
quoted in Tfflli rin. p. 10, note 8. Also s« Ibn Ez!'l's Malll~
La.shc" lIaKodn h (Offenbadt, 179]), Introd uction.
13. A. Jelli ...... , MOH:f de U-O" ""d Mill V...Il02/miJ lum Schar
( 1351). p. 46: G. Seholem, " iryal ~ftr 6:387 (J9 }()). H o .... ever,
"" here R. Yehudah Char il qUOl.cs R. Azriel. Ihi. does nOi fitlhe
prinled Ramban , ..,., Chl)'il 3Th, 112b. S« note 16.
14. Donash i. menlioned Iry Abraham Ibn EUI in his commentary
On Genesis 38:9.
15. ImUf dn Eludn Jui,'l'S (REI), Vol. 105. 107, 112. 11 3. 119,
121. Cf Munk, MNolic sur Aboul W.lid,~ ./Qurltll/ AsialiqlU,
1850: A. Neubauu. Cala/opf of 1lt/:Jftr>' Ma macriplJ i ll Ihf
Bodlria" Library No. I I I 8: f urst. Lmna/urb/al/ d~ Qrlm/I
(O LB) 18SO. p. 897.
16. It ~\d be templilllto identify Ihis willi R. E1ieur t;lfWonnC$.
Ht;lwc ver. in Or:a' FA'" Ifa(;(l/Iu: \ 6b. Abulafia wrilC$ thaI the
(()m mcntary of R. Y ittthair. Barda!hi ;,. un ique in il1 trellment
of the 231 GatC$. Elkur of Wonnes utes . simil" S~tlcm .• nd
therefore. Abulaf..,. rou ld not 1I",·c ~n IIi, CI(Immcntary.
17. S« A. J~Hi""Ir.. &ilrlJV:II' (J~lrl!l~ dn Ka/:Jb<>lalr. Vol 2. p.
61: Yehudall l-e ib Dulr.es.. NIIdwl KtNJomim (Hlnovcr. UB),
p. 3. Goldschmidt, p, 39; 01:10, &forim. hi! 3 L7. Tlti. should
be rejC"Ctcd for the rel50llJiven in IlQ(C 16.
18. Stc I n trod ~tion. IIOle 1()9.
]9. S« lbYfot. C/wsigah 13a. - V~Ra.f/t)( · fr(>m h$ikla ] 79a. Aloo
51:"( Rosh. IJnakltcl ~,2 1. MaadM)' )Om TIn. ad /OC,
20. Stc S.D. LuzUl\o. UtI"alWf b/DU tIN Ori~"11 (OLB) 1847, p.
343; ~vid Castell i. 1/ rorn''Il'''k> di Sltabball!ai DonIlOh1. p.
o.
21 . Stc A. Man.. H IlT..-o{dr ~: 195, G . Scllolcm. M a.io'Tmtds. p. is.
Aloo 51:"( Weinbel"J. in Jahrbu<:h dh JunJi~h·Lil"lllitdtnr
Grsft~NJfi 2():28).
22, OI:or S<fiuim. hi! 329, Mordecai Silmuel Girond i. ThJdol
GNIakr YiJra,l..-I./..m 77. GoldSChmidt. p. 42.
21. II is s(",(flCanl Ihal in his commenta ry on 2:3. hc UJCI
Abulafia·s system for !he 23] GatC$.
14 . Set G. Scholcm. Ki/l'rJ' Yad BaKrWallalr 35. p. 93: M.
StcinllChneider. CalajqguJ Lib<:>nlm H rl;1tuft)f1u" i" Bibliotlrfal
Bodlrialla (Berlin. IIU2-60). No. 1793; "J'OIdm Gtd<JI<')' YiJrarl.
M ..m 95, OI.a, &/a,im. Prlr JJO. Julius f llel"5t. Blblkxlrfal
Judail"tl( UipziJ, 1848-63). Vol. 1. p. 187.
2~. for I Icn&thy d iscussion. Stt O. Scllolcm. Kiryal Wn 6:3 85
(1930 ). Cf. Chayit 48a. 91&.
26. Sec note 11. Aoo Stt A. Jdlinek, Bril~ :W, r~ltic~lr tkr
kbbolah 1:9,2:49. Lillrn2lurb/all de Qrir " l$ (OLB) 1851. p.
502. f or I rounler I/"IUmen\, Stt o.aim Dov Chevd. Ki/J'l')I
Ramban 2:452. Aloo sec Paron Rimottim 1:4 (end ~
27. Stc Calalopc MiJnbadr." (Munich. 1888 ) No. 104.
28. Wundcrbar. LillfflJlW, blall rkr Orirnl$ (OLD) 1848. p. n 1.
29. Riliel "'Ill • p$Cudonym of AbulafLl. "'hKh he uJCS in ~
fla£~. Mun Kh. Ms. 28S. publ ished in MOIItI»€ltrjft for
Gnrlricltl .. und "'ilR1l~ dn JutimlUmJ (MOWJ) )6:5n,
and in f(aKa/:Jb<>lalt S~rl S4rr lIa "flomu"ah Vr$h,1 A~m
Abu/afia. p. 197. He 1lQ(C$ that il has the same numerical value
and number of lellCI'I .. his name Abnham, Ott Or lIaSrklw/
7: 1 (92a). CNJ>"a), O/am lIaBalr 70. Rnkl 24&, b actually con-
,.
.,
I.in~a small pOrtiQn from the bqinninr. of ClUlJllJ' Ofum
lIu&1! rqardinr. Ih~ divine Names. [1 also makes use of the
Gemalria sty le ~mini5ttl11 of "bulafla. See DlMr ~forim, Rnh
! 2 l. AI", _ Baley M idrtJJltcl l: I 2.
J.O. Cf. Lndaucr. Lillnal",bloll dn Orintll (OLD) 1 84~. p. 214;
G. Sc~, Kil>'r)' Yad BaKabbalalr 17:8, p. 48.
31. /:.'nM" j6a, " V~A;".·
12. Tiler<: is another manuscript. Parma, di Rossi 399:2. which ;s
also called Taclrukmcni. This. ho"'~'·cr. is more of a commen-
tary on Ihe Bamra ojSlrmuft lfaKatoll. rqardinr. Ihe pllasn of
the IIlOOfI in 746.
H. T he introduction "11$ publi.tted 5epar.ltcly by A. Jcll;nek,
Ptrwsh NolJSd, AdDm Dr 1::"lm, ,,,, (Leip~ig. 18~4). reprinted in
Gi"zey ClrokhmallloKobIxJlo.lr, Jel'\lsalem, 1969, by A. Geiger.
Pail/rlr. J/ol'anim No.2. Benin, 1860. and by Zusman
Monlener, in Kilvry Rdualr. lerusalem, 1949.
34. Also _ (}f;ar ~farim, ""h 325; S. Munk.. MNotioe sur Aboul
Wal id." .k!llnlO/ Asia/iIlU" 1850; Dayid Casti11i.1I romm"nlO di
Shabbalhal DiHlnoIo. p . vi; M .H. Landa"",., Lilln'tl/wrb/all tk,
Ori" nts (OLB) 1845. p_ 562 ff Munich manuscript oontains
commcntarin or Saadi.. Yaakoy ben Nissan. SlIahbatai
Donelo. and Yi t~hak Yisra~li.
)S. See A. Jel linek, BrilrlJgr :11' G~hichll' dn KablJalah 2:)9,
()f;;ar Sifarim. Prlr 326.
J.6. Ot;;ar Stfarim. PrlI 322.
31. Ot;;ar Stfiuim. P"h 32). Also in Marr:o!illl l;;"ah (Am,tndam,
1122), Cj S. Munk. NO/icesu, R. Saadia, p. 16.
38. Sec Gabrial Falk. introduction 10 Ciloiam Talihnil (Amslerdam,
1865).p.7.
39. Sec note 10.
4{). In UbI",. Sha.s 32b. there is also. oomment on the fint Mish-
nah of !kfrr Yl'lzi,ah. Also 'Itt £IZ Clraim. Shaa, TaNTA 5-7.
SIrmlr Maamatry RaJltbi. p. 299a.
4 1. Cj Lillnalurb!all dn Ori"nts (O LB) 1844. p. 481 ; Ol:a,
SrIa,,"'. Prlr 328_
42. Theu are. ho_'-er, early citations thaI do nol appear 10 aVtt
with thio publi,hed commentary. we Chayil 19b. 198b; Ot:ar
Chaim 17b.
43. Sec RLTu" tk, t./udn j"iPn (REJ) 107: 109 (1 947). Also we
Shlomo Yehudah F~nd, lJu.f Buch Ilbn dn £/",,",1$ (lei pzi&.
1884).8:9_
44 . Sec G. &hoIem. Ki,yat Sifn 4:286-302 (L928~ Also see M.
Sieins""ide •. Ca/alcgu" MallCh"n", lf~riJdr", lIal1tiKhrf/ttn
115:3. Cj Botril on 2:1. 2:6, 6: 1.
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