Abraham Abulafia: A Starter Kit

Appendix III

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

The Earliest Recoverable Text of Sefer Yesira

anao urtwa mKas nw m ppn naan mxVs ma-™ D'nun a^Vw (i)

.1(1)301 naDI IDDH

mm nnai wm nna rc»n mmsK -hm? naoa nana mrnao -row (3)

.nai puni nVaa yxaxa nmaa

nasna nn rros nnK Km -vm ,vm xVi nizw nana mrac n^i?

bv nsv awm inn Vv nm navm ana mpm ana pna nraa nam

.13iaa

nan n oxi innnVo naV ana nanVa T s °^ 3 ^^ ™Taa n^

nna nnnai m nan Vsn aitzn xisn i^k: -piz? aipa*7 aw

nVma nanViw pioa in^nm jnV'nna pio pw nana mmao to*

naio nnK na nnK ^dVi w n pKi nnK nsvntf

pawn n^xn j?nw nno jnV pK^ "^ pmai nana mmao tot

paim nnta pail? nnn paim an paw in paim ait? paiv nnnx

iViaa 7una raxj n>a *?k mm pnKi mn paim pas pan* anva

1 iv nv mn itznp p3?»a

ina nam rp TnV px on^am pian nKiaa tn^as nana mmao -raw

aAnni^a an iKaa ^dVt iaimv naioa naKam awn Kisna

unipn nn x*n it a"n annx nn nnK nana mmao nttfv

awn ninn vanK na asm ppn nna nn a^ntz? (12)
runi? raa ti?Pn wen u?an imai mm ana asm ppn mna a^a wbv (13)

nanva paa pan, nam paa prsn

ntw ama narc ana Kas Van maa Koa na asm ppn a^aa vx otk (14)
1 mnnrax^a

lanm nuaV ma nnn ann vw inn, lanm nVvaV ma an ann won (15)
ma anva ann mow 'ina lanm i^a 1 ? ma nma ann vaw nva
ann -raw ma lanm iran ma am ann yrcn ma lanm innx 1 ?

nna lanm nxa;zn ma pas

nwa nVva u?k a^a mm a^n amVK nn nana mmao n^v iV^k

anm pas anva mta

mtawD nn^v a^n^i nniaa va^ maK w 1 ?© ma^ nvmK wrm an^v
u?ana naa rvunap nna maisn Vipa mpipn nvmx dtiwi an^v] (17)

[pu7 dt nn on pa n ^ la s?n nK maipa

(8)
(10)

(16)
(9)

Introduction

fx lai 1 ? ja'o mnxi d-ud VjVji ntn V;faa rrunap nvmx DTion anwy (18)

y:na nuti? nyia oxi miso nVyaV mien
]T»'m fVpiy pis psn ]ppn nvrnx DTiun anew (19)
ma dv jVai i^d ny ma T7X ay jVai ,d>3 nv t^x ]mam f?pw ira]
xsa3 anyu> nnxi D'tz^un DTixaa nixsv lxsaj nVnn nnnn iVai

pnx oun xxv main "731 mm Va
lrxw mixa nnvu omns asm wi wxa ix^yi waa imna ns' (20)

.warn
.D^nm ynaa pn pwVi nam npi mm *p pio 1 wax m»'x rciVw (23)
uaai myau wa oinm xVDiai noiaa ?m mo wax max u?iVu7 (24)

.nipi'] laia Vmnai nm □'» wx I'xxv
.D^nan [ynaa pn] mm nuaV n*n nVyaV wx [max] (n)u?Vu? (25)
.D'naa ynaa pn mi fjVx npmw pw naan on wax max wVw (26)
rnun nm DViy3 mix in onm ma iV iwpi nna ^Vx nx mVan] (32)

.WD23 TT'IAI

lorn mw3 mpi oViya px 13 anm ma i 1 ? nwpi o^aa Da nx mVan (33)

.WD33

mwa mm DViya D^aw in onm nna iV nwpi wxa "fit? nx mVan (34)

[.WD33 wxm

naam Dnwi a^n mnwV Tiwa rrumna rnioa ua nniDa yaw (37a)
n*7T nVi ^an Va^ *»a *»a mwV 'nun nnmnai nVwaa ym p nwiyi
wVm 113^ nwpi pn vn vn ©n wn "»s 's *p *p
nVn V»i Va'a >3 'a nmwV ^JW3 mwanwa rnaa naa mViaa y3W] (37b)
mVisa w^m maa mm nwpi *p vn vn urn urn •-s ■»*) *p *]3 nVn
nman nVix naan nman yn diVw nman ma D"n nman nman ]nw
[nmy nViyaa nman mx^a ]n nman naaw ym nman my n^iy
x^ij xini] y^ax3 ]3ia ump Va^m nnxp ^U7 msa *n3 mVioa yaty (38)

[oVia nx
onyun d'»' o^aaia pa mn pns psn }ppn moa i:o mVioa yau? (39)
yaix DTD nu7iy niDi3 tyi"?^ o^na iw mna d ,j 33x "-nw ]Dns is nrxa (40)

maia 12?^ DTia onu?yi nxa m]ia iyan dtd yaixi onu?y ni3i3

ixa-'a dti3 D">y3ixi d'dVx nuron ni3ia y3w D^na nn^yi mxa yai^

nVia^ pixn pxu? nai nan'? nVia 1 - nsn pxu? na awm xs ^xi

yiau? 1 ?
^D3 m3V nm /m 1 ? DViy n3 1 ? mx nnx p^aym D^yn nx ns^n] (43c)

nn^ nmn nyaiy mxn piD - - psyoi^Dmin mnws miyy D^n^ (45)
.mw nmn pinty mi m^n niyya ^atyn nu-'yV
Viai mam mnma Via^ n^ios mnma Vi3i poa^x ,t 7i3a n^y d-w (47)

nmDs Vi3i mnnn nmDs Vina nmnn mnma Vi3J man mniTa

main maiya Vias mnnn rvaiso Vi3^ man nmss Viai maiya

n'-an mam Viaj mnnn mam Vi3i rvon m3iya Vi3i.

Appendix III: The Earliest Recoverable Text o/Sefer Yesira

51

mVia DH3 isi imam fipw psn pns ppn mows nnyy dtw lv, (48a)

DTmai ffipim
^nVx D"n wnbx mxas "v 'n 11 nc inau; nvmx o^nun anu?y irx]

[iaiy u?npi ny piu? xwn m Vx'ny'
■»Viax n^y Q'atm pTiixasn D^u^aa nyaiyi in^nVim max n^Vw
u?D3i nau? oViy D-'jaxi ony naiV n-'xm foiVax
oViya ^Vn .a 1 ?! VxVai ,t 7n3 pipo iwy d^^i nyDiyi nwVu? mew pn
nanVaa -j^aa u?D33 3V nana3 i^aa n3U73 V^Vj ixoa bv i^aa
3ioa 3iDi yia yn yn naiyV 3iD a^nVx myy ht naiyV m f on Va dj
d^iu 1 ? HT13J mitt 3iu nx i'nao ym vi nx j^nao aiu
D^nVxn nwy m nayV ht nx dj nanVa i^aa pi»i nana p aa ]x^y i,s (48a)
mxi myVu? Vy ^piVn nu7Vw nya^ naiy i-q 1 ? inx mx n^Vu? (48b)
niz?V^i D'anx n^V^ nan"7a3 inaiy niyy o^w D^n33 ynaa pin
nTa m ppnx iViai a^n^aa nurV^i D^na n^Vty n'amx
" vVy hVpd iT3 nnVyi 3wm npm ^nsi isi nrax Dmax pantro (6i)

(56a)

(58a)

(59)

(60b)

1.7 Long and Sandyan Recension form.

1.8 Short Recension form.

APPENDIX 1

SEFER YETS1RA

(A translation of Ms A, the earliest manuscript
of the long recension)

5X1 Yah . the Lorcl of hosts, the God of Israel, the Living God, God Almighty,
high and lofty, dwelling for ever, and holy is his name (Is.57:15), carved out
thirty-two wondrous paths of wisdom. He created his universe with three
(groups of) letters: with sefer. and sefer and sefer.

5X2 Ten sefirot belima and twenty-two fundamental letters.

SY3 Ten sefirot belima: the number of the ten fingers, five opposite five,
and the covenant of the unity is placed exactly in the middle by the word
of the tongue and the mouth, and the circumcision of the foreskin.

SY^ Ten sefirot belima: ten and not nine, ten and not eleven. Understand
with wisdom, and be wise with understanding. Test them and investigate
them; know and ponder, and form (a mental image). Explain the matter
clearly, and restore the Creator to his place. And their measure is ten, for
they have no end.

SY5 Ten sefirot belima: restrain your heart from thinking; restrain your
mouth from speaking. And if your heart races return to the place from
whence you came, and remember that thus it is written: And the living
creatures ran to and fro(Ezek.1:H). And concerning this matter a covenant
was made.

SY6 Their measure is ten, for they have no end. Their end is fixed in their
beginning as the flame is bound to the burning coa/(cf.Ezek.1:13). Know and
ponder, and form (a mental image) that the Lord is unique and the Creator
one, and he has none second to him; and before one, what can you count?

SY7 Ten sefirot belima; and their measure is ten, for they have no end -
dimension of beginning and dimension of end, dimension of good and dimension
of evil, dimension of above and dimension of below, dimension of east and
dimension of west, dimension of north and dimension of south. And the unique
Lord, a trustworthy divine king, rules over them al! from his holy, abode for
ever and ever.

SY8 Ten sefirot belima: looking at them is like observing lightning, and their

end? - they have no limit. His word is in them as though running (k* raso ,

Ezek.lMO, and they pursue his command like the storm wind, and before his
throne they bow down.

SY9 Ten sefirot belima and twenty-two fundamental letters - three matrices,
seven double letters, and twelve simple ones; and the Spirit is one of them.

SY10 Ten sefirot belima: one - the Spirit of the Living God. His throne is
established from of o/d(Ps.93:2). Twice blessed is the name of him who lives
for ever. Voice, and air(ruah) and speech - this is the Holy Spirit(ruah).

SY1 1 Ten sefirot belima: one - the Spirit of the Living God; two -
aether(ruah) from the Holy Spirit; three - water from aether; four - fire

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from water; and above and below, east and west, north and south.

SY12 Two - aether from Spirit: he carved and hewed in it the four
directions of space - east and west, north and south. And the Spirit is in
each one of them.

SY

bohu

12 Three - water from aether: he carved and hewed in it tohu and
hu(cf.Gen.1:2), mud and m/re(cf.Is.57:Z0). He made then like a sort of
.,_,. ,. _j- <-„.,„,. c.->i uq arorteri them like a sort of wall, and

garden-bedtcf. Song of Songs 6:2). He erected them like a sort of wall
he wove them like a sort of ceiling. And he poured out snow over them and
it became dust, for it is said: For to the snow he says, "Become earth (Job
37:6). Tohu is a green tine which surrounds the world. Bohu is the slimy
stones sunk in the abysses between which the water comes out.

S YU Four - fire from water: he carved and hewed in it the throne of

glory, and the Ofanim and the Serafim, and the holy living creatures, and the

ministering angels. And from the three of them he founded his abode: he
makes his angels windsi ruhot), his servants a flaming fire(Ps.104:4).

SY15 Five - he sealed above. He chose three simple letters and fixed

them in his great name - YHW. And he sealed with then the six edges (of the

universe), and turned upwards and sealed it with YHW.

Six - he sealed below. He turned downwards and sealed it with YWH.

Seven - he sealed the east. He turned in front and sealed it with HYW.

Eight - he sealed the west. He turned behind and sealed it with HWY.

Nine - he sealed the south. He turned to his right and sealed it with WYK.

Ten - he sealed the north. He turned to his left and sealed it with WHY.

SY16 These are the ten sefirot belima: one - the Spirit of the Living God;
two - aether from the Spirit; three - water from aether; four - fire from
water; and the height above, and below, east and west, north and south.

SY17 Twenty-two fundamental letters: three matrices, seven double letters,
and tweive simple ones. They are carved out by the voice, hewed out in the
air, fixed in the mouth in five positions: Alef, Het; He. Ayin; Bet, Waw, Mem,
Pe; Gimel, Yod, Kaf, Qof; Dalet, Tet, Lamed, Nun, Taw; Zayin, Samek, Sade,
Resh. Shin. They are bound to the tip of the tongue as the flame to the
burning coal. Alef, He, Het, Ayin are pronounced at the back of the tongue
and in the throat. Bet, Waw. Mem. Pe are pronounced between the teeth and
by the tip of the tongue. Gimel, Yod. Kaf, Oof are cut off a third of the
way up the tongue. Dalet, Tet, Lamed, Nun, Taw are pronounced by the tip
of the tongue with the voice. Zayin. Sade, Resh, Shinlare pronounced) between
the teeth with the tongue relaxed.

SY1B Twenty-two fundamental letters. They are fixed on a wheel with two
hundred and twenty-one gates. The wheel rotates backwards and forwards.
And this is the sign of the matter: if for good, above pleasure) ng), and if
for evil, below paining ).

SY13 Twenty-two tetters: he carved them out, he hewed them, he weighed
them and exchanged them, he combined them and formed with them the life
of all creation and the tife of all that would be formed. How did he weigh
and exchange them? - Alef with them alt, and them all with Alef; Bet with

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them all, and them all with Bet; Gimel with them all, and them all with Gimel.

And they all rotate in turn. The result is that they go out by two hundred

and twenty-one gates. The result is that all creation and all speech go out
by one name.

SY20 He formed substance from chaos, and he made it with fire and it
exists, and he hewed out great columns from intangible air. This is the sign:

SY21 (This paragraph sets out the great columns of combinations of each
letter of the alphabet with all the others)

SY22 He looks and exchanges; he makes all creation and all speech one name.
And a sign for the matter: twenty-two objects in one body.

SY23 Three matrices: Alef, Mem, Shin. Their basis is the scale of acquittal
and the scale of guilt, and the language of law holds the balance between
them.

SY21 Three matrices: Alef, Mem, Shin - a great secret, hidden and ineffable,
and sealed with six seals. And from it goes out fire, water and aether, and
it is enveloped in male and female. Know and ponder and form (a mental
image) that fire evaporates water.

SY25 Three matrices: Alef, Mem. Shin. The offspring of the heavens - fire;
the offspring of air - aether; the offspring of earth - water; fire above,
water below, and aether is the balancing item.

SY26 Three matrices: Alef, Mem. Shin. Mem is silent, Shin hisses, Alef is the

balancing item.

SY27 Three matrices: Alef, Mem, Shin. And from them were born three
fathers from whom everything was created.'

S_Y28 Three matrices - Alef, Mem, Shin - in the universe: aether, water and
fire. Heaven was created first from fire, and earth was created from
water, and air was created from aether, holding the balance between them.

SY29 Three matrices - Alef, Mem, Shin - in the year: fire, water and aether.
Heat was created from fire, cold was created from water, and humidity from
aether holding the balance between them.

SY30 Three matrices - Alef, Mem, Shin - in mankind. The head was created
from fire, the belly from water, and the chest from aether holding the
balance between them.

SY31 Three matrices: Alef, Mem, Shin. He carved them, hewed them, combined
them and sealed with them the three matrices in the universe, and the three
matrices in the year, and the three matrices in mankind, male and female.

SY32 He made Alef rule over aether, and bound to it a crown, and combined
them with each other, and formed with them air in the universe, humidity in
the year, and the chest in mankind, male and female - male with Alef, Mem,
Shin, and female with Alef, Shin, Mem.

SY33 He made Mem rule over water, and bound to it a crown, and combined
them with each other, and formed with it earth in the universe, cold in the
year, and the belly in mankind, male and female.

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SY3^ He made Shin rule over fire, and bound to it a crown, and combined
them with each other, and formed with it heaven in the universe, and heat
in the year, and the head in mankind, male and female.

SY35 How did he combine them? - AMSJi, A£hM, MA^H, MSJ1A, SJJMA, £HAM -
heaven/fire, air/aether, earth/water. Man's head is fire, his belly water, his
heart aether.

SY36 Three matrices: Alef, Men, Shin.

There was formed with Alef: aether, air, humidity, the chest, law, and

language(the tongue).
There was formed with Me«: earth, cold, the belly, and the scale of

acquittal .
There was formed with Shin: heaven, heat, the head, and the scale of

guilt.
This is Alef, Men, Shin.

SY37 Seven double letters: Bet, Gimel, Oalet; Kaf, Pe. Resh. Taw. Their basis is
life and peace, wisdom, wealth, prosperity, beauty and mastery. They are
pronounced with the tongue in two different positions, for they represent
two categories of opposites: Bet/Vet, Gimel/Ghimel, Dalet/ Dhalet, Kaf/Khaf.
Pe/Fe, Resh/Rhesh, Taw/Thaw, corresponding to soft and hard, a paradigm of
strong and weak. They are opposites. The opposite of life is death; the
opposite of peace is evil; the opposite of wisdom is folly; the opposite of
wealth is poverty; the opposite of prosperity is desolation; the opposite of
beauty is ugliness; and the opposite of mastery is slavery.

SY38 Seven double letters: Bet. Gimel, Dalet; Kaf. Pe. Resh. Taw. Seven and
not six, seven and not eight - (corresponding to) the six ribs and the six
faces (of a cube), and the Holy Temple set in the middle. Blessed be the
glory of the Lord from his p/ace(Ezek.3:1 2) - he is the place of his world,
but his world is not his place. And he supports them all.

SY39 Seven double letters: Bet. Gimel. Dalet; Kaf, Pe, Resh, Taw. He carved
and hewed them, he combined and weighed them, and he formed with them
the planets in the universe, the days in the year, and the apertures in
mankind, by sevens.

SY40 How did he combine them? - two stones build two houses; three build
six houses; four build twenty-four houses; five build one hundred and twenty
houses; six build seven hundred and twenty houses; seven build five thousand
and forty houses. From here on go out and ponder what the mouth cannot
speak, and what the eye cannot see, and what the ear cannot hear.

SY41 f 1) He made Bet rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined

one with another, and formed with it Saturn in the universe, the sabbath in

the year, and the mouth in mankind.

(2)He made Gimel rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Jupiter in the universe, the first day of the

week in the year, and the right eye in mankind.

(3)He made Dalet rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined with

another, and formed with it Mars in the universe, the second day of the

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week in the year, and the left eye in mankind.

(4)He made Kaf rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Sun in the universe, the third day of the week

in the year, and the right nostrj.1 in mankind.

(5)He made Pe rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Venus in the universe, the fourth day of the

week in the year, and the left nostril in mankind.

(G)He made Resh rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Mercury in the universe, the fifth day of the

week in the year, and the right ear in mankind.

(7)He made Taw rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it the Moon in the universe, the sixth day of the

week in the year, and the left ear in mankind.

SY42 And with them were carved out seven firmaments, seven earths, seven
hours and seven days. Therefore he loved the seventh above everything
under heaven.

SY43 These are the seven planets in the universe: Sun, Venus,

Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars.
And the seven days: the seven days of creation.

And the seven apertures in mankind: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils,

and the mouth.
And the seven firmaments: Wilon, Raqia , Shehaqim, Zebul, Ma on, Hakon,

Arabot .
And the seven earths: 'dama, arqa, tebel, neshiyya, siyya, heled,

'eres.
He split up the witnesses and made each one stand by itself - the universe
by itself, the year by itself, mankind by itself.

SY44 Seven double letters: Bet, Gimel, Dalet; Kaf, Pe, Resh, Taw.
There was formed with Bet: Saturn, the sabbath, the mouth, life and

death.
There was formed with Gimel: Jupiter, the first day of the week, the

right eye, peace and evil.
There was formed with Dalet: Mars, the second day of the week, the

left eye, wisdom and folly.
There was formed with Kaf: the Sun, the third day of the week, the

right nostril, wealth and poverty.
There was formed with Pe: Venus, the fourth day of the week, the left

nostril, prosperity and desolation.
There was formed with Resh: Mercury, the fifth day of the week, the

right ear, beauty and ugliness.
There was formed with Taw: the Moon, the preparation of the sabbath,

the left ear, mastery and slavery.

SYA5 Twelve simple tetters: He. Waw, Zayin. Het, Tet, Yod, Lamed, Nun, Samek,
Ayin, Sade, Qof. Their basis is sight, hearing, smelling, talking, eating, sexual
intercourse, action, walking, anger, laughter, thought and sleep.

SY4 6 Twelve simple letters: He, Waw, Zayin, Het, Tet, Yod, Lamed. Nun. Samek.
Ayin, Sade, Oof. Twelve and not eleven, twelve and not thirteen.

32

SY47 Twelve diagonal lines, radiating out to the six faces (of a cube),
separating in each direction: - the south-eastern line, the upper eastern line,

the lower eastern line, the lower northern line, the north-western line, the

upper northern line, the lower western line, the upper western line, the

upper western line, the lower western line, the lower southern line, the

upper southern line. And they expand continually for ever and ever and they
are the arms of the un/Verse(cf. Deut.33:Z7).

SY4B Twelve simple letters: He, Waw, Zayin, Het, Tet, Yod, Lamed, Nun, Samek,
Ayin, Sade, Qof. He carved them, he combined them, he hewed them, he
weighed them and exchanged them, and formed with them the constellations,
the months, and the principal (bodily) organs: two exultant ones, two babbling
ones, two deliberating ones and two rejoicing ones. They are the internal
organs and the two hands and feet. He made them a sort of lawsuit, he
arranged them in battle array, one opposite the other(cf.Eccles.7:14). Three -
each one stands by itself; seven - three are at loggerheads with three, and
one is the law which decides between them. Twelve stand in battle array:
three are hostile but three love; three give life but three kill. And the
divine, trustworthy king rules over them all - one on top of three, and
three on top of seven, and seven on top of twelve. And they all adhere to
each other. And the sign for the matter is: twenty-two objects in one body.

SY49 Twelve simple letters: He, Waw, Zayin, Het. Tet, Yod. Lamed, Nun, Samek,
Ayin, Sade, Qof. He carved them and hewed them out, he combined them,
weighed them and exchanged them, and formed with them the twelve
constellations in the universe, the twelve months in the year, and the twelve
principal organs in mankind.

These are the twelve constellations in the universe: Aries, Taurus, Gemini,

Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Saggitarius, Capricorn, Aquarius,

Pisces.
And the twelve months are: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishri,

Marheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar.
These are the twelve principal organs in mankind: two hands, two feet, two

kidneys, the liver, the gall, the spleen, the gullet, the intestines

and the stomach.

SY50 Three mothers: Alef, Hem. Shin; and seven double letters: Bet, Gimel.
Dalet; Kaf, Pe, Resh, Taw; and twelve simple letters: He. Waw, Zayin, Het. Tet,
Yod, Lamed, Nun, Samek, Ayin, Sade. Qof.

SY51 These are the twenty-two letters by which Yah, the Lord of Hosts, the
God of Israel, the Living God, God Almighty, high and lofty, dwelling for ever
and holy is his name(Is.57: 1 5), laid the foundation.

SY52 f 1 ) He made He rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined

one with another, and formed with it Aries in the universe, Nisan in the

year, and the liver in mankind.

(2)He made Waw rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one

with another, and formed with it Taurus in the universe, Iyyar in the

year, and the gall in mankind.

(3)He made Zayin rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Gemini in the universe, Sivan in the year, and

33

the spleen in mankind.

(4)He made Het rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Cancer in the universe, Tamrauz in the year, and

the gullet in mankind.

(5)He made Tet rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Leo in the universe, Av in the year, and the

right kidney in mankind.

(6)He made Yod rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Virgo in the universe, Elul in the year, and

the left kidney in mankind.

(7)He made Lamed rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Libra in the universe, Tishri in the year, and

the intestines in mankind.

(8)He made Nun rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Scorpio in the universe, Marheshvan in the

year, and the stomach in mankind.

(9)He made Sanek rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Sagittarius in the universe, Kislev in the

year, and the right hand in mankind.

(10)He made Ayin rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Capricorn in the universe, Tevet in the year,

and the left hand in mankind.

(11)He made Sade rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Aquarius in the universe, Shevat in the year,

and the right foot in mankind.

(12)He made Qof rule, and bound to it a crown, and combined one with

another, and formed with it Pisces in the universe, Adar in the year, and

the left foot in mankind.

SY53 He split up the witnesses and made- each one stand by itself - the
universe by itself, the year by itself, and mankind by itself.

5Y54 Twelve simple letters: He, Waw, Zayin, Het, Tet, Tod,

Lamed, Nun, Samek, Ayin, Sade, Qof.

(1)There was formed with He: Aries, Nisan, the liver, sight and

blindness.

(2)There was formed with Waw: Taurus, Iyyar, the gall, hearing and

deafness .

(3)There was formed with Zayin: Gemini, Sivan, the spleen, smelling

and anosmia.

(4)There was formed with Het: Cancer, Tammuz, the gullet, talking and

dumbness.

(5)There was formed with Tet: Leo, Av, the right kidney, eating and

hunger.

(S)There was formed with Yod: Virgo, Elul, the left kidney, action

and paralysis.

(7)There was formed with Lamed: Libra, Tishri, the intestines, sexual

intercourse and impotence.

(8)There was formed with Nun: Scorpio, Marheshvan, the stomach,

walking and lameness.

(9)There was formed with Samek: Sagittarius, Kislev, the right hand,

anger and equanimity.

(10)There was formed with Ayin: Capricorn, Tevet, the left hand,

laughter and sadness.

3U

(H)There was formed with Sade: Aquarius, Shevat, the right leg,
thought and thoughtlessness.

(12)There was formed with Qof: Pisces, Adar, the left leg, sleep
and insomnia.

SYS5 This is He. Waw, Zayin, Het, Tet, Yod, Lamed. Nun, Samek, Ayin, Sade.
Oof. And they all adhere to the Hook, the Diurnal Sphere, and the heart.

SY56 Three matrices, seven double letters, and twelve simple ones: these are
the twenty-two letters by which Yah, the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel,
the Living God, God Almighty, high and lofty, dwelling for ever, and holy is his
name(Ts.57:15), carved out (the universe). Yah - two names; Yahweh - four
names; hosts - it is a sign in his host; God of Israel - he is a prince before
God; Living God - three are called living: the Living God, running t = living)
water, the tree of life; God Almighty - a strong God; Almighty (shadday) - so
far sufficient(day). high - for he dwells in the height of the universe, higher
than the highest; and lofty - for he lifts and supports both above and
below, for all who lift are below and what they lift is above, but he is
above and what he lifts is below, and he lifts and supports all his universe;
dwelling for ever - for his kingdom is eternal and has no end; and holy is his
name - for he is holy, and his servants are holy, and every day they say to
him, "Holy, holy, ho/y"(Is.B:3).

SY57 Twelve below and seven above on top of them, and three on top of
seven. And from the three of them he founded his abode. And they all
depend on one - a sign for the One who has none second to him, a King
unique in his universe, for he is one and his name one.

^Y58 Three fathers and their offspring, and seven dominant ones and their
hosts, and the twelve diagonal tines. And a proof for the matter
trustworthy witnesses: the universe, the year and mankind. The universe -
its counting is by ten; the year - its counting is by ten; mankind - its
counting is by ten. And there are twenty-two objects in each one. In the
universe there are three: fire, air and water; and seven planets and twelve
constellations. In the year there are three: cold, heat and the temperate
state; and the seven days of creation, and the twelve months. In mankind
there are three: the head, the belly and the chest; and the seven exits, and
the twelve principal organs.

SY59 There is a law of ten, three, seven and twelve. They are present in
the Hook, the diurnal sphere, and the heart. The Hook in the universe is
like a king on his throne; the diurnal sphere in the year is like a king in a
province; the heart in mankind is like a king at war.

SY60 The sum of the matter: in some cases these are combined with those,
and those with these; these are opposites of those, and those of these;
these correspond to those, and those to these; and if these do not exist,
neither do those. So Cod has created every object, one opposite the
other(cf.Eccles.7: K): good opposite evil - evil from evil and good from good.
Good is stored up for the good.

SY61 When Abraham our father came, and looked, and saw, and investigated,
and understood, and carved, and combined, and hewed, and pondered, and
succeeded, the Lord of all was revealed to him. And he made him sit in his
bosom, and kissed him upon his head. He called him his friend and named him

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his son, and made a covenant with him and his seed for ever. And he trusted
in the Lord, and he accounted it to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). And he
invoked upon him the glory of the Lord, as it is written: Before I formed
you in the womb, I knew you, ptc.(Jer.1:5). He made with him a covenant
between the ten toes of his feet - it is circumcision. He made with him a
covenant between the ten fingers of his hands - it is language/the tongue.
He bound twenty-two letters into his language/tongue, and the Holy One
revealed to him the secret. He drew them out into water, he burned them
into fire, he shook them into the air, he branded them into the seven, he
led them into the twelve constellations.

SY62 (1)Air, temperate state and chest; earth, cold and the belly;
heaven, heat and the head. This is Alef, He«, Shin.

(2)Saturn, sabbath and the mouth; Jupiter, the first day of the week and
the right eye; Mars, the second day of the week and the left eye; the Sun,
the third day of the week and the right nostril; Venus, the fourth day of
the week and the left nostril; Mercury, the fifth day of the week and the
right ear; the Moon, the sixth day of the week and the left ear. This
Bet, Gimel, Dalet; Kaf, Pe, Resh, Taw.

(3)Aries, Nisan, the liver; Taurus, Iyyar, the gall; Gemini, Sivan, the
spleen; Cancer, Tammuz, the gullet; Leo, Av, the right kidney; Virgo, Elul,
the left kidney; Libra, Tishri, the intestines; Scorpio, Marheshvan, the
stomach; Sagittarius, Kislev, the right hand; Capricorn, Tevet, the left
hand; Aquarius, Shevat, the right foot; Pisces, Adar, the left foot. This
is He, Waw, Zayin, Het, Tet, Tod, Laned, Nun, Samek, Ayin, Sade, Qof.

SY63 H )Three are hostile. These are they: the tongue, the liver

and the gall.
(2)Three love: the eyes, the ears and the heart.

(3)Three give life: the two nostrils and the liver of the left side.
(4)Three kill: the two lower orifices and the mouth.
(5)There are three which are in man's control: the hands, the feet,

and the mouth.
(6)There are three which are not in man's control: his eyes, his ears

and his nostrils.
(7)Three things are heard by the ear and they are evil: cursing,

blasphemy and an evil report.
(8)Three good things are heard by the ear: blessing, praise and a good

report.
(9)There are three evil sights: an adulterous leer, an evil eye and a

deceptive look.
(10)There are three good sights: modesty, a good eye, and a trustworthy

look.
(11)Three things are bad for the tongue: Ke who speaks evir in the

presence of his fellow, he who slanders,

and he who speaks one thing with the mouth

but another with the heart.
(12)Three things are good for the tongue: silence, reticence, and

speaking the truth.

SY64 This is the book of the letters of Abraham our father which is called
"The Laws of creation". There is no limit to the wisdom of all who look into
it.

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APPENDIX 2

THE STRUCTURE OF SEFER YETSIRA

Paragraphs 1-16

THE TEN SEFIROT

These are the ten sefirot belima: the Spirit of the Living God,
and aether, water, fire, above, below, east, west, north and south.
(Para. 16)

Paragraphs 17-22 THE 22 LETTERS OF THE IIEDREW ALPHADET
These are divided into three groups:

1. Alef(n- '), Mem(n.- m) , Shin(w- sh); the three matrices.

2. Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Kaf ,Pe, Resh, Taw; the seven double letters.

3. The twelve simple letters; the rest of the Hebrew alphabet.

Paragraphs 23-36

THE THREE MATRICES

Primordial elements
Universe( a^iy )
Time( niiu )
Mankind! uJol )
Moral realm

Paragraphs 37-44

Universe

Time

Mankind

Moral f pos.
realm \neg.

Space :

Alef

Mem

Shin

Dalancing

Negative

Positive

aether(ruah)

water (mayim)

f ire( 'esh

air ( 'awir)

earth

heaven

humidity

cold

heat

chest

belly

head

law

guilt

acquittal

THE SEVEN DOUDLE LETTERS

Det Gimel Dalet

Saturn Jupiter Mars

sabbath 1st day 2nd day

mouth right left

eye eye

life peace wisdom

death evil folly

Kaf

Pe

Resh

Taw

Sun

Venus

Mercury

Moon

3rd day

4th day

5th day

6th day

right

left

right

left

nostril

nostril

ear

ear

wealth

prosperity

beauty

mastery

poverty desolation ugliness slavery

the seven double letters also represent the six dimensions of space
(Sefirot 5-10) + the Holy Temple(=God) in the middletpara. 38)

Paragraphs 45-55

THE TWELVE SIMPLE LETTERS

Universe

Time

Mankind

Space

the 12 signs of the zodiac

the 12 months of the year

12 bodily actions (sight, hearing, smelling, etc.)

12 bodily organs (hands, feet, kidneys, liver, etc.)

the 12 diagonal lines which radiate out to the six dimensions of

space = the arms of the universe (Para. 47).

37

Paragraphs 56-64 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Three main statements are made:

1. The correspondence of the macrocosm and the microcosm (Paras.
58-9).

2. The law of the opposites (Para. 60).

3. The revelation to Abraham of the power of the Hebrew language
(Para. 61 ) .

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