Sefer Yetzirah. El Libro de la Creación - by Aryeh Kaplan (Paperback)

About the Book

The Sefer Yetzirah is perhaps the oldest and most mysterious of all Kabbalistic texts. In this landmark work of mystical scholarship, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan brings to light the theoretical, meditative, and magical implications of the text, exploring the worlds of the sefirot, souls, and angels. This classic translation includes five-dimensional meditation, the transition from Binah consciousness to Chokmah consciousness, the point of infinity, Kabbalistic astrology, Ezekiel's vision according to the Sefer Yetzirah, and the mystery of the 231 gates. Also included is a compendium of all the major commentaries on the text of the Sefer Yetzirah and a bibliography of many of the major Kabbalistic works that discuss it, as well as extensive notes on various aspects of the translation. Rabbi Kaplan's translation is based on the Gra version of the text, which is considered the most authentic. The short version, the long version, and the Saadia version are also included, making this volume the most comprehensive work on the Sefer Yetzirah available.

About the Author

Rabi Aryeh Kaplan (1934 - 1983) A noted rabbi and author, Rabbi Kaplan had a background in both physics and Judaism. He is widely viewed as a prolific and original teacher; his work ranged from studies of the Torah, Talmud and works of mysticism to outreach and philosophy. Rabbi Kaplan was born in the Bronx, New York City, and studied in the Torah Voda'at and Mir Yeshivot in Brooklyn. He then studied at Mir in Jerusalem, and was ordained by some of Israel's foremost rabbinic authorities including Rabbi Eliezer Yehudah Finkel. He also earned a masters degree in physics. As a graduate student, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan was described in a scientific "Who's Who" as the most promising young physicist in America. Later "he decided to devote his overflowing heart and massive intellect to the writing and teaching of traditional Torah values". His works are often regarded as a significant factor in the baal teshuva movement. He died suddenly on January 28, 1983, at the age of 48. He was described by Rabbi Pinchas Stolper, his original sponsor, as never fearing to speak his mind. "He saw harmony between science and Judaism, where many others saw otherwise. He put forward creative and original ideas and hypotheses, all the time anchoring them in classical works of rabbinic literature". Rabbi Kaplan's works continue to attract a wide readership, and are read and studied by both novices and the newly religious, as well as by scholars where the extensive footnotes provide a unique resource. His works have been translated into Russian, Modern Hebrew, French and Spanish.