Kabbalistic and Mystical Jewish Texts
Listed here is a VERY brief description of some major works associated with, which are the basis of, and are commentaries on, the Kabbalah. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but is a good start for anyone who wishes to begin to delve into the world of the Kabbalah.
The first two form the foundation of Kabbalistic thought, while the rest are either inspired by Kabbalistic thought and texts, or are commentaries on the foundation works.
*Zohar: Otherwise known as the 'Book of Splendour' or the 'Book of Light', it has been attributed to Rabbi Simon ben Jochai who lived around AD160, but as with many of these texts, this is in dispute. It was supposedly written by Rabbi Simon be Jochai after he fled from the Romans, and was hiding in a cave. Therein he was inspired to write this work. It is a collection of separate treatises on the Deity, Angels, Souls and Cosmology. It is likely that some of this was simply the written version of the oral tradition of the time, and the rest were additions made by other hands at a later time. As a whole, it was published by Rabbi Moses de Leon of Guadalajara, in Spain circa 1290, and continued to be printed from that time on.
Its constituent parts are called: Siphra Dtsenioutha (Book of Concealed Mysteries), Ha Idra Rabba (The Greater Assembly), Ha Idra Suta (The Lesser Assembly), Hikaloth (The Palaces), Sithre Torah (Mysteries of the Law), Midrash ha Neelam (The Secret Commentary), Raja Mahemna (The Faithful Shepherd), Saba Demishpatim (Discourse of the Aged), The Prophet Elias, Januka (The Young Man), and notes called Tosephta and Mathanithan.
*Sepher Yetzirah: Otherwise known as the 'Book of Formation', it is supposedly the oldest treatise. Attributed by legend to Abraham the Patriarch, but also said to be attributed to Rabbi Akiba around 100AD. It is most likely the written version of an oral tradition rather than being all one man's wisdom. It is a philosophical scheme of creation. It parallels the creation of the universe and the 22 Hebrew letters. Definitely written before the sixth century AD, and probably compiled about 200AD, it is mentioned in the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds. It is written in neo-Hebraic language, like the Mishna, but translated into English often through French. It is composed of less than 2000 (Hebrew) words.
Introduction to the Kabbalah Unveiled: Samuel Liddell McGregor Mathers. (1888).
Introduction to the Kabbalah: William Wynn Westcott.
The Doctrine and Literature of the Kabbalah: Arthur E Waite (of the Rider Waite Tarot Deck notoriety).
The Holy Kabbalah: Arthur E Waite.
The Mystical Kabbalah: Dion Fortune (1970).
Elements of the Qabalah and the living Qabalah: Will Parfitt.
Commentary on the Ten Sephiroth: Rabbi Azariel ben Menachem (1200AD).
The Alphabet: Rabbi Akiba.
The Gate of Heaven: Unknown.
The Book of Enoch: Unknown.- can be found at the 7th Star
here.
Pardes Rimmonim: Otherwise known as the 'Garden of the Pomegranates'- Unknown
A Treatise on The Emanations: Unknown.
Otz Ha Chiim: Cajim Vital. Otherwise known as the 'Tree of Life'.
Rashith Ha Gagulim: Isaac de Loria. Otherwise known as 'Revolutions of the Souls'.
The Fountain of Life and The Crown of the Kingdom: Ibn Gebirol (also known as Avicebron) who died 1070AD.
I have attempted to review the commentary papers, but because of lack of access, I have not been able to do all of them. Those I have reviewed, I have read, and those I haven't I am either in the midst of reading, or haven't managed to get a copy of yet. So if you have a copy of these, or a copy of any other good Kabbalistic texts, feel free to mail them to me and I will do my best to wade through them.