Kabbalah
Sefer Yetzirah
Earliest extant Jewish mystical work describing how God used the Hebrew alphabet and numbers to create the world
Heikhalot Rabbati
Work describing the sage Rabbi Yishmael’s ascent to heavenly palaces and the angelic praises of God that he heard there.
Sefer HaBahir
Collection of esoteric interpretations of biblical verses, among the first kabbalistic texts
Zohar
Zohar
Canonical text of Kabbalah that emerged in 13th-century Spain, traditionally attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
Zohar Chadash
A collection of Zohar-related material found in manuscripts after the printing of the Zohar.
Tikkunei Zohar
Written in the style of the Zohar, this work consists of 70 commentaries on the first word of the Torah
Beur HaGra on Sifra DeTzniuta
18th-century commentary on a core section of the Zohar, by the Vilna Gaon
Idra Zuta
A kabbalistic work that describes Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai gathering a small group of students on the day of his death and revealing to them mystical secrets he had previously withheld.
Ketem Paz on Zohar
16th-century commentary on the Zohar by Rabbi Shimon (ibn) Lavi
Mikdash Melekh on Zohar
First published systematic commentary on the entire Zohar; compiled in the 18th century by Rabbi Shalom Buzaglo
Nefesh David on Zohar
19th-century commentary on the Zohar by Rabbi David Luria.
Ohr HaChammah on Zohar
17th-century commentary on the Zohar compiled in Hebron by Rabbi Avraham Azulai.
Sulam on Zohar
20th-century Hebrew translation and commentary on the Zohar by Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag
Yahel Ohr on Zohar
18th-century commentary on the Zohar collected from writings of the Vilna Gaon.
Ramak
Works of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, a leading 16th-century kabbalist from Tzfat and teacher of the Arizal.
Ohr Ne'erav
16th century Introductory work explaining the importance of Kabbalah and detailing a path of study
Pardes Rimmonim
Encyclopedic summary of early Kabbalah composed in Safed; among the most influential kabbalistic works of its time
Ramchal
Works of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, known by his acronym, Ramchal, a prominent 18th-century Italian rabbi, kabbalist, and philosopher.
Asarah Perakim LeRamchal
Summary of the teachings of the Arizal discussed in the work Etz Chaim
Da'at Tevunot
Dialogue between the intellect and the soul about the purpose of the world and humankind
Derech Etz Chayim (Ramchal)
Introduction to Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah based on Pri Etz Chaim, printed with Mesilat Yesharim.
Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah
Systematic introduction to Lurianic Kabbalah, structured as 138 principles.
Arizal and Chaim Vital
Teachings of the 16th-century founder of modern Kabbalah, Rabbi Isaac Luria (known as the Arizal), as recorded by his students, most prominently Rabbi Chaim Vital.
Pri Etz Chaim
Companion work to Sefer Etz Chaim about intention during prayer and performance of commandments
Sefer Etz Chaim
Foundational anthology of Lurianic Kabbalah presenting its theology and its theory of the world’s creation
Sha'ar HaGilgulim
Rabbi Chaim Vital’s work on the kabbalistic doctrine of reincarnation, based on the Arizal’s teachings, and edited by Vital’s son, Rabbi Samuel Vital
Sha'ar HaHakdamot
R. Chaim Vital’s discourses on fundamental ideas of Kabbalah, based on R. Isaac Luria's teachings and edited by Vital’s son, R. Samuel Vital
Sha'ar HaKavanot
Rabbi Chaim Vital’s kabbalistic interpretations of prayers, based on the teachings of R. Isaac Luria and edited by Vital’s son, Rabbi Samuel Vital
Sha'ar HaMitzvot
Rabbi Chaim Vital’s kabbalistic explanations of biblical commandments, based on the teachings of R. Isaac Luria and edited by Vital’s son, Rabbi Samuel Vital
Sha'ar HaPesukim
Rabbi Chaim Vital’s kabbalistic commentary on the Bible, based on the teachings of R. isaac Luria and edited by Vital’s son, Rabbi Samuel Vital
Sha'ar Ma'amarei Rashbi
Rabbi Chaim Vital’s commentary on the Zohar, based on the teachings of R. Isaac Luria and edited by Vital’s son, Rabbi Samuel Vital
Sha'ar Ma'amarei Razal
Rabbi Chaim Vital’s kabbalistic discourses on passages from rabbinic literature, based on the teachings of R. Isaac Luria and edited by Vital’s son, Rabbi Samuel Vital
Sha'ar Ruach HaKodesh
Rabbi Chaim Vital’s discourse on kabbalistic meditation and customs, based on the teachings of R. Isaac Luria and edited by Vital’s son, Rabbi Samuel Vital
Sha'arei Kedusha
Vital’s guide to living a holy life and attaining divine inspiration through character development.
Baal HaSulam
20th-century kabbalistic works by Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag.
Baal HaSulam's Introduction to Zohar
Accessible introduction to the Zohar and Kabbalah
Baal HaSulam's Preface to Zohar
Essay addressing why one should learn the Zohar, focusing on existential questions like why suffering exists.
Giving; The Essential Teaching of the Kabbalah
21st-century English translation by Aryeh Siegel of R. Yehuda Ashlag’s Kuntres Matan Torah
Introduction to Sulam Commentary
Introduction to Ashlag's Zohar commentary, with a focus on explaining the sefirot and the relationships between them.
Kuntres Mattan Torah
Collection of assorted short treatises
Ohr Penimi on Talmud Eser HaSefirot
20th-century definitions of kabbalistic terms, alongside the author’s more detailed explanation of Rabbi Isaac Luria’s teachings.
Petichah LeChokhmat HaKabbalah
Introductory essay to the study of kabbalah, explaining basic concepts such as light and the breaking of vessels.
Talmud Eser HaSefirot
20th-century detailed explanation of the kabbalistic teachings of Rabbi Isaac Luria.
Gan Naul (Abulafia)
13th-century commentary on Sefer Yetzirah, an early kabbalistic text of unknown authorship, by Abraham Abulafia.
Get HaShemot
13th-century work outlining the ideology and cosmology behind Abraham Abulafia’s approach to Kabbalah.
Ohr HaSekhel
13th-century handbook of “Prophetic Kabbalah” by R. Araham Abulafia, considered the founder of the approach
Other Kabbalah Works
Avodat HaKodesh (Ibn Gabbai)
16th-century comprehensive four-part summary of kabbalistic doctrine
Beur Eser Sefirot
Short 13th-century dialogue explaining the ten sefirot (emanations or attributes of God)
Chesed LeAvraham
17th-century work on various topics by Rabbi Avraham Azulai.
Ma'amar Zohar HaRakia
20th-century work defending the antiquity of the Zohar and its attribution to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
Ma'arekhet HaElokut
Treatise from 14th-century Spain covering fundamental theological issues of Kabbalah
Maaseh Rokeach on Mishnah
18th-century kabbalistic commentary on the Mishnah.
Maggid Meisharim
16th-century mystical diary of Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Arukh, recording his conversations with a maggid, or spiritual being.
Megalleh Amukkot on Parashat VaEtchanan
17th-century work with 252 explanations of Moses’ request to enter Israel in the Book of Deuteronomy.
Mitpachat Sefarim
18th-century polemical work against Sabbateanism disputing the authenticity of the Zohar as an ancient text.
Peri Etz Hadar
First extant work of instructions for a Tu Bishvat seder from an anonymous author in the 18th century.
Recanati on the Torah
13th-century commentary on the Torah; one of the first works to quote the Zohar.
Reshit Chokhmah
16th-century work by Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas that describes a method of meditation that combines visualization and permutation of Hebrew letters
Sefer HaKanah
Commentary on the commandments, traditionally attributed to the second-century sage, Rabbi Nechunya ben HaKanah.
Sha'arei Orah
13th-century guide to the sefirot and the divine names, popular as an introduction to Kabbalah
Sha'arei Tzedek
13th-century work on the sefirot by the author of Sha'arei Orah
Shuvi Shuvi HaShulamit
Early 20th-century introduction to kabbalistic concepts by Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (known as the Ben Ish Chai).
The Beginning of Wisdom
19th-century introduction to kabbalistic thought.
The Wars of God
20th-century work challenging the authenticity of the Zohar and claiming that Kabbalah is a form of idolatry.
Sefer HaCheshek
13th-century work by Abraham Abulafia that describes meditation techniques and letter combinations that help achieve divine connection.
VeZot LiYehuda
13th-century letter in which Rabbi Abraham Abulafia defends himself and his “Prophetic Kabbalah” approach
About Kabbalah
Kabbalah is the primary genre of Jewish mysticism, with esoteric works ranging from ancient to contemporary that aim to shed light on God’s essence, the relationship between God’s eternality and the finite universe, and the inner meaning of the Torah. Central to Kabbalah is the notion that God created and interacts with the world through ten sefirot, or emanated attributes and that people can affect God’s actions by influencing the sefirot.
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