Notes on the Zohar I

Parts that make up the Zohar:

1) Sepher ha-Zohar (the main portion). I have seen various translations of this title, some of which are ungrammatical. To me it means "Book of the Brightness." Every mystic will understand to which Brightness it must refer.

2) Siphra di Tzeniuta (Book of the Veiled Mystery). Five chapters inserted into Exodus. Relation of spirit and matter.

3) Sitré Torah (Secrets of the Torah). Angelology, the Divine Name.

4) Ra'ya Mehemna (The True Shepherd). Code of conduct. True Shepherd is Moses.

5) Midrash ha-Ne'lam (Hidden Exposition). Scriptural exposition from gematria, and allegorical exegesis.

6) Tosephta (Additions), containing references to the Sephiroth.

7) Hekaloth (Halls or Palaces). Description of abodes of paradise and hell, some references to astrology and magic.

8) Idra Rabba (Greater Synod) and Idra Zuta (Lesser Synod). Extensions of Siphra di Tzeniuta, often repetitive.

Text and image Copyright © 2020 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler.