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Gates of Light: Sha'are Orah (Sacred Literature Series)

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Translated in shockingly exoteric and readable fasion Gikatillia's "Shaareh Orah" uncovers the key's to the ten spheres. The book takes each of the ten and explicitly explains the name that it is attached to, and the cognomens that are used in reference to that sphere in the Tanakh. The book is eclipsed historicaly in importance by the Book of Splendor (Zohar), but it should not be overlooked. Indeed while the Zohar is hidden and recondite Gikatillia sets much of the same subject matter forth in clear 13th century philosophical style. A most important English translation of a classic Kabbalistic text.

This is a full translation of an important, but generally neglected, work of theoretical Kabbalah (the most prominent, although not the only, form of Jewish mysticism). It explains in detail the doctrine of the Sefirot (or Sephirot), the creative emanations of the unknowable God. It arranges them in ascending order (toward Divine Totality), rather than the descending order (toward the Created World) in which they are usually presented. It has been suggested that it could, therefore, at least in theory, be used as a meditation guide, although it does not seem to have been considered even devotional reading. (Descriptions of Kabbalistic meditation practices were rarely committed to writing, so the absence of evidence on this point may not be evidence of absence, but so far as I know this is only a reasonable speculation.)

"Gates of Light" is a clear exposition (well, clear for mystical theology), rather than a series of parables to be interpreted, which may account for its being studied, but not often quoted, and not being the subject of commentaries by later Kabbalists. It also suffered from being known as the work of a "modern" writer, in medieval Spain, instead of being offered, like the "Zohar," as a rediscovered text from the time of the Talmudic sages. "Gates of Light" may still be too sparse in language to appeal to devotional readers, but I would hope that those with a personal, spiritual, interest in Kabbalah would use it to improve their grasp of the intellectual foundations of the movement.

Students of the history of Kabbalah, to whom the translation seems mainly directed, will find this translation of great interest. So will students of Kabbalah in history (a slightly different topic). Although the book was eclipsed in fame in its own time and later by the "Zohar," an abridged Latin version was influential in Christian circles during the Renaissance, when ultimately Neo-Platonic theories of divine emanations were extremely popular. Its availability in English is therefore of importance outside the circles of those interested in Judaica, or in Kabbalah in particular.

I have one, relatively minor, objection to this version. For some reason, the translator has chosen to render the technical term for emanations, "Sefirot" (singular form "Sefirah"), as "Spheres," as though it derived from the Greek "sphaira." As Gershom Scholem, among others, demonstrated at length, the actual origin is the root "sfr," originally referring to counting or numbers. The word "sefer," meaning "book" (i.e., an account of things) is the most generally familiar form to those with a little Hebrew. "Sefirah" was also linked, as a significant word-association, with the Biblical word "sappir," meaning a gem (Greek and Latin "sapphire," but not necessarily the modern stone). The pun on "sphaira," the Greek word for "ball" does eventually appear in the literature, but it does not seem likely to have had much currency in thirteenth-century Spain. The translator's decision makes for easier reading, but it could suggest extraneous associations, such as the crystalline spheres of medieval astronomy (and some sort of Kabbalistic astrology). This is indeed a minor objection, but the reader unfamiliar with the field may find the choice confusing, and the subject is already esoteric.

This is one of the most straight forward texts on the workings of Kabbalism in print that I've read. The author methodically ascends the Tree of Life, stopping by each sefirot and describing its purpose and how it relates to the unfathomable One. The author describes each sefirot as a gate that leads to further understanding. Within each gate, the author pulls together many scriptures in support of his esoteric interpretation and his belief of how one can properly ascribe their prayers so that they are heard on high. Although not easy reading by today's standards, it certainly is much easier to comprehend than the Zohar for example and accessible to those with some patience. For those studying the history of Kabbalah, this text helps the reader understand the teachings and development of the Kabbalistic sect in and around the 13th century. However, this is certainly not an introductory text and should only be read after student has at least a rudimentary understanding of Kabbalism and an intermediate grasp of the Tanakh.

While this translation of a medieval text can certainly be considered a classic, it did not actually become particularly popular or influential probably because it adds little to the main classics of Kabbalah--especially the Zohar. Yet, Gikatilla was a great Kabbalistic master. On the other hand, Moses de Leon's works have suffered the same fate (you can now read Eliot Wolfson's translation of de Leon's "The Book of the Pomegranete"). While Gershom Scholem attributes authorship of the Zohar to de Leon, Moshe Idel attributes it to a group of Kabbalists working together (possibly using a discovered fragment) including both de Leon and Gikatilla. I think Idel's theory is more tenable than Scholem's. In any case, this book by Gikatilla presents the various Sefirot with some information on how they interact with people, but with little practical instruction for the practitioner. It's more a theoretical work. Still, it is of great historical significance. But, it's not the Zohar, Sepher Yetzirah, or Sepher ha Bahir either.

Gates of Light is an amazing source for Torah and Kabbalah and the mystical traditions of Judaism. It soars from start to finish.

In this book, you can find all necessary explanation as to the mystical and symbolic meaning of the Sephiroth, given here as the Ten Names of the Most High, which are Gates ("Gates of Light") to spiritual enlightenment. It is essential for all practitioners of the Kabbalah.