Sephee Yezieah: A Book on Creation; or, The Jewish Metaphysics of Remote Antiquity - Volume II (1877)

Published in 1877 as the companion volume to A Sketch of the Talmud, Sephee Yezieah: A Book on Creation; or, The Jewish Metaphysics of Remote Antiquity delves into the esoteric and philosophical dimensions of early Jewish thought. In this work, Rev. Dr. Isidor Kalisch explores the profound teachings of ספר יצירה (Sefer Yetzirah – “Book of Formation”), one of the oldest and most mysterious texts of Kabbalistic tradition.

This volume includes an English translation of the original Hebrew text, along with a detailed preface, explanatory notes, and a glossary, making the complex metaphysical ideas of creation, divine emanation, and the structure of the universe accessible to English-speaking readers. Kalisch’s commentary bridges ancient Jewish mysticism with 19th-century rationalism and metaphysical inquiry.

As Volume II in this important two-part series, Sephee Yezieah stands as a significant work in the study of Jewish cosmology and early mystical literature. It may be read on its own or together with Volume I for a more comprehensive understanding of Jewish tradition and philosophy.