ACKERMANAt a glance
History, context & interpretation
The text and its story
A mystical commentary on the Torah describing the inner life of God through the sefirot, the soul and the Shekhinah (divine presence). It is the central text of Kabbalah.
Traditional attribution
Teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a 2nd-century sage hiding in a cave.
Historical scholarship
Most scholars credit Moses de León and his circle in 13th-century Spain.
Context and curiosity
It was first printed in Mantua and Cremona in 1558–60.
Chronology and transmission
This text belongs to Judaism (Medieval Castile (Spain)). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as c. 1280s CE and original language or script as Aramaic. The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.
Sources and further reading
Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.
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