Kabbalah, the primary form of Jewish mysticism, can be difficult to study. Some of the most foundational kabbalistic texts are cryptic in language and complex in their content, drawing on layers upon layers of Jewish thought.

Sefaria's mission is to increase accessibility of Jewish texts, and that's why we're so excited to embark on an ongoing project to bring more Kabbalah texts and resources to the library. We want to support Kabbalah learners with the best digital study experience possible. And, over time, we aim to give more learners the opportunity to explore all that kabbalistic texts have to offer.

Here's an overview of the new additions and how to use them:

The Zohar serves as the textual basis of the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah. Traditionally attributed to the second-century sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the text’s authorship has been debated since it first appeared in 13th-century Spain. It takes an esoteric approach to discussing the nature of God, the soul, and the creation of the world.

We’ve expanded on our existing Aramaic edition with these new options:

The Sulam is a 20th-century Hebrew translation and commentary on the Zohar by Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag (aka Ba'al HaSulam), based on the teachings of the great kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria. Writing with the goal of making Kabbalah more accessible to the public, Rabbi Ashlag hoped that his Sulam (meaning “ladder”) would bring people closer to the Zohar’s treasures. In addition to the full Hebrew text, several sections are available in brand new English translation, commissioned by Sefaria and written by a team led by Rabbi Jason Rappoport.

Also by Rabbi Ashlag, Kuntres Matan Torah is a Hebrew collection of short kabbalistic treatises. It spans from his early works in the 1930s to a speech he delivered after completing the Sulam in 1953. A central theme is the impact of kabbalistic wisdom on love between Jews, a value he saw as a core tenet of divine service.

You may already be familiar with Rabbi Ashlag’s Introduction to Zohar in the library. It offers an introduction to the Zohar and discusses the importance of Kabbalah. We’re pleased to have added a new Hebrew version, and restructured the English version to accommodate both Zohar text formats.

To guide your study of Rabbi Ashlag's works, we've introduced a brand new glossary feature! You can now click on 50+ kabbalistic terms in the text to view their definitions in the right-hand resource panel. (Note: this feature is currently web-only and not available in the app.)

Mikdash Melekh is the first published, systematic commentary on the entire Zohar. Compiled by 18th-century Moroccan kabbalist Rabbi Shalom Buzaglo, it synthesizes material from three earlier works, and we’re happy to now offer it on Sefaria in Hebrew.

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We hope you find enjoyment and inspiration in these wonderful texts! Happy learning, and stay tuned throughout the year for more Kabbalah texts and translations on Sefaria.