Summary
Letters are a crucial part of the kabbalistic theory of
creation. The Sefer Yetzirah says God created the world in part
by using the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The Bible
tells of God creating the universe with a few words, like “Let there
be light,” but the Sefer Yetzirah takes that account one step further.
Remember that kabbalists believe God existed before the creation
of the universe, and that God then created the universe in the form
of the sefirot—the ten sacred numbers. Following
the creation of the numbers, the second set of sefirot appeared—the
twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Kabbalists believe these
letters combined into different combinations, and in turn created
the world. As the letters interacted, parts of the world took shape.
Each letter and word created both matter and other letters and words,
giving rise to language and the universe at the same time.
Analysis
The key role of numbers and letters in the kabbalistic
account of creation makes clear why followers of Kabbalah treat
language with such profound respect. Kabbalists pore over their
literature so closely and carefully not just to ensure that they
understand every layer of meaning but also to honor the letters
of the Hebrew alphabet, the same letters and words that they believe
conjured the world into existence. Some followers of Kabbalah consider
it a crime to spell out God’s name, or to alter the wording or meaning
of sacred texts—doing so violates the sanctity of the God and the
words that formed the framework of the universe.
Not everyone viewed the Sefer Yetzirah with reverence.
During the Middle Ages in France and Germany, many people considered the
Sefer Yetzirah a guide to the unholy use of magic. Some cited the kabbalistic
believe in golems as proof. Golems are creatures made of dust that
kabbalists believe can be brought to life by reciting or writing
certain words. Kabbalist teachings describe two ways to make and
kill a golem. One involves reciting a string of “creation words.” (To
kill it, one walks in the other direction, reciting the same words backwards.)
The other way to bring a Golem to life is to inscribe the word “emet”
on its forehead. “Emet” is Hebrew for “truth.” (Then, to kill it,
one must erase the first letter from the name so the word reads
“met,” which means “dead” in Hebrew.) Whether or not golems truly
exist, they prove that kabbalists believe deeply in the magical
power of words, a power strong enough to create and destroy life.
Many leading kabbalists rejected the notion that words
could be used to create life and alter the universe. Moses Cordovero,
one of the kabbalistic leaders of Safed, believed that words could
create animated beings—things that moved—but could never instill
a spirit or soul. Isaac Luria, another leading figure in Kabbalah, objected
to the use of language for magic because it interfered with God’s
plan for the universe. Luria believed Kabbalah followers should
search for the meaning of magical words but not use those words
to manipulate the universe.
