Otzar MolchoThe Treasury of Molcho

The Molcho Edition

Etz Chayim — Part One

עץ חיים

The Arizal · received and recorded by Rabbi Chaim Vital · English translation · The Molcho Edition

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About this sefer

The received teachings of the Arizal

The Arizal · received and recorded by Rabbi Chaim Vital

For centuries, Sefer Etz Chayim stood among the most concealed and sacred transmissions of Torah. Recorded by Rabbi Chaim Vital directly from the teachings of his master, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria—the Ari HaKadosh—this monumental work became the central text of Lurianic Kabbalah. Guarded during the Ari’s lifetime and restricted even after his passing, the manuscripts were hidden, buried, and preserved within select circles of mekubalim for generations.

Its language is exact, its structure precise, and its system vast. For over four hundred years, access to Etz Chayim remained largely confined to elite batei midrash and rare manuscripts. Much of this foundational corpus has never before appeared in a complete interlinear Hebrew–English edition.

Book index

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Open the title page, introduction, or any indexed division of the sefer. The reader remembers your place and supports search, comparison, and natural-voice reading where approved voices are available.

Palaces, gates, chapters, and section markers
Opening and introductionsTitle page, prayers, introductions, warnings, and transmitted opening material.
Title Page of Etz Chayim — Part OneSeferPrayer Before StudyPrayer Before Study from Rabbeinu the Ariz"lIntroduction to the Book Derekh Etz Chayim by the Sage, The Kabbalist, Rabbi Meir Paprush Katz Ashkenazi, of blessed memoryIntroduction of Rabbi Chaim Vital, may his merit protect us, to Sha‘ar haHakdamotIntroduction of Rabbi Chaim Vital, may his merit protect us, to Sha‘ar haHakdamot (continuation)Introduction of Rabbi Chaim Vital, may his merit protect us, to Sha‘ar haHakdamot (continuation)This is taken and copied from Sefer Pri Etz Chaim, from Damascus, from the handwritten manuscript of Rabbi Chaim Vital, of blessed memory, and these are his words:Another Introduction by Rabbi Chaim Vital, of blessed memoryThe language of the wise sage, the genius, our teacher Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach, may his light shine, in the introduction to his book Rannu LeYaakov, and these are his words:Omissions from the glosses and commentaries of our teacher, Rabbi Shabetai Sheftel, may his memory be for a blessing:Declaration and Warning Before the Study of the Wisdom of Kabbalah הוֹדָעָה וְאַזְהָרָה לִפְנֵי לִמּוּד חָכְמַת הַקַּבָּלָהDeclaration and Warning (from a certain master Kabbalist):Copied from the very handwriting of my teacher (The Arizal), may his memory be a blessing, and these are his words, the language of gold
Sha‘ar HaKlalim — The Gate of PrinciplesThe Gate of Principles and its thirteen chapters.
Sha‘ar HaKlalimThe Gate of PrinciplesChapter 1Chapter 2The Order of the RectificationChapter 3The Secret of Ibbur [Gestation] and Yenikah [Nursing]Chapter 4Second Ibbur [Gestation] and the Expansion of the ThirdsChapter 5Mochin [Intellects] and Tzelem [Image] of Ze’ir AnpinChapter 6The Descent of Chesed and GevurahChapter 7Chapter 8The Order of the Entry of the Parts of the Tzelem [Image] into Ze’ir Anpin According to the YearsChapter 9The times of Gadlut [Greatness] of the Nukvah of Ze’ir AnpinChapter 10Chapter 11The Generation of the Wilderness, and Binah and Tevunah, and the Mem and Samech of the Tablets [which] stood by a miracleChapter 12The Partzuf of Leah and the Secret of TefillinChapter 13The Secret of the Completion
The Palace of Adam KadmonSeven gates, with their branches, chapters, discourses, and section markers.
The First GateThe Sefirot of the Igulim [Circles][1:1]–[1:5]
Open the beginning of this gateBranch 1[1:1]Branch 2[1:2]Branch 3[1:3]Branch 4[1:4]Branch 5[1:5]
The Second GateThe Emanation of the Ten Sefirot Within the Igulim [Circles], and It Contains Three Branches[2:1]–[2:3]
Open the beginning of this gateBranch 1[2:1]Branch 2[2:2]Branch 3[2:3]
The Third GateThe Order of Emanation in Extreme Conciseness, by Rabbi Chaim Vital[3:1]–[3:3]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[3:1]Chapter 2[3:2]Chapter 3[3:3]
The Fourth GateThe Gate of Ear, Nose, and Mouth, and It Is Divided into Five Chapters[4:1]–[4:5]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[4:1]Chapter 2[4:2]Chapter 3[4:3]Chapter 4[4:4]Chapter 5[4:5]
The Fifth GateThe Gate of Ta’amim [Cantillation Marks], Nekudot [Vowel Points], Tagin [Crowns], Otiot [Letters], and It Is Divided into Seven Chapters[5:1]–[5:7]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[5:1]Chapter 2[5:2]Chapter 3[5:3]Chapter 4[5:4]Chapter 5[5:5]Chapter 6[5:6]Chapter 7[5:7]
The Sixth GateThe Gate of the Akudim, and It Is Divided into Eight Chapters[6:1]–[6:8]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[6:1]Chapter 2[6:2]Chapter 3[6:3]Chapter 4[6:4]Chapter 5[6:5]Chapter 6[6:6]Chapter 7[6:7]Chapter 8[6:8]
The Seventh GateThe Gate of "Mati" (reaching) and "Lo Mati" (not reaching), and It Contains Five Chapters[7:1]–[7:5]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[7:1]Chapter 2[7:2]Chapter 3[7:3]Chapter 4[7:4]Chapter 5[7:5]
The Palace of NekudimFour gates concerning the Nekudim, the shattering, the rectification, and the kings.
The first gateThe Gate of the Discourses of the Nekudot [Vowel Points], and in it are six chapters[8:1]–[8:6]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[8:1]Chapter 2[8:2]Chapter 3[8:3]Chapter 4[8:4]Chapter 5[8:5]Chapter 6[8:6]
The Second GateThe Gate of the Shattering of the Vessels, and It Contains Eight Chapters[9:1]–[9:8]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[9:1]Chapter 2[9:2]Chapter 3[9:3]Chapter 4[9:4]Chapter 5[9:5]Chapter 6[9:6]Chapter 7[9:7]Chapter 8[9:8]
The Third GateThe Gate of the Rectification, and It Is Divided into Five Chapters[10:1]–[10:5]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[10:1]Chapter 2[10:2]Chapter 3[10:3]Chapter 4[10:4]Chapter 5[10:5]
The Fourth GateThe Gate of the Kings, and It Is Divided into Eleven Chapters[11:1]–[11:10]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[11:1]Chapter 2[11:2]Chapter 3[11:3]Chapter 4[11:4]Chapter 5[11:5]Chapter 6[11:6]Chapter 7[11:7]Chapter 8[11:8]Chapter 9[11:9]Chapter 10[11:10]
The Palace of the CrownsThe gates of Atik and Arich Anpin.
The First GateThe Gate of Atik, and It Contains Five Chapters[12:1]–[12:5]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[12:1]Chapter 2[12:2]Chapter 3[12:3]Chapter 4[12:4]Chapter 5[12:5]
The Second GateThe Gate of Arich Anpin, and It Contains Fourteen Chapters[13:1]–[13:14]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[13:1]Chapter 2[13:2]Chapter 3[13:3]Chapter 4[13:4]Chapter 5[13:5]Chapter 6[13:6]Chapter 7[13:7]Chapter 8[13:8]Chapter 9[13:9]Chapter 10[13:10]Chapter 11[13:11]Chapter 12[13:12]Chapter 13[13:13]Chapter 14[13:14]
The Palace of Abba and ImmaThe gates of Abba and Imma, their unions, and their offspring.
The First GateThe Gate of Abba and Imma, and It Contains Ten Chapters[14:1]–[14:10]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[14:1]Chapter 2[14:2]Chapter 3[14:3]Chapter 4[14:4]Chapter 5[14:5]Chapter 6[14:6]Chapter 7[14:7]Chapter 8[14:8]Chapter 9[14:9]Chapter 10[14:10]
The Second GateThe Gate of the Zivugim, Regarding the Union of Abba and Imma and the Commandment of Sending Away the Nest, and It Contains Six Chapters[15:1]–[15:6]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[15:1]Chapter 2[15:2]Chapter 3[15:3]Chapter 4[15:4]Chapter 5[15:5]Chapter 6[15:6]
The Third GateThe Gate of the Birth of Abba and Imma and Ze’ir Anpin with Nukvah, and It Contains Seven Chapters[16:1]–[16:7]
Open the beginning of this gateChapter 1[16:1]Chapter 2[16:2]Chapter 3[16:3]Chapter 4[16:4]Chapter 5[16:5]Chapter 6[16:6]Chapter 7[16:7]