The Unveiled Kabbalah

Samuel Liddell MacGregor Maters is one of the founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the author of numerous documents of this order, as well as a translator, compiler, and publisher of several important books on magic ("The Book of Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage," "The Greater Key of Solomon," "The Goetia," etc.). The basis of "The Unveiled Kabbalah" (1887) lies in the work of the German philosopher, mystic, practicing alchemist and healer Knorr von Rosenroth, "Kabbala Denudata" (Latin for "The Unveiled Kabbalah"), published between 1677 and 1684, which included a Latin translation of some parts of the book "Zohar" from the Aramaic original. Maters completed, commented on, and provided an extensive introduction to the translation of three Kabbalistic treatises that were part of this publication.

The book "Zohar" (The Radiance) is a vital source of Kabbalistic knowledge - it is a mystical commentary on the Torah (the Five Books of Moses), written in medieval Aramaic. It contains answers to the most difficult and essential questions of religion and faith: about God and Creation, angels, souls, the Messiah, hell, resurrection, sin, virtue, etc. The "Zohar" first appeared in Spain in the 13th century. The author of the book, Moses (Moshe) de Leon, attributed its creation to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (2nd century), inspired by the prophet Elijah. The treatises that form the book "Zohar" are presented as records of conversations between Rabbi Shimon and his students and companions in mystical comprehension.