The Sefer Raziel HaMalach is a book that claims to hold a very ancient origin. In fact, it's said that the book was given to Adam by the angel Raziel while still in the Garden of Eden. The title page of the book reads (in Aramaic) “This is the book of Adam the first man, given to him by the angel Raziel.”
In all likelihood the book itself is of relatively modern origin (it was first printed in Amsterdam in 1701), but it contains lore and magical traditions that date back to ancient times. For a start, it clearly quotes from the Sefer Yeztirah which is thought to have been written in the first centuries of the Common Era. The book that is available today is likely to have been named after another ancient magical tome called Sefer Raziel, which is mentioned in various places, but no known copies exist.
Nevertheless, the Sefer Raziel HaMalach is still considered an authentic source of magical practices and rituals of the practical Kabbalah. Some Kabbalists refuse to read the book for fear of inadequate purity and preparation. Since the books first printing in Amsterdam in 1701, it has landed on shelves in many Jewish homes for protection. The text itself claims that possessing the book will serve as a Segula (lit. treasure, meaning "auspicious") for having wise children, for success and blessing, and if you have it in the home, for protection from fire, and any other harm.
The Content of the Sefer Raziel HaMalach
The Sefer Raziel HaMalach is comprised of five books: “The Book of the Vestment,” “The Book of the Great Raziel,” “The Holy Names,” “The Book of Mysteries,” and “The Book of the Zodiac.” Among other things, it includes discussion and expositions of the holy names of God, the divisions of heaven and the hierarchy of the angelic legions. It also includes various magical formulas and instructions for the construction of amulets and talismans, and material on astrology and numerology.
The Sefer Raziel HaMalch also famously includes Adam’s Prayer, which is said to be the prayer that Adam beseeched before God after he was cast out of the Garden of Eden. It is also an early source which references the Magen David, shield (or star) of David, as well as the angelic script.
Sefer Raziel HaMalach Today
Today, the Sefer Raziel HaMalach is not a widely studied text, with the exception of its circulation among occultists, as its recent English translation testifies.
Although the book does not bear much significance to the modern world, and people have little use for amulets and talismans these days, and considering such magical practices and superstitions have been denounced by some of the greatest Jewish minds and teachers such as Maimonides and Abulafia, it is still a treasure trove of ancient beliefs and traditions, and a portal to the primordial levels of the human psyche.
Sources:
Kabbalah, Avraham Yaakov Finkel.
Sepher Rezial Hemelach, Steve Savedow.
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