Introduction to Sefer Ha-Yashar
It's found and has come into our
hands as this day when the Holy City of Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus
ha-rasha and his chief soldiers entered to take the spoils and plunder the
booty. There was a ruler (Hegemon) among Titus'
leaders by the name of Sidrus who entered and
searched a huge and large house in Jerusalem and after he plundered all, as he
began to leave it he noticed something in the wall and he felt in his thought
that the wall covered up hidden things. He ordered to throw down the wall and
he found there a barrel filled with many books of Torah, Prophets, Hagiography
and books concerning the Kings of Israel and Kings of the nations and many
other books belonging to Israel, and likewise correct and precise texts of the
Mishnah and also many Scrolls. There was as well a large quantity of all kinds
of food and wine. And he found there an elderly man sitting and reading those
texts. The Hegemon looked at this amazing vision and
he was overtaken by wonder. He asked the old man, "Why are you sitting
here in this place by yourself and no one else is with you?" The man
answered him, "For many days and periods of years now I knew of the
destruction of Jerusalem that was coming and so I built this house and I made
this hall and I took in with me all these books to read them and I took with me
food, saying to myself, "Perhaps my soul shall be a refuge". God made
this old man find grace and mercy in the eyes of the Hegemon
and he took him out of there with respect together with all his books and from
there they went to Seville. And the Hegemon found in
this person great understanding and knowledge and in this realization he lifted
him in respect and held him in his house always and
the sage taught him many levels of wisdom. Then they built a large house in
their wisdom, outside of Seville and they placed the books there. That house is
still standing close to Seville until this day and they wrote there all that
would happen in the future concerning the kings of the world, until the coming
of Mashiah.
And it happened when Ha-Shem had us
move here and there by force of the kings of Edom, from city to city with
bitterness and pain, that this text came into our hands and was called Toldot Adam (the Generations of Adam) with the many books
that were together with it since they came from that house close to Seville and
they came afterwards to our city, the city of Napoli which was under the king
of Spain (may the Lord have mercy). And when we saw these books, that they were
all books containing wisdom, we placed it as our purpose to print them with the
iron pen and ink, as with all the books that came into our hands, and behold,
this book was greatly praiseworthy and elevated more than the others. Twelve
versions came into our hands and we searched them out only to find that they
were the same exact version, without changes between them, without additions or
reductions, without changes of the letters or different words or different
expressions. They were all equal in every way. And since we saw in this book
great usefulness, we set our hearts to its purpose and we set our purpose to
print it.
And it was found written that the
book is called Sefer ha-Yashar and the reason for which it's called Sefer
Ha-Yashar is that all its words come in the order as it was in the world
chronologically. For it will not be found that this book relates later events
that took place previously or that it relates previous events that took place
afterwards. Each matter is in its place and was written in its time. Thus
you'll find in all its words that a certain person died in a certain year to
the number of years of such and such and for this reason it was called Sefer
Ha-Yashar. But it had become a usual custom in the mouth of all to call it Sefer Toldot Adam; the reason was
for its beginning 'ze sefer
toldot adam'.
Its essential name, however, is Sefer Ha-Yashar for
the reasons and proofs given. This book is now in the hands of the Greeks,
translated, and they call it Libros de los Diritus, and also with the Romans who call it Libro de los Palabros de los dias de Patos
de los Granadis de los Giras
dispuis morid Yehoshua. It
is also found now with the kings of Edom who call it Esti
Libro de nacimiento de
Adam.
And it's found written in Sefer ha-Hhashmoniim that has come unto our hands that at the time
of Ptolemy, king in Egypt, he ordered his servants to go and gather all the
books of the various religions and books of history to be found in the world in
order to study them and to search them out to understand all matters of the
world and to compose a book from them in all matters of judgment and the
correct laws for the world in order to clearly distinguish all matters. They
went and gathered 965 books and brought them to him. He said to them to go yet
again to search in order to reach a thousand books and they did so. After this
they stood before him some of the peritzei[1]
Yisrael and they said to him, "O lord, our king, wherefore should you
burden yourself with all this; send to Jerusalem and let them bring you the
book of their Torah that was written for them by the word of God, in the hands
of their Prophets, and from it you will be able to gain wisdom in judging all
things and all that you desire. The king listened to them and sent to the Jews
for that purpose and they sent him this book, for they couldn't give the book
of God because they couldn't give the Torah of Ha-Shem to a non-Jew. And when
this book came unto Ptolemy he read it and it very much found pleasure in his
eyes and he studied it profoundly for its wisdom and its grace and thus he
found what he had been searching for and he left aside the other books that had
been gathered, and he blessed those who had counseled him in this matter.
After a time the peritzei Yisrael realized that those of Jerusalem had not
sent the Sefer Torah to the king and they came and said to him, "O lord,
our king, those of Jerusalem took you in; they didn't send you the Sefer Torah
that we said to you but rather another book that they had they sent to you; but
now send to them that they send you their Sefer Torah for from it will you find
what you are searching for even much more than the book they sent you. When the
king heard their words he became very angry with Israel and his wrath burned in
him. Until he sent to them another time asking to send him
the Sefer Torah. He was afraid, however, that again they try to fool him
and so he wisely sent to 70 elders among them that they come to him and he sat
them down in 70 different houses so that each one write a Sefer Torah without
there being changes, and the spirit of holiness fell upon them and the 70
elders wrote 70 books all of them in the same exact version without additions
or diminutions.
Then the king was greatly
felicitous and he honored the elders and all the Jews and he sent gifts and
offerings to Jerusalem as is written there. And in his death Israel acted
wisely with his son and they extracted the Sefer Torah from his treasures. This
book, however, they left there and did not take out so that each king that
would reign there could recognize the marvels and wonders of God blessed is He,
and that He chose Israel from among all the nations and that there is no God
outside of Him, blessed is He. Therefore this book is still in Egypt until this
day, and from that time onwards it has been diffused in the whole world until
its reaching us, we in our exile this day in the city of Napoli under the reign
of the king of Spain.
Behold, you'll find in this book
that in it are written some things concerning the kings of Edom and the kings
of Chitim and the kings of Africa that were in those
days, Even though it will seem that they are not of the purpose of the Book or
of its intentions, they come to inform all people that the source of this book
distinguishes between the wars of Israel and the wars of the idolatrous nations.
For the victory of the idolatrous peoples one against another is fortuitous
which is not so in the victories of the kings of Israel with the nations that
are by way of miracles from Him Blessed is He when Israel has trust in His
name, be He exalted.
Behold this Book has many
purposeful advantages and all of them bring us to trust (havtacha)
in Ha-Shem, exalted is He, and to cling to Him and to His ways. The first
advantage (to'elet) is that it adds explanations in matters
of the creation of man and the matter of the universal flood and the years of
twenty generations and their sins. And at what historical phase (Perek) they were born and in which time they died. And in
this our heart is straightened out to cling to God, elevated is He, in our
seeing the marvels and wonders that He did in those ancient times.
The second is that which added as
well in the matter of Abraham's birth and his clinging to Ha-Shem, elevated is
He, how were the events that happened to him with Nimrod. And likewise the
matter of dor ha-plaga
(generation of the separation), how Ha-Shem, elevated is He, brought them to
the four corners of the earth, and how they built their lands and countries,
called in their names until this day, and with this we draw ourselves closer to
know our Creator.
The third is what it explains to us
concerning the clinging of the patriarchs to Ha-Shem, elevated is He, and the
events that show us the fear of God.
The fourth in what is told
concerning Sodom and their iniquity and what was their
sin and their punishment and in this we will keep ourselves far from all evil.
The fifth concerns the clinging of
Isaac and Jacob to Ha-Shem, elevated is He, and the prayer of Sarah and her
crying and the binding of Isaac, and this is a great advantage that inclines
our heart to serve God, elevated is He,
The sixth is what it informs us
about the wars of the sons of Jacob against those of Shechem and in the seven
cities of the Emorei. This awakens our heart in the
level of trust with which we must trust in our God, how 10 men destroy 7 cities
only by way of their trust (bitahhon) in Ha-Shem,
elevated is He, in their heart.
The seventh is what it explains to
us all the happenings of Yosef in Egypt with Potifar
and with his wife and with the king of Egypt for this will awaken our heart
also in the fear of God to bring ourselves far from all sin so that He bring
good upon us in the end.
The eighth is what happened to
Moshe Rabbenu, peace be upon
him, in Cush (Ethiopia) and Midyan for in this we
meditate on the wonders of Ha-Shem that He does with the Tzadikim and we will
cling to Ha-Shem, elevated is He.
The ninth is what happened to
Israel in Egypt and how there came about the beginning of their servitude, and
how they served Egypt with every kind of hard work and what was the reason in
all this. Afterwards ha-Shem saved them in their trust in Him. And there is no
doubt that one who reads this matter of Egypt from this book on the Seder Night(s)
of Pesah has a great recompense. As the Sages, of
blessed memory, say, 'Whoever (whatever more one relates) tells of the going
out of Egypt, such is praiseworthy'. Also this book is included because it
tells the true story that is worthy of telling it and reading it after the
Hagada. For it is certain that there is great recompense in this. And we do so
now in our exile in the cities of Spain, after reading the Hagada we begin to
read from this book about Egypt until the going out of Egypt, for this book is
worthy for each person to read.
The Tenth is that some of our
Commentators among the Rabbis, of blessed memory and the commentators of the
Torah will be found in the explanation of this book, such as the angels who met
Jacob in his coming from Aram who went to Esau.
The Eleventh is the fact of Gabriel
who taught Joseph 70 languages and also what is said 'who smites Midian in the field of Moab' (Genesis, 36: 35) and all that
is told of this.
The Twelfth is that whoever speaks
in public on these matters will come to express things that the commentators
have not spoken of. And in this the heart of listeners will hearken to his
words.
The Thirteenth is that the
merchants who do their rounds from place to place and haven't time for studying
Torah will read and will receive their recompense, for in it is the reward to
the soul (nefesh) and pleasure to the body to hear the new things that have not
been written in any other book, and from them a person will meditate to know
ha-Shem, Blessed is He and to cling to Him.
And since we have seen the worth of
this book and its high level, we have tried to print without addition or
diminishing. And now we began to print it in book form so that it be in the
hands of those of our pact, men of our redemption, that it be spread out in
every generation, in every city and every family and in every country, so that
people meditate on the wonders of God and His kindnesses that He bestowed on
our fathers from antiquity in His choosing us from all the nations. And in this
will take merit those who meditate in it and have given their heart to the fear
of God. And in the Lord, our God, we trust and on him do we rely. And from Him
we seek reliance and help, to help us in this work for it is a work of Heaven,
may that He have us succeed and guide us in a direct manner and that He save us
from errors and cleanse us from hidden things. As His anointed (Meshihho) said[2]:
'from errors who will understand and from hidden
things cleanse us' (Psalms, 19: 13). And that God show us the good way and
guide us on the road of success for the sake of His mercy and goodness, and
that He fulfill the desires of our heart in good, amen and so may it be His
will.
Introduction to Sefer ha-Yashar - Peretz Green[3]
I intersperse here my introduction because of
the additions in it, especially from the Important Vision received by Giuseppe
Manigrasso.
Sefer Ha-Yashar is an extremely high and
sanctified book of true Torah Tradition. Its roots are those of the Oral Torah
of Yeshua bin Nune received directly from Moshe Rabbeinu. It is therefore
replete with holy 'segulot' (Virtues of a sanctified
level). The actual name of the original text was "Kabbala
Yeshara" (direct reception), and the incredible
message received by Giuseppe Manigrasso, brought below, is a marvelous example
of how the 'direct reception' and 'true kabbala'
associated with this Sefer, gave over a direct, live vision, of an elderly
scholar who had been in truth the author of the original written transcription
of Sefer Ha-Yashar. See below the entire discourse of that antique Hacham every word of which is to be taken into high
consideration as a truly amazing, truthful and important vision.
The words must be studied in an attempt to
delve somewhat deeper into the sort of 'apology' for the fact that the Sages
and Rabbis did not give the true level of importance to this text as they did
to other traditional texts. It was not given the emphasis of its being Direct
Reception and was seen as many other aggadot.[4] Important for us now,
however, of the Geula Shleima, is that the fact of its being Direct Reception
has a 'new' correspondence to the Direct Reception of the New, True Kabbalah, of
the Final Redemption especially by way of the redemptional dreams, sent by the
Goel Haim, from the Kingdom of Heaven. There are a thousand levels of the past
ways of thinking about the Final Redemption that recede into the shadows
compared to the New, Direct Revelation of the Geula Shleima. Therefore the
elderly Sage explained to Giuseppe that "Sefer Ha-Yashar hides the Spirit
of the True Tradition of the people. When Sefer ha-Yashar will be extended, the
spirit of the true Tradition will return to the people for the new born of the
Final Redemption. A New Elevated Spirit will be upon the people and it will
awaken them to desire the wisdom of the mind".
I report at
first my dream concerning the two Stripes (long, large ribbons) of Blue (Techelet) bound to the birth of the Tzadik Haim, for it was
in virtue of that dream and signs made by me and Giuseppe that brought about
the vision received by him. After that I report the vision and I conclude with
some comments on this matter of Sefer Ha-Yashar.
November 23,
2006, Inzago, Italy, Peretz: I dreamed: I was a in a place something like a
gymnasium but it was empty except for the Tzadik Haim was seated at a table
that was his writing desk with many texts on the table. Above in the same
building there were about 15 people, mostly young, looking down from large windows. Their ways and attitudes were of a superficial
bearing, frivolous with stupid quips of every kind. I had passed by them before
descending to where the Teacher Haim was seated and he was now in an opposite
corner to him. With a scissors, I had to cut two long blue strips that hung
from above in that building. The blue strips were at least
(The two week
period in the Sign of Techelet seen by Noda finishes
Sunday and I must work quickly to accomplish the Sign in this dream and this
will bring nahhat to the Tzadik. We have spoken elsewhere
of the two stellar bindings, between the Star of Mordechai and the Star of the
Morning (Dawn), and between the Star of Mordechai and the Star of Ester in the
Kingdom of Ahhashverosh. For the Blue Strip (Techelet)
related to the Star of Dawn, I immediately relate it to the birth of the Tzadik
Haim at Dawn the sixth of Sivan, Shavuot, which was the moment of Matan Torah, in 1914. The Tzadik Haim said to me many times
that the exact details of his birth were very important and that I would have
to know them afterwards. It was essential, he said, that he was born in that
exact moment that the Ray of Techelet that issues and
races across the heavens a moment before dawn. The Tzadik was thus born in the
Sign of Techelet Mordechai, the Techelet
that brings with it the Great New Dawn of the history of the Final Redemption.
This also corresponds with the fact that Mordechai ha-Tzadik was the first Head
of the 36 Hidden Tzadikim and the Tzadik Haim was the last Head of the 36
Hidden Tzadikim. The Strip of Blue Techelet, is thus 2600 years old. That is the Strip of Techelet of Stellar Harmony maintained by the 36 Hidden and
Suffering Tzadikim of every generation. This Strip of Techelet
had not yet been cut down and bound on earth with the Tzadik Haim. By way of the
Sign made and this writing and these statements I have, thank God, cut it down
and brought it to the Goel Haim. The second Strip of Techelet
Mordechai is that which binds the Star of Mordechai with the Star of Ester.
This is an essential redemptional binding between the Star of Mordechai of the Higher
Tribunal of Mordechai ha-Tzadik and the Star of Queen Ester in the Kingdom of
Ahashverosh, five Stars in each. The Torah is completed when these two
Constellations collaborate in perfect harmony. The Tribunal represents Justice,
the Justice of the Laws of God while the Constellation of Ester in the Kingdom
of Ahhashverosh represents the perfection of the virtues loved by God Almighty.
The second Strip of Techelet, is thus the binding of
the Tribunal and of Queen Ester reuniting the forces of the Torah and the
commandments with the merits of the Virtues of the heart to consolidate the
true Tradition for the world of the Great Universal Final Redemption in merit
of the chosen Tzadik, the Anointed Judge of the Kingdom of Heaven, Haim.
Thus the great
Sign of the birth of the Tzadik Haim, born on Shavuot, completely circumcised
and the amniotic sack itself that came out whole and had to be cut. Shavuot is
the Celebration of the Revelation of the Ten Commandments, at dawn, the moment
of Matan Torah. The second Strip of Techelet renews the Torah for the Geula Shleima in merit of
the Tzadik Haim. I have thus cut down the second Strip of Techelet
and have brought it to the Goel Haim. This represents the Final Seal of the
Final New Pact of the 24th year of the Completed Signs, the Seal of
the two Strips of Techelet Mordechai, one of the Dawn
and one of the Torah, now bound for always with the signs of the birth of the
Tzadik Haim from Sanaa, Yemen.
Thanks to EL
MISTATER, EL MISTATER is great, EL MISTATER is One.
The Two Strips of Techelet Mordechai, bound to the
birth of the Goel Haim complete the bond between the Pact of the Great Prophet
Elijah and the Final New Pact brought by the Goel Haim; and so is completed the
stellar bindings of the New Tradition of the New, True Kabbala of Big Fish
Leviathan, the heredity of the Prophet Elijah, of blessed mentioning, in the
hands of the Goel Haim. Amen ve-ken yehi ratzon. And therefore before these
conclusions of the Signs of Techelet Mordechai came
the Sign to bind the name of the Prophet Elijah, of blessed mentioning, with 12
letters of the Hebrew Alphabet and then with the New Mazalot of Big Fish Leviathan.
(see Asino delle Stelle).
November 25,
2006, Inzago, Italy, Giuseppe: (Asino delle Stelle 4) –
Message received by Giuseppe Bambino Manigrasso, 25 November, 2006, Inzago
Italy. –
Giuseppe was in
Peretz' Tent reading the Sign written above concerning Peretz dream and the
Sign of the Two Strips of Techelet Mordechai and he
received an extremely important vision that he related below:
- - we made the sign as seen by Peretz in a dream in which he
cut the two Ribbons of Blu (Tchelet). As I read the
text, I saw a man dressed in animal skins and he said to me that he was the
author who had put Sefer Ha-Yashar into writing. He said:
"There are
things that you must know. The Book of Yashar is a
‘hidden book’ as indicated by its very name which hides the original title of
Sefer Ha-Yashar. Originally it was called ‘Kabbala Yeshara’,
(‘Direct Reception’). This text represents the Tradition (Kabbalah) of Joshua
son of Nune received from Moses, our Teacher. I was the Heir to that Tradition
and I decided to write it down because of the difficult times; I saw people
going into exile and I didn’t know how to pass on this Tradition so I decided
to write it and to pass it on as Aggadah. For this reason, however, many rabbis
and Torah Scholars’ didn’t take it into proper consideration as they did the
Talmudic studies of the Oral Tradition.
"All was in my head. I had received a
blessing. The particular Blessing that you have already received represents the
Precise Definition of the various traditions. The Book of the Direct Tradition
comes to complete the New Signs of the Final Redemption and is thus a Basic
Pillar for the Final Redemption.
"When Moses
blessed Joshua, he gave over this ‘secret’ of the Reception, for history had to
proceed on the true and direct Tradition.
"Joshua son of Nune said to his pupils,
“There will be deviations of the Written Torah; men and sages will fall into
error (he couldn’t say more because also Joshua was in the Spirit of God and he
had him see something of the future) Now you (must) conserve (maintain) the
Direct Reception with the purpose of maintaining it always on earth. Do not
use, however, the term Kabbalah but simply ‘Sefer’, a Book that is Direct,
Correct and Precise in its ways, that is in relating
the facts as they really occurred.
"The Torah
is perfect in what it relates, but its comprehension is not complete.
"The Spirit
of God had distanced itself from the people; Israel’s heart had become closed
because they had not listened to the word of God.
"Sefer Ha-Yashar hides the Spirit of the
True Tradition of the people. When Sefer ha-Yashar will be extended, the spirit
of the true Tradition will return to the people for the new born of the Final
Redemption. A New Elevated Spirit will be upon the people and it will awaken
them to desire the wisdom of the mind.
"God Blessed is He loves those who follow His ways and His
commandments. The ways are the Virtues of the heart and the Commandments are
the ways of the Humble Brain that annuls itself before the Law of God,
following it and studying it".
.....................................................................................
– Thank You EL SHADDAI for this extremely
important message received by Giuseppe. I have a copy of the Hebrew text given
me by the Tzadik Haim who told me to read and study it because it is true
Kabbalah and it contains many hidden things. In the early years of the Signs,
Davide Levi dreamed that in a place of Prayer there were the Megilat Esther and
Sefer ha-Yashar and they were translated into many languages.
– Only now in this period (I merit the Medal
for slowness in comprehension) has it become clear to me that Sefer ha-Yashar
is to be included as part of Sefer Soshanat Mishnat Haim (only one of the 2 books to be part, the first is Milhamot HaShem). Sefer Ha-Yashar
was considered very precious by The Tzadik Haim and he confirmed its truth and
said it is true antique Kabbala. The story of the Roman Centurion after the
conquest of Jerusalem and the book is fully mentioned in the Introduction above.
– And now that with Giuseppe, I made the sign of cutting the Two
Ribbons of Techelet, as seen in my dream, and with
Giuseppe’s reception of this Message from the author of Sefer ha-Yashar, I’ve
come now to realize the relationship between my dream and Sefer ha-Yashar. In
my dream, the Tzadik Haim was seated behind a writing desk with many writings
all around him and in which he was anguished by the fact that I had not yet cut
the Two Ribbons of Techelet. The Ribbons of Techelet are connected to the Megilat Esther and here was
alluded the fact that I had not yet bound the permission of the Goel Haim and
his words concerning the authority of Sefer Ha-Yashar and the story of the
Centurion to Sefer Mishnat Haim. Nor had I realized the true importance of this
whole matter until Giuseppe received this Message.
(Asino delle Stelle 5 – I had not
understood why in David Levi’s dream mentioned previously the Megilat Ester and
Sefer ha-Yashar were together. I simply thought that just as the Megilat Esther
has to be translated into many languages, so too Sefer Ha-Yashar has to be
translated in many languages. With Giuseppe’s received message, we have the
Keys to a much deeper and more comprehensive understanding. First of all the
author speaks of the exile, I suppose the Babylonian Exile, thus in the same
period as Purim and the Megilat Esther.
– Most amazing
of the Message is that Sefer Ha-Yashar represents a Basic Pillar of the Final
New Pact, it being true oral Torah from Sinai, from Yeshua bin Nune. Since this
text is part of the New Kabbalah of the New Law of the Final Redemption based
on the Mishnah of Yeshua bin Nune, this fact gives immense force to the New Law
and to the writings in Sefer Mishnat Haim. This is extraordinary News and I
wish to understand it even more.
– Sefer ha-Yashar has certainly been chosen to
be diffused at the time of the Final Redemption which will be accomplished with
its being included in Sefer Mishnat Haim.[5] (The Book of the Direct
Tradition comes to complete the New Signs of the Final Redemption and is thus a
Basic Pillar for the Final Redemption. – This is to be correlated with the
importance of the two Strips of Techelet; it comes to
complete the New Signs and is a Basic Pillar for the Final Redemption. -)
[1] Probably
Jews who had left the boundaries of Jerusalem to settle in Egypt and they had
influence in the Court. -
[2] Psalms
19, 13
[3] The
Original Introduction to the text itself in Hebrew is found together with the
Hebrew text on our Site. I have translated it into English and placed it here
before my introduction.
[4] The
book, nevertheless, is known, and in the Beit Yehuda Humash there is
translation of it in Yiddish.
[5] - Also the Text ‘Tokfo Shel Yosef’ is of the same Kabbalah as affirmed by the Tzadik
Haim. After searching all over for that text without success I finally found it
with total surprise in 1990 at Mahluf’s house, (see
the DIARY of Hamuel).