Chayim Vital / Yair Alon
Explanation of Knowledge by Rabbi Chaim Vital is the recording of the teachings by the Arizal concerning his overall system. It gives the key to understand what Partzufim are and ultimately establishes the link between ancient and modern Kabbalah. The book is unique in its gender as is illustrates with over 140 drawings both in English and Hebrew the entire Lurianic system. Clear explanations address the needs of the layman, bringing him hand in hand into the discovery of the most intricate kabbalistic concepts. Explanation of Knowledge can be thought as a prerequisite to understand more complex Lurianic literature, such as Etz Chaim (Tree of Life). In no other book, Vital tries to explain the basics as he does here, and much less he illustrates them. This is why Explanation of Knowledge has been always kept a very guarded secret in the kabbalistic establishment.
