Approbation of

This day is great and broad, proving a gift of wisdom and perfect in understanding. This is the day we hoped for, clothed in precious splendor, The Splendor of the King Hebrew: Hadrat Melech. Kindness performed a vision and a repair of the ancient. It was shown to me by the distinguished Rabbi, the excellent judge, the divine Kabbalist, our teacher Rabbi Shalom Buzaglo, of blessed memory, whose reputation has already spread in the world. Both his greatness and his honor and his preciousness gave him a double portion, and in his portion he is honored in his explanation Sanctuary of the King, for all its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace.

This thing is a hidden treasure, a covered storehouse that my eyes saw and my heart celebrated. I said, who will grant that they be engraved with a pen of iron and lead for generations of generations as a safeguard? All of them are perfect, a crown of beauty, a glorified Torah, the words of a wise man's mouth are grace and his lips are peace.

This thread, one who fears the Lord in his thoughts, I desired very much, which they called over me with a call of love. And they protected me... from my hand's writing to testify about him and about his new work... although my way is not to give approbations on new books, nevertheless for a great man like him, I did not restrain my desire and I did not delay. I went outside my boundaries to decree a decree of the watchers upon every man, that he shall not lift his hand to print according to the form of this book for the duration of time which was set by my honored brother-in-law, the famous and pious Rabbi and Genius, Head of the Academy of the Holy Community of Amsterdam. God forbid that one should print without his permission, and who will not fear lest he be burned by his coal by touching the corner of his cloak and encroaching on his border? He shall not see good in his labor. And he who listens to our words, may his source be blessed from my portion, and may the work of righteousness be peace.

The words of the one speaking for the honor of the Torah, today, Tuesday, the 20th of the month of Elul, in the year Your elders will tell you and they will say to you Chronogram for 1766.

Introduction to

The Book of the Tree of Life

By the famous Rabbi and Genius in the wisdom of Kabbalah. Every closed and deep thing in the secret of the hidden he revealed. To him is fitting praise with every blessing and song. Over all the students of the Ari, may his memory be for a blessing, he is very much exalted. To him alone was given the rank of beauty and greatness, and he supported him with both hands, for why was he given a double portion? He gave him a double portion because he loved life referring to Chaim Vital's name, "Chaim," which means "Life" from all his labor, and his book Tree of Life Hebrew: Etz Chaim shall tell of his praise.

Said the small Chaim Vital, son of my lord and father Joseph, of blessed memory: Behold my thoughts are perfect, for the days have waited for us in our exile, and we are not... my heart did not seek to investigate what this is and why the Son of Jesse the Messiah has not come. And I found written in the Tikkunim referring to Tikkuney Zohar, page 93, column 1, and these are his words: "The spirit goes and does not return" Psalm 78:39, this refers to the spirit of the Messiah. And woe to those who, regarding the labor of the Torah, engage only in the literal meaning... for because of this, they cause the spring of wisdom to be removed... and the spirit is withdrawn, which is the spirit of the Messiah and the Holy Spirit. These are his words. And from the power of many passages which have struggled, teachers show the great reward of the one who studies Kabbalah... there is no end to the height of his level before the Holy One, Blessed be He... and to be a helper in its study is a special merit.

Therefore, wise of heart, listen to me, lest the lack... my master, of blessed memory, began to teach me this wisdom. My hand did not move from his hand. Therefore, let them not turn to see the books titled according to human intellect. And if you find in some pamphlet some thing contrary to what is written in this book, know that it is a complete error, for one of the listeners of his holy words did not descend to the depth of his intention. And if you think you can clarify the good and leave the bad, do not lean on your own understanding, for these matters are handed over to the heart and human intellect, and there is great danger in them. Therefore, be careful not to look at any pamphlet written in the name of my master, of blessed memory, except what is written in this book, which is from his words to merit the public in what I received from my master, and what I was permitted to write. And I called the name of the composition The Tree of Life Hebrew: Etz Chaim after my name and after the name of the wisdom of Kabbalah, which is the tree of eternal life. Let the wise man hear and increase learning; let him put forth his hand and eat from the tree of life and live forever in the world that is entirely good. These are the words of our teacher Rabbi Chaim Vital in brief, for he spoke at length in the praises of our teacher Rabbi Isaac Luria, of blessed memory, what his eyes saw and not a stranger, for Elijah, of blessed memory, was revealed to him constantly to teach him things that stand at the height of the world, and his purity and holiness brought him to the level of the actual Holy Spirit in wonderful matters. Because of the brevity, I did not copy them.