Sefer ha-kabbala

Sefer ha-kabbala, meaning "Book of Tradition," is a significant historical work by Abraham ben David Halevi ibn Daud, a Jewish philosopher and historian from Toledo, Spain, who lived in the 12th century.1

Ibn Daud wrote Sefer ha-kabbala to defend rabbinic authority against the Karaites, a Jewish sect that rejected the Oral Law. The book aims to demonstrate an unbroken chain of tradition from Moses to his own time. It provides valuable insights into the lives of Spanish Jews, including their synagogues and religious practices.1

While ibn Daud also wrote philosophical works, Sefer ha-kabbala is often considered his most esteemed contribution today. The term "Kabbala" itself refers to esoteric Jewish mysticism that emerged in the 12th century and beyond, often transmitted through oral tradition and seeking a direct approach to God.12