Obj. ID: 39086
Jewish printed books  Raziel ha-Malakh, Grodno, 1793

This text was prepared by William Gross:

The book Raziel Hamalach is considered the basic book for amulets and practical Kabbalah. The tradition around the book attributes it to have been revealed to Adam by the angel Raziel. The title itself is mentioned in another magical work of late antiquity, The Sword of Moses. Critical historians regard it as a medieval work, most probably originating among the Chassidei Ashkenaz, as citations from it begin to appear only in the 13th century. Sections of it are no doubt older. The likely compiler of the medieval version is Eleazer of Worms, as "Sefer Galei Razia", which developed to what we have now as "Sefer Raziel HaMalakh", including more writings written by people of various theological opinions.
The book draws heavily on Sepher Yetzirah and Sepher Ha-Razim. There are multiple manuscript versions, containing up to seven tractates. The printed version of Sefer Raziel is divided into five books, some of it in the form of a mystical Midrash on Creation. It features an elaborate angelology, magical uses of the zodiac, gematria, names of God, protective spells, and a method of writing magical healing amulets. A special segula of possessing this book is mentioned in the introduction: "…Anyone who merits studying it in holiness and purity, will gain merit for himself and for his children and grandchildren… but one must treat it with respect…It must be kept in his house together with his silver and gold, and then he will surely be protected from fire and from plunder and trouble, as written in this book".
The first printed edition of the famous book "Raziel Hamalach" was issued in Amsterdam in 1701. This volume basically determined the texts and diagramatic representation of many basic amulets from this time on, being endlessly copied in almost all places that amuilets were written. The second edition was not published for over 90 years, but then numberous edition were issued from the Hebrew presses of Eastern Europe. It continues to be printed to this day.
This is the rare second edition of Raziel ha-Malach, the first to be printer after the 1701 edition of Amsterdam. It is interesting to note that the second edition is more than 90 years after the first and is far rarer than the original edition. With this edition and forward virtually all editions, of which there are many indeed, were printed in East Europe and Israel. This edition is the source of all the dozens of Russian-Polish editions. During the 90 years after being printed in Grodno, more than 30 additional editions were printed in various cities throughout Russia-Poland.