New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25
FALSE PROPHETS FLOURISH IN EVERY AGE.
DESIGNING MEN ARE ABLE TO IMPOSE ON THE ChHD-
ULOUS-SOME NOTABLE EXAMPLES IN THE PAST.

There always have been religious impostors anu
probably always will be. They have drawn grede
multitudes after them, these multltuueS
their influence has been lcng-lived short-lveu
according TO laws which cannot be clearly defined
There were, doubtless. religious inpostors oe'ore
Simon Magus. and ii is certain there was reason
for the injunction of Moses regarding dreamers ana
the later caution. Beware of false prophets Thers
have been many. Of greater or less degree soile VI
whom have strongly impressed themselves, or tne
fruit of their ahors the beliefs OF manklhd
Judaism has been peculiarly open to the schemes VI
impoStoTs because OF its belief in the coming OF 4
Messiah Thus vunerabilty was further Increased
in the Middle Ages by the Introduction OF a tieo-
sophcal form belief styled KaOalisn. This Is De-
Heved by to have originated In the second
century. but II not firmly fixed among the jews
until the Middle Ages, when a book considered 10
have been forgery purportng to contain Its mys-
teries. previously transmitted only in oral man
ner, was foisted upon the public by a Spanish Jew
OF nercenary tendencies. For centuries this book
considered heavenly revelation and the guide to
the belief. ranked by the followers of Kab-
asm with the Bible. The wife and daughter OF
the man who promulgated 1t. Moses ben Shem Toh
de Leon, who born in Leon about 1850 A D.. and
died fifty-ve years later, declared after his death
that he had said. when asked why he wrote books
under the circumstances which surround the 40
har"-as this guide to Kabalism was called-that
he did it for the money it would bring in The
"Zohar" served TO provide KabaIsm with a firm
foundation and give it wide extension.
Moses de Leon, whether designing or ptous
impostor half learned man, who had mas
tered neither the Talmud nor any other subject
thoroughly. Like many charlatans Of all ages. he
possessed the power deftly the little he knew.
TO write easily and huently. to discover a connec-
ton between the most remote things and verses OF
Scripture that lay piled up in his mind These he
coupled together with playful wit. He is said TO
have known more Of the Kabala than its tech
meal terms and forms. These were his stock in
trade. Being somewhat OF a spend thrift. he made
of the of the cult livelihood.
Kabalism just then popular, and he aimed to
appear an instructor in 1t and procure for
himself rich Of income. Under his
name. he had secured little fame and money, so he
hit upon the effective plan OF composing books
bearing the names of persons widely known in the
past for their wisdom and issuing them as postum
nous works.
He selected as the most likely author for the
cret doctrine one against whom there could be little
objection. the fanatic Simon bar Jochai, who
lived in Palestine in the second century and was
said TO have spent thirteen years in cave solitary
and buried in profound reflection. The old mystics
had already represented him communicating rev.
Citations. For the text he selected the Chaldee Ian
guage a half obscure language peculiarly fitted for
the publication OF secrets, and allowed it to be
known that he had in his possession the original
manuscript, which had cone TO him in Spain in
devious way.
The author knew how to make the book appeal to
Ine minus OF CleQulOuS redQerS SliiloH JoCAdI
he made to appear a person Of splendor and
glorious radiance This ancient was made to inpart
his revelations TO circle OF select pupils, scholars
who shine there with heavens light When
they assembled compose the 'Zohar permission
granted to the prophet Elijah. all the members
OF the celestial conclave. all angels. spirits and
higher souls to act in sympathy with them and the
spiritual substances (Serot) charged with the
duty of revealing to them deeply hidden secrets
which were reserved to the time of the Messiah"
De Leon proved to have judged the spirit Of the
times well, for sooner this mysterious
Zohar'' published than he began to receive orders
for It from different parts of Europe from the Kab
asts and others. To all who inquired how he had
come by this wonderful manuscript he told tale
Of It's travels which included miracle to support
further his remarkable claims for IT, He said that
Nachmani. a teacher in Palestine had hunted II UP
and had sent it 20 his son in Catalonia Through
whirlwind 1t was carried to Aragon. Alicante
Valencia. where it fell into the hands of de Leon.
II Is difficult to erect false structure which will
be so perfect that It will show flaws Like the
small boy who had heard his father cursing the
sparrows. and when his mother charged him with
having disobeyeo some command, saying that "a
little bird told me-. remarked. 1T must have been
one OF these sparrows." he found he had TO face
nconvenent questions occasionally. Isaac OF Acco.
a Kabalist. who had been born and educated in
the Holy Land and had associated with Nachmani's
pupils without hearing syllable about this wonder
full revelation the ''Zohar" De Leon in Valla-
manuscript. De Leon took oath that the original
document was in his house at Avia. and pledged
himself to submit II to Isaac of Acco for exanina
ton. On his way home he died. and the veil around
the mystery OF the origin of "Zohar' wrapped
stin closer. To influential men OF Avila. in in
terview with De Icons wife and daughter. learned
from them that when they had asked him why he
published the productions of his intellect under n
strange name he had answered that the "Zohar"
would not have brought him any money had he
used his own name. but when assigned to Simon bar
Jochai it had been lucrative source of income
OF all the impostors with fantastic ideas who have
led the minds OF men from the course of reason
perhaps Sabbatai levi, who led the Jews of Europe
and Western Asia In the middle of the seventeenth
century n merry dance. was one OF the most fan
tastic. Weak mentally and somewhat ignorant he
hoodwinked them on every side, and once he had
gained their adherence 1t seemed IL no amount
OF Inconsistency on his part could drive them away
from him again. He was for the time being the
idol of the Jewish race and 1t is said that no has
secret adherents to this day. Among tn. forces
in attracting men and women to him were his hand
some face and musical voice OF Spanish aescent
although born In Smyrna, he tall well rnsaa
and had a dark beard and hair. When he spoke or
sang the tones of his voice contributed the mag
netic effect OF his presence He was always for
saking his companions when boy TO study the
r,vsteres of Kabalisn contained In the spurious
..Zohnr' OF which the Messiane frenzy which he
introduced was the product. There Is little doubt
that he believed himself the Messiah. but he was
perfectly willing II for his own advantage
IN gaining the power no loved
The ..Zohar' had declared that In the year lsas
tho era Of redemption OF tie world would begin to
dawn. aud precisely that year Sabbath revealed