plan was almost entirely of a practical nature, and his means of carrying it out were diplomatic and statesmanlike. Molcho, however, was a real enthusiast, whose sincere belief in his mission inspired others with his own confidence. Even after his death, many learned and intelligent Jews of Europe and Asia believed he had escaped death a second time, and he would soon re-appear. Some even declared they had seen him eight days after his execution. It is very difficult to deduce, from the writings of the time, what was the view of the best minds of the day, for even Joseph Cohen, the author of 'Emek ha-Bachah, a careful historian and clear thinker, was dazed by the miraculous events of the period, and was uncertain as to what judgment he should pass on the whole affair. The belief that the Messianic age was near, was current among the Jews of Italy, who saw in the recent sack of Rome, in the Lutheran agitation, and in the hostility between Pope and Emperor, certain signs of the approach of the Messianic era."

Despite the failure of these two pseudoMessiahs, the study of the Kabbalah gained large numbers of new votaries even among the most cultured, and even among cultured Christians. Foremost among them were Isaac Lurya (1534-1572) and his disciple, Hayyim Vital Calabrese (1543-1620), each of whom believed himself to be the Messiah son of Joseph, and proclaimed his mission to assembled multitudes. Though their influence upon the development of the Kabbalah was very great, their Messianic speculations were of little effect, except to induce their followers to apply themselves more zealously to the study of the Kabbalah, through which, they asserted, the coming of the Messiah son of David would be hastened.

Destructive though the influence of the Kabbalah was, and conducive as its teachings were to an unwholesome and abnormal development of the Jewish spirit, it still had this good effect, that it held out to its adherents, living in the darkest of the dark ages,

subject to excruciating pains and to spiritual and mental agonies, the hope of a speedy redemption from their troubles. Rationalistic theories about the future of Israel may be sufficient for Jews living in comfort and prosperity. But the poor, unfortunate Jews of Southern Europe during the middle ages, living in constant trepidation and suspense, subject to the tender mercies of a bloodthirsty clergy and of a fanatic and covetous royalty, exposed to the greatest dangers at every step-such unfortunates needed something more spiritual, something more mysterious, to strengthen them in their faith. To them the Kabbalah, with its highly spiritual teachings, with its mystical promises, and its extravagant hopes, was the firmest support. If their hopes were once disappointed, it was necessary only to interpret the Biblical text by a somewhat different combination of letters and syllables, in order to make it apply to a new hope, deferred to a later time, and the Jewish spark was kept ablaze in

their hearts.

The excitement itself, though

it brought no permanent relief, served as a temporary remedy for their wounded spirits. Even the impostors, if impostors they were, contributed their share toward the survival of the Jewish hope in the hearts of the suffering Jews. The sacrifices the Jewish nation made on the altar of the Kabbalah, in submitting to the delusive dreams published abroad by deluded and deluding men, were worth the recompense the nation received in the preservation of the great and glorious hope of a triumphant future.

CHAPTER VI

THE EFFECTS OF KABBALISTIC

SPECULATIONS

The Protestant Reformation-Luther's Favorable Attitude to the Jews-Hebrew Literature studied by Christians-The Wars of the Reformation— Signs of the Messianic Era-Manasseh ben Israel-The Fifth Monarchy Men-The Puritans -Manasseh effects the Resettlement of the Jews in England-Aaron Levi identifies the American Indians with the Ten TribesManasseh believes the Messianic Era Near at Hand-Manasseh and Cromwell-Sabbatai Zebi announces himself as the Messiah-Pronounces the Ineffable Name of God-Excommunicated and banished from Smyrna-In JerusalemNathan Ghazati his Prophet-Recognized as the Messiah-The Messianic Theory of the Sabbatians Opposition to Rabbinism-Sabbatai turns Mohammedan-Excitement not abated by his Death-Michael Cardoso-Mordecai of Eisenstadt-Jacob Querido Judah HasidHayyim Malach-Nehemiah Hiyya Hayyun— Rabbis oppose the pseudo-Messiahs-Moses Hayyim Luzzatto misled by Mystic Speculations -Yankiev Leibowitz Frank-His Theory about the Various Messiahs-Frankists declare their Principles-Their Opposition to the TalmudModern Hasidism-Resumé of the Influence of the Kabbalah.

Like almost every other matter of human interest in Europe, the Messianic hope was greatly influenced by the Protestant Refor