MOSES

See also:

• BEN (from Old Eng. bennan, within)

BEN SI

See also:

• LEON
• LEON, LUIS PONCE DE (1527-1591)
• MOSES BEN SI LEON
• LEON, or LEON DE LAS ALDAMAS

LEON  EM-TOBI DE (d . 1305), Jewish scholar, was born in Leon (Spain) in the middle of the 13th century and died at Arevalo . His fame is due to his authorship of the most influential Kabbalist work, the Zohar (see KABBALA), which was attributed to Simon b . Yol7ai, a Rabbi of the 2nd century . In modern times the discovery of the modernity of the Zohar has led to injustice to the author . Moses de Leon undoubtedly used old materials and out of them constructed a work of genius . The discredit into which he fell was due partly to the unedifying incidents of his personal career . He led a wandering life, and was more or less of an adventurer . But as to the greatness of his work, the profundity of his philosophy and the brilliance of his religious idealism, there can be no question . See Graetz, History of the Jews, vol. iv. ch. i.; Geiger, Leon de Modena . (I .