Hayon, Nehemiah Hiya ben-Moses

(c. 1655–c. 1730)

   Safad Cabbalist. Hayon was born in Safad, in Galilee, his father having emigrated there from Sarajevo. He was a student of the Cabbala and known to be a follower of the messianic claims of SHABBETAI ZEVI. When he settled in Amsterdam in 1713, the ‘heretical’ nature of his books was denounced by the Ashkenazi rabbi, and a storm of controversy was aroused. Hayon was excommunicated and his works condemned. He died in poverty in North Africa.