The Scroll of Zuta

Abraham bar Hillel says:

At the beginning of my remarks, I will praise God, who is praised every day and night, because only in this should one glory.

It is my intention that this document should be a record of the sins of Zuta, written elegantly in a book, with iron pen and lead! (Job 19:24). [ . . . ]

In the course of time, the king of Egypt died, and a new king arose over Egypt, and he [Zuta] made him an annual payment of two hundred dinars in return for political power. He said, “I myself made good the loss; you exacted it of me,” and the fox [Zuta] reached out and took a shoe from the barefoot [i.e., he robbed the poor]. He ruled for about four years. And the people were miserably poor, and their tears like rain clouds, until God looked down from heaven and took mercy on the defrauded, as a father takes mercy on his son, and silenced the complacent ones, and wiped the tears from all faces, and sent a faithful messenger, a prodigy for all generations, a marvel for all times, Moses [Maimonides], the master, a lamp for the East and West, a clear light and shining star, the most distinguished scholar of his generation, and its wonder, from east to west. He restored religious observance to its former status and established it on a firm foundation. He removed the idol from the sanctuary, and he enticed, and he prevailed [see 2 Chronicles 18:21]. The beginning of salvation for the Jewish people was in his hands.

When I saw that the pernicious Zuta would be remembered for the evil of his deeds, because they are too numerous to count and too great to repeat and very exceedingly perverse, I hesitated and wondered and despaired of telling or relating them in full. There is nothing new in mentioning them because no one is ignorant or unaware of them, aside from the amazing miracle that occurred in the glorious month of Adar. I immediately sensed and felt something, though I did not conjecture; if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my peace (Esther 7:4). Because this Zuta the wicked sinner, like Haman the enemy of the Jews, sought to destroy the beloved seed [Jews]. Therefore, I will say little, less than one thousandth [of the full account], but this outline will attest to the rest.

My father and teacher, my source of pride and honor, told me that this Zuta, who wrapped himself in shame, was involved in everything hidden and obscure. His parents called him Yaḥya, but he changed his name to Sar Shalom [literally, “the prince of peace”] whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle (Psalms 32:9). He took his cloak and rolled it up and chased after power, but it ran from him and deserted him.

He said in his folly and great stupidity, “Is not a position of authority inherent to my name, a legacy from my father and mother? Also, in a dream I saw authority resting on my shoulder. Comfort ye, comfort ye My people (Isaiah 40:1), because in my days the horn of salvation will flourish, and from me the people will receive the messiah.”

He was not embarrassed to write his name, although we have no “prince of peace.” He looked upon his congregation as they were seated before him and said, “There are no important people with me. Do you not know that no one is like me among all the people, a keen mind, and all knowledge on the tip of my tongue? Whoever desires, let him come and take, before I am taken. A divine voice calls to me from heaven: Ho, every one that is thirsty, come for water (Isaiah 55:1).”