- published: 15 Jan 2016
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Solomon Molcho (Hebrew: שלמה מולכו Shelomo Molkho), or Molko, originally Diogo Pires, (1500 – 13 December 1532) was a Portuguese mystic and pseudomessiah. A "New Christian" who converted to Judaism, Molcho declared himself the Messiah, was convicted of apostasy by the Inquisition and was ordered burned at the stake.
Molcho was born a Christian to Marrano parents in Portugal about 1500. His baptismal name probably was Diogo Pires. He held the post of secretary in one of the higher courts of his native country. When the Jewish adventurer David Reubeni came ostensibly on a political mission from Khaibar (Peshawar) to Portugal, Molcho wished to join him, but was rejected. He then circumcised himself, though without thereby gaining Reubeni's favor, and emigrated to Turkey.
Molcho was a believer in dream interpretation who studied the Kabbalah with Joseph Taitazak and became acquainted with Joseph Caro. He then wandered as a preacher through Italy, Turkey and Ottoman Syria, where he achieved a great reputation and announced that the Messianic kingdom would come in 1540. In 1529 Molcho published a portion of his sermons under the title Derashot, or Sefer ha-Mefo'ar. Going to Italy, he was opposed by prominent Jews including Jacob Mantino ben Samuel, who feared that he might mislead other Jews. He was given an audience before Pope Clement VII, having gained his favor, as well as that of some Judeophile cardinals at Rome. He was said to have predicted a certain flood which inundated Rome and various other places. After his many cabalistic and other strange experiments, Molcho felt justified in proclaiming himself the Messiah, or his precursor.
You're not in love with me
I'm in love with you
You barely even noticed
What's good about me
So I'll keep on tapping my way
This song as my cane
For someone who dares
Take on this man inside of me
You could hardly see
Falling away
So I'll keep on swimming my way
Through that pitch black part of me
Singing this tongue tied and twisted melody
There you go falling into that sea of people
Falling away
You're falling away
It's gone without a trace
I'm singing love songs again
You're falling away
Those dark streets inside of me
How further can they be
Now I can finally see
That pretty seed inside of me
The one thing I need inside of me
And that beast ingrained in me
Is bursting to see
What you and I can be