Simon Ceiphas or Simon Petter Chamor (d.65CE), often confused with St Jude, Simon Kalpus or Simon Cippah, was one of the Jews just like John & Paul "who purposely infected their culture in order to sway the Notzri faith away from Judaism into Messianic Noahism. They themselves were not heretics and did so for the benefit of the Jewish people".^[1]

Rabbi Shimon Halevi Ish Horowitz in his comments on the Machzor Vitry (ויטרי לרבינו שמחה, יוצא לאור ע"י ר' שמעון הלוי איש הורוויץ, סי' שכ"ה, הערה ה, עמ'362, הוצאת "א" מכון להוצאת ספרים, ירושלים, תשכ"ז.) wrote that Rabbeinu Tam said Simon Ceiphas never believed in Notzrut but did everything he did (against Ben Stada) for Heaven's sake.

R. Jacob Tam expressed his belief that Simon Caiaphas, the first Patriarch of Antioch, "was a devout and learned Jew, who dedicated his life to guiding Heretics along the proper path. (Machzor Vitry, edited by S.Hurwitz, 1923[2], p.285 note 5 and p. 362 note 5. CF Urbach, Tosafot, 191–3. (Israel Moses Ta-Shma).^[2])

He was mentioned by רב יצחק באר who wrote in the Siddur Avodas Yisrael (סדר עבודת ישראל, הרב יצחק בן אריה יוסף דוב (בער), עמ' 206, הוצאת), in name of an old manuscript siddur from the year 1407:

“I heard from Yehuda Bar Yaakov that Shimon Ben Kipa authored Nishmas until the words מִי ידמה לך (Mi Yidmeh Lach)”

This identifies him as the Simon that the Encyclopaedia Judaica says was referred to as Simon Caiaphas by Rabbeinu Tam who likewise maintained that Simon was the author of the Nishmat prayer recited on Sabbaths and Festivals.^[3]

Vetzaruch Iyun (צריך עיון), as elsewhere in Machzor Vitri 325 it states that Shimon Kipa authored the Piyutim of Seder Avoda said on Yom Kippur. Shimon also authored some Yom Kippur liturgy and others while in a cave according to the Machzor Vitri (p. 282 Mahadurah Makitzei Nirdamim) which also confirms his authorship of Nishmas.

The mistaken belief that Simon Peter Chamor was "Nabal" is referred to by Rabbeinu Simcha (a student of Rashi) who warned:

רבינו שמחה, תלמידו של רש"י, מביא את דבריו בחיבורו – "מחזור ויטרי"(מחזור ויטרי, שם, עמ' 282, והערה ה.), ובלשונו:

"ויש שאומרים על אותו נבל שמעון פטר חמור שהיא טעות של רומה יסדו אותה תפילה [נשמת]. ושאר תפילות כשהיה על הסלע. וחס ושלום שלא תהיה זאת בישראל. וכל האומר דבר זה, כשיבנה בית המקדש יביא חטאת שמנה".

"And some say about that [Prayer], Simon Peter Hamor is Nabal -which is a mistake of Rome- who established that prayer [Neshmat] and other prayers when he was on the rock. But Chas Veshalom that such will not be (said) in Israel. And whoever says this, when the Temple is built, he will bring a fat offering."

"Petter Chamor" is actually an office which has been held by several people called Simon since Simon Kefa. It is therefore sometimes difficult to identify when the term Petter Chamor refers to Simon Peter or to Simon Cippah or Simon Kalpus or Shimon Ben Kipa.

The word פטר is also related to another term in halacha: Patur (פטור) which means "exempt" of liability to punishment though an action is forbidden.

Simon's mission to the Hillonim was later headed by Gamaliel's Benjaminite student Saul of Tarsus the Pharisee of the Manumitted Edomean-Ishmaelite Synagogue and whose efforts in Simon's direction were organized into the New Testament by Peter's Shaliakh Shimeon HaKalpus with whom Peter is often confused. The Marcionites were the failed result of Paul's mission among the Mandaeans.

Simon held the chair of Av Beit Din in Antioch which was established there under Antioch's Governor Theophilius on February 22nd 35/36CE where disciples were first called Christians, and remained there until the year 42.

Historical details of his fight against a heresiarch are confirmed by corroborations that can be found between the Teliya and the Acts of Peter.

שמעון הקלפוס

שמעון בן כפה

שמעון כיפה

1. ↑ Rashi Avoda Zara 10a but brought in Dikdukei Sofrim Avoda Zara p. 12 footnote 9
2. ↑ "page 34 of the Wipf and Stock Publisher's edition of New York Orthodox Rabbi Harvey Falk's book "Jesus the Pharisee: A new look at the Jewishness of Jesus" (copyright 1985 Paulist Press)
3. ↑ Machzor Vitry, edited by S.Hurwitz, 1923[2], p.285 note 5 and p. 362 note 5. CF Urbach, Tosafot, 191–3. (Israel Moses Ta-Shma). CF. J. Eisenstein's articles on Simon Caiaphas in Otzar Israel and Otzar Midrashim {"page 34 of the Wipf and Stock Publisher's edition of New York Orthodox Rabbi Harvey Falk's book "Jesus the Pharisee: A new look at the Jewishness of Jesus" (copyright 1985 Paulist Press)} a Midrash brought in Otzer HaMidrashim p. 557 [1920, by Rav Y.D. Eizanshtein] Beis Hamidrash vol. 5/60 and vol. 6 [1860; Likkut of old Midrashim]