14) See and understand, dear friend, how the esteemed Rabbi Tam, may his memory be a blessing, vehemently rebuked those involved in the New Kabbalah, for they breached the fences of the Torah. They corrupted its foundations and roots, especially in relation to the Divine, as will be explained further. Instead of seeking closeness to the Divine, they strayed from the path and came to believe in and serve other gods!
This is also expressed in the words of Rabbi Tam and likewise affirmed by Rabbi Yitzchak Albo in his work "Sefer HaIkarim," Chapter 28, Mishnah 2. Furthermore, Rabbi Tam extensively discussed in his book "Sefer Rabid HaZahav" and also presented the words of the great Rabbi Shlomo Luria, may his memory be a blessing, in his responsa and his work "Yam Shel Shlomo" regarding those who engage in new innovations studied in Kabbalah.
He wrote that since the Talmud has been sealed, we should not be stringent against the Gemara, and it is considered similar to heresy, as explained in the "Chok Yaakov" (Rabbi Yaakov Chagiz), Chapter 489, Subsection 11, at length. All of this is based on the assumption and attribution that the Zohar ascribes to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the Tanna. However, after the scrutiny and examination of wise hearts who came after him, it became clear who authored the mentioned ideas, when the composition was produced, and by whom.
It is clarified thoroughly that the Zohar is one of the later works, and those ideas did not originate from Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, may his memory be a blessing, at all. In fact, it contains several principles contrary to the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in the Talmud and the well-known Midrashim in Israel. Therefore, it is certainly not reliable in any matter related to the customs of the Jewish people that our predecessors followed.
And the sages of the Middle Ages did a disservice by introducing several changes to our prayer liturgy based on the Zohar and Kabbalistic teachings. Some of these alterations lead to erroneous beliefs in multiple authorities and idolatrous worship, as will be explained further.