He was arrested and imprisoned in 1636 for possessing forbidden books, namely, those singled out for censorship, expurgation or confiscation because of passages putatively critical of Christians.
'[2]His first work was the siddur Ashmoret haBoḳer (1624), containing liturgy compiled for Mei're HaShachar (a Lurianic early morning prayer group he founded), and therefore also published under this name.
He explains the importance of caring for the sick and the dying, and offers detailed confessional liturgy (vidu'i) not only for the end of life, but for the merit and well-being of the soul.
His detailed kabbalistic teachings are in the following chapters, which are focused on in-depth study rather than the skilled work of the Chevra Kadisha.
To avert possible criticism for failing to discuss these themes philosophically, he makes use of the statement of Isaac Arama: "Reason must surrender some of its rights to the divine revelations which are superior to it.