In a six page article titled "The Riddle of Doctor Dahesh" published in the December 1996 issue of ArtNews magazine, we found the following official statement on behalf of the Dahesh Museum board of directors:
Kaplan goes even further. Speaking on behalf of the board, she denies that Dr. Dahesh founded the spiritual movement. "He didn't establish it," Kaplan says. "The fact is, these people (Daheshists), that's what they say. He never proclaimed himself anything, not a prophet, not a reincarnation. He never claimed anything that people are claiming for him. He was born a Christian, and he must have been very charismatic.".