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Shabatsai Tzvi. The Jewish Mystical Messiah L. E. Levine Faculty Forum April 2003. Principle 12 of Maimonides’ (Rambam’s) Thirteen Principles of Faith (1135-1204).
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Shabatsai Tzvi The Jewish Mystical Messiah L. E. Levine Faculty Forum April 2003
Principle 12 of Maimonides’ (Rambam’s) Thirteen Principles of Faith (1135-1204) I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he may delay, nevertheless I anticipate every day that he will come.
Primary Source Sabbatai Sevi The Mystical Messiah By Gershom Scholem
Basic Information • Born in Smyrna (Izmir), Turkey • August, 1, 1626 – 9th of Av, Sabbath • Significance of day – destruction of First and Second Temples • Tzvi – family name • Received traditional religious education • Ordained at about 18
More Basic Information • Accomplished Talmudic Scholar • Began a life of solitude and piety • Goal: communion with G-d • Study of Kabbalah, mysticism • Mystery of the Godhead
Strange Behavior • At 22 married first wife, divorced in short time. Same for second wife • Manic-depressive • Illumination and rejoicing • Depression • Chmielnicki massacres 1648-1649 • Ukraine 100,000 Jews killed
Vision (Emotional Upheaval) • In 1648 he claimed he was told he is the savior of Israel • Claimed he was anointed • Pronounced holy name of G-d in public • Nobody believed him because of his strange behavior • Denounced and rebuked
Exile • Sometime between 1651 and 1654 forced to leave Smyrna • Went to Salonika, Greece • Invited rabbis to a banquet • Married himself to a Torah scroll • Forced to leave Salonika • Constantinople – excommunicated
New Law • Claimed that since he was the Messiah he could do things forbidden by Jewish Law • Still suffered from his moods • Left for Jerusalem in quest of a cure • In 1664 left for Egypt and married Sarah in March 1665 • In her youth claimed she would marry the Messiah
Nathan Ashkenazi • Brilliant scholar in Jerusalem • Eloquent writer • At 20 began study of Kabbalah • In 1664 had cataclysmic, ecstatic vision • Lasted for 24 hours • Saw AMIRAH as Messiah • Prophet
Quest for Tikun for his Soul • Shabatsai sought out Nathantocure him at end of winter or early spring of 1665 • Surprise cure, you are the Messiah! • At first Shabatsai demurred • Spent weeks together, Nathan convincing Shabatsai of his Messianic mission
Messiah • On night of ShavuousNathan has vision to declare Shabatsai the Messiah • Great messianic awakening begins • While together Shabatsai explains to Nathan his right to transgress the Law • Justify his strange actions • Mystery of Godhead • Proclaimed king and Messiah
Movement • Proclaimedhimself Messiah in May, 1665 • Nathan his prophet • State of manic illumination • Charismatic personality, shining face • Beautiful voice, regal appearance • Nathan spreads news to world
Belief in Him As Messiah • Nathan creates an entire literature about Shabatsai as the Messiah • Scholarly, based on all sorts of Kabalistic sources • Spreads quickly throughout Egypt, Turkey, Israel, and Europe • Repentance of the masses • People prophesizing
Opposition • Jerusalem rabbis oppose him • Excommunication • Others were silent • Believers – Ma’aminim; Opposers – Koferim • Passionate beliefs on both sides • Can kill Koferim, if necessary
Movement Gains Wide Following • Ottoman Empire concerned • Business stops • Fights amongst those on both sides of concern to government officials • Unrest amongst Jews • Ascetic actions – mortifications, fasting, thorns, burial in snow
Movement Sweeps Jewish World • Spreads from Ottoman Empire to Europe • People go into state of ecstasy and prophesize • Hacham Tzvi (b. 1658), father of Yaakov Emden • Women – slay demons, collect blood • Smell of Paradise, catch something in air
Strange Actions of Shabatsai • Mystical ringswith Divine names • Abolished Fast of 17th of Tammuz in Gaza in 1665 – day of feasting and rejoicing, Great Hallel recited • He and others ate Chelev, forbidden fat • Blessing – mattir issurim instead of mattir asurim “Blessed ….., who permittest that which is forbidden” • Antinomian actions, new law
Imprisonment • Arrives in Constantinople: population in a fervor for weeks before • Officials of Ottoman Empire concerned for stability • Arrested and imprisoned in Gallipoli • Not killed, treated well • Held court in prison
In Great Illumination • Shechinah has risen from her exile • Abolished Fasts of Seventeenth of Tammuz and Ninth of Av • Monday, 23rd of Tammuz (July 26, 1666) declared as a “festival of lights” • Moved Yom Kippur from Saturday to a Thursday • Has celebrated 3 festivals in one week in 1658
Gallipoli Prison • Bribed officials • Hundreds of visitors from afar • Appeared as a king, entourage • Visit by Polish emissaries • Reported “the glory which they had beheld, and the abundance of gold, silver, precious cloth and ornaments, royal apparel which he was wearing”
Denounced to Turkish Authorities • R. Nehemiah Hakohen – martyr messiah of Joseph • Met with Shabatsai and refused to recognize him as the Messiah • Changes in Judaism • Charges of immorality • Fomenting rebellion against authorities
Sultan’s Court • Jews were convinced that Sultan would give his crown to Shabatsai • When questioned he denied any messianic pretensions • Offered choice of death or conversion to Islam • Apostatized!! (9/16/1666) Aziz Mehemed Effendi
After the Apostasy • Colossal blow • Some cursed him, renounced him • End of movement - no • Entire Diaspora had been infused with a spirit that the redemption had already started • Many people felt that it was indeed here • Their view of the world did not correspond to reality
“Justifying” the Apostasy • Danger to Jews from the Turks – he saved them • Holy sparks that are encompassed by evil • Messiah had to descend into the evil to redeem these holy sparks for the final redemption – Esther and Purim • Messiah comes when either all good or all bad
Shabatsai After Apostasy • In general did not insist that followers also convert • A few did initially, some of these returned to Judaism • Shabatsai vacillated back and forth • Torah scroll in one hand Qur'an in other – requested prayer book • Turks hoped he would lead mass conversion of Jews – did not
Faithful Followers • Movement not over by any means • Nathan and others justify Shabatsai • In 1675 Shabatsai married daughter of Rabbi Joseph Filosoff • Nathan’s disciple in Sabbatian Kabbalah • Highly esteemed scholar in Salonika • Deposed from rabbinate • Shabatsai: Filosoff is an incarnation of Saul, called daughter Michal
End of Shabatsai • Further angered authorities by strange actions • Banished • In 1676 experienced last great illumination • After Passover wrote last letters and royal proclamations • Died on September 17, 1676 at 50, Yom Kippur
Dealing With His Death • Demise kept secret and not widely known until summer of 1677 • Nathan “the prophet” remained silent initially – despondent • Then formulated the Doctrine of Occultation – did not “really” die • “Whoever thinks that he died like all men and his spirit returned to G-d commits a grave sin.”
Movement After Death • Two approaches • Most followers stay within the framework of Judaism • Appear outwardly to be “ordinary” observant Jews, do not convert to Islam • “Radical” Sabbatians • Whoever is as he appears to be cannot be a “true” believer • True faith must always be concealed
Redemption Through Sin • Shechinah began to rise from dust • Messianic age has begun, even though many do not see it • Two Torahs – Torah of Creation and Torah of emanation • Torah is still valid even though some of its laws are now suspended
Those Who Remain Jewish • Appear and behave externally as Jews • Live by commandments • Maintain belief in Shabatsai Tzvi • Secret lives – Marranos • Rabbi Yaakov Emden • Learned person, life devoted to Talmudic study • Broke commandments
Sabbatian Movement • Still widespread • Turkey and other oriental countries • Salonika • Sabbatian Rabbis – Eibeschutz • Leaders of Jewish enlightenment • Louis Dembitz Brandeis
The DÖNMEH I • 1683 – 200 to 300 families converted en masse – Salonika • Led by Joseph Filosoff, last father-in-law of Shabatsai, Jacob Querido, brother-in-law • Kept close contact with other Jews in Salonika • Behaved outwardly as Muslims
The DÖNMEH II • Secret lives as external Muslims and internal Sabbatians • Two Torahs, Torah of creation and Torah of emanation • Bittulah shel Torah zehu kiyyumah - The violation of the Torah is now its true fulfillment • New Marranos
Antinomianism • Eighteen Commandments • Repeated 10 Commandments but with marked Sabbatian modifications • Intermarriage with Turks forbidden • No forcible conversion of “believers” who remain Jews to the “faith of the Turban” • Sexual restrictions of Torah abolished
Came to Attention of World • Creation of Turkey and Greece after WWI • Give each people its homeland – 1922-24: 1 million Greeks moved to new Greece, 350,000 Turks to Turkey • Identity defined according to religion by Treaty of Lausanne
Who is a Jew? • Jews could stay put wherever they happened to live • Salonika – large Jewish population • Port closed on Jewish Sabbath • 10,000 to 15,000 Donmeh did not want to move • Not Turks but Jews – Jews who only practiced the Moslem religion
Appeal Denied • For last 240 years only pretended to be Moslems! • Treaty defined Turks by religion not by ethnic origin – claim rejected by authorities • A few Donmeh asked rabbis of Salonika to accept them back as Jews
Request Refused • Did not dispute the Donmeh’s contention • Donmeh are mamzerim – bastards • Annual orgies – Sheep Night • Special feast night – ate mutton • End of feast – wife swapping • Redemption through sin!
Jacob Frank (1726-91) • Corrupt anddegenerate • Sabbatian who took “redemption through sin” to new heights (lows) • Totally immoral • Hated rabbinical Judaism and rabbis • Blood libel to Christian authorities • Spoke against Talmud – burnt • Followers converted to Christianity
Vestiges Still Around • Donmeh West • http://www.donmeh-west.com/ • Subscribed to email list • Questioned about violation of Shabbos • Thrown off list!
