Shabatsai Tzvi The Jewish Mystical Messiah L E

Shabatsai Tzvi The Jewish Mystical Messiah L. E. Levine Faculty Forum April 2003 1

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. 2

Portrait sketched by an eyewitness in Smyrna, Turkey 1666 3

Primary Source Sabbatai S evi The Mystical Messiah By Gershom Scholem 4

Basic Information • Born in Smyrna (Izmir), Turkey • August, 1, 1626 – 9 th of Av, Sabbath • Significance of day – destruction of First and Second Temples • Tzvi – family name • Received traditional religious education • Ordained at about 18 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

Nathan of Gaza 11

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 12

Quest for Tikun for his Soul • Shabatsai sought out Nathan to cure 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 13

Messiah • On night of Shavuous Nathan 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 14

Movement • Proclaimed himself Messiah in May, 1665 • Nathan his prophet • State of manic illumination • Charismatic personality, shining face • Beautiful voice, regal appearance • Nathan spreads news to world 15

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 16

Opposition • • Jerusalem rabbis oppose him Excommunication Others were silent Believers – Ma’aminim; Opposers – Koferim • Passionate beliefs on both sides • Can kill Koferim, if necessary 17

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 18

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 19

Strange Actions of Shabatsai • Mystical rings with Divine names • Abolished Fast of 17 th 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 20

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 21

In Great Illumination • Shechinah has risen from her exile • Abolished Fasts of Seventeenth of Tammuz and Ninth of Av • Monday, 23 rd 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 22

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” 23

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 24

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 25

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 26

“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 27

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 28

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 29

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 30

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. ” 31

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 32

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 33

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 34

Sabbatian Movement • • • Still widespread Turkey and other oriental countries Salonika Sabbatian Rabbis – Eibeschutz Leaders of Jewish enlightenment Louis Dembitz Brandeis 35

The DÖNMEH I • 1683 – 200 to 300 families converted en masse – Salonika • Led by Joseph Filosoff, last father-inlaw of Shabatsai, Jacob Querido, brother-in-law • Kept close contact with other Jews in Salonika • Behaved outwardly as Muslims 36

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 37

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 38

Came to Attention of World • Creation of Turkey and Greece after WWI • Give each people its homeland – 192224: 1 million Greeks moved to new Greece, 350, 000 Turks to Turkey • Identity defined according to religion by Treaty of Lausanne 39

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 40

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 41

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! 42

Jacob Frank (1726 -91) • Corrupt and degenerate • 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 43

Vestiges Still Around • • • Donmeh West http: //www. donmeh-west. com/ Subscribed to email list Questioned about violation of Shabbos Thrown off list! 44