Sabbatai Zevi

Sabbatai Zevi, (????? ??? Shabtai Tzvi in Hebrew) (also known as Shabbethai, Shabbetai, Sabbetai, or Shabtai; Zvi or Tzvi) (July 23 1626–possibly September 30 1676) was a claimed Messiah and Kabbalist. He was the founder of the Donmeh sect, which flourished in the Ottoman Empire, and which drew elements from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as of the more Judaism-influenced Sabbatian movement (Sabbatianism), which continued in Europe after his death.

Modern followers

Although rather little is known about them, various groups called Donmeh (Turkish for ?apostate?) continue to follow Sabbatai Zevi today. Estimates of the numbers vary, up to a maximum of 15,000, mostly in Turkey, with some in Greece. According to one source:

Related Topics:
Donmeh - Apostate - Greece

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:?Although outwardly Muslims and, to a lesser extent, Christians, the Donmeh secretly continue to observe Jewish rituals (such as circumcision, but at the age of three rather than eight days), pray in Hebrew as well as Aramaic and Ladino (Judaeo-Spanish), and have clandestine festivals and fast days that are Jewish survivals. They also practise unique Sabbatian rites, probably instituted by Reb Berechia after Sabbatai's death, such as The Darkening of the Light.?

Related Topics:
Circumcision - Aramaic - Ladino - Berechia

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