🌟 What is Sabbatianism?
Sabbatianism was a messianic movement in the 17th century, named after Sabbatai Zvi (1626–1676), a Jewish mystic from the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey/Greece). He declared himself the Jewish Messiah – which caused enormous waves in the Jewish world.
📜 Brief History
🧠 1. Kabbalistic Roots
Sabbatai Zvi was heavily influenced by Lurianic Kabbalah (Isaac Luria).
This mysticism contains the idea of "fallen light" that must be restored through divine purification (tikkun).
Sabbatai interpreted this as follows: Salvation comes not only from keeping the commandments, but also from reversing or overcoming them – an extremely provocative idea.
🌍 2. The Messianic Boom
His ideas quickly spread across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Many Jews truly believed the Messiah had come – some sold everything to go to the Holy Land.
He introduced new prayers, rituals, and fasting periods – often in contradiction to Halacha (Jewish law).
⚡ 3. The Shock: Conversion to Islam (1666)
Sabbatai was arrested by the Ottoman Sultan – under threat of execution, he converted to Islam.
This was a shock for many followers. But some said: "This, too, is part of God's plan."
This gave rise to what was known as "covert Sabbatianism": secret communities that continued to worship Zvi as the Messiah.
🕯️ 4. Aftereffects & Derivatives
🔄 Antinomianism (Reversal of the Law)
Sabbatians believed that the old laws were abolished in the messianic age.
This gave rise to ritual provocations: e.g., eating forbidden foods, celebrating holy days by breaking rules.
This was viewed by traditional rabbis as heresy and "religious anarchy."
👤 Jacob Frank & the Frankists (18th century)
Jacob Frank declared himself Sabbatai's successor and took antinomian ideas even further.
His movement officially converted to Christianity but retained secret Kabbalistic practices.
The Frankists are sometimes seen as precursors to modern esoteric movements.
❗ Sabbatianism ≠ Satanism
Not a belief in the devil: Sabbatianism is deeply rooted in Judaism and believes in one God.
The goal was salvation, not rebellion for the sake of rebellion.
The parallels to Satanism are purely superficial: rule-breaking, taboo violation, spiritual rebellion – but with a completely different goal system.
📚 Interesting to know:
Many ideas from Sabbatianism subtly flowed into European esotericism, Freemasonry, and Gnosticism.
Some historians view Sabbatianism as a kind of "Jewish Reformation," which was, however, suppressed.
It has inspired theologians, historians, and mystics to this day – from Gershom Scholem to modern Kabbalists.