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![]() In 1665 in the Turkish city of Smyrna, an obscure Jewish mystic named Sabbatai Tzvi proclaimed himself the messiah, beginning, in the words of historian Gershom Scholem, “the most important messianic movement in the history of Judaism since the destruction of the Second Temple.” Followers of all ranks throughout the Diaspora embraced his teachings, and though his immediate impact was brief-under threat of execution, Tzvi converted to Islam and ended his days in disgrace-the apocalyptic ferment bred successors claiming to incarnate his spirit and vowing to fulfill his mission. ![]() ![]() Sabbatai Tzvi (1626-1676), Turkish-born Jew who claimed to be the Messiah. ![]()
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