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Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF PLATES XV TABLE OF TRANSLITERATION xix PREFACE XXi INTRODUCTION TO THE PRINCETION CLASSICS EDITION XXix 1 THE BACKGROUND OF THE SABBATIAN MOVEMENT i i Historical and socioloGical explanations of the Sabbatian movement and their deficiencies i ii Messianism in Jewish history and its two con­ flictinG tendencies: the catastrophic-utopian and the rationalistic forms 8 hi The messianic idea in the kabbalah 15 iv Lurianic kabbalah and its myth of exile and redemption 22 v The historical role and social siGnificance of Lurianic kabbalah 44 TABLE OF CONTENTS vi The spread of Lurianic kabbalah until 1665 66 v i i Kabbalism in Poland. The messianic expec­ tations for the year 1648. Contemporary re­ actions to the Great massacres of that year 77 vm Utopian messianism in Christianity: chil- iasm and millenarian movements 93 2 THE BEGINNINGS OF SABBATAI SEVI ( 1626- 1664) 103 I Sabbatai’s origins and youth. His kabbalistic studies and his “ Mystery of the Godhead” 103 II The sickness of Sabbatai Sevi: its nature and siGnificance 125 hi Sabbatai’s first “manifestation” and his banishment from Smyrna 138 iv His wanderinGs in Turkey. Abraham Yakhini and David Habillo 152 v Sabbatai Sevi in Jerusalem 177 vi His sojourn in Jerusalem and mission to EGypt. His marriaGe to Sarah (1664-65) 180 3 THE BEGINNINGS OF THE MOVEMENT IN PALESTINE ( 1665) 199 I Abraham Nathan Ashkenazi and his prophetic experience. Sabbatai’s return from EGypt to Gaza. The Great prophetic revelation and mes­ sianic illumination in May, 1665 199 II The apocalypse The Vision of R. Abraham 223 hi Sabbatai Sevi in Gaza and his excommuni­ cation by the rabbis of Jerusalem 233 iv Sabbatai’s travels throuGh Safed and Aleppo to Smyrna. The messianic aGitation in Gaza after Sabbatai’s departure 251 x TABLE OF CONTENTS v The prophet Nathan’s letter to the chelebi Raphael Joseph in EGypt. SiGnificance of the letter 267 vi Nathan’s penitential tracts 290 v ii Nathan’s Treatise on the Dragons and its principal doctrines 297 4 THE MOVEMENT UP TO SABBATAI’S IMPRISONMENT IN GALLIPOLI ( 1665- 1666) 327 I The spread of the first reports from Gaza and EGypt. The silence of the opponents 327 II Rumors of conquests by the armies of the Ten Tribes in Persia, Arabia, and North Africa 332 hi The movement in Palestine after Sabbatai’s departure (from autumn, 1665, to early sprinG, 1666) 354 iv The movement in Smyrna until December, i665 371 v Sabbatai Gains control over the community in Smyrna. The events of December, 1665 389 vi Mass prophecy, and the appointment of kinGs by the messiah. Sabbatai’s departure for Constantinople 417 v ii The movement in Constantinople. The prophet Moses Suriel (or Saraval). Sabbatai’s imprisonment in Constantinople (February- April, 1666) and his removal to Gallipoli 433 5 THE MOVEMENT IN EUROPE ( 1666) 461 1 Conditions and factors makinG for the success and spread of the movement. General descrip­ tion of the penitential awakeninG 461 xi TABLE OF CONTENTS ii Italy. AlleGations reGardinG a “reign of ter­ ror” in the Italian communities 477 hi Amsterdam 518 iv The Jewish communities in the German lands 546 v HamburG. Jacob Sasportas and his Sisath Nobel Sevi. Moses Abudiente and his Fin de los Dias 566 vi Poland 591 6 THE MOVEMENT IN THE EAST AND THE CENTER IN GALLIPOLI UNTIL SABBATAFS APOSTASY ( 1666) 603 I Sabbatai Sevi in Gallipoli (“ the Tower of StrenGth” ) durinG the months M ay-July, 1666 603 II New festivals and the abolition of traditional fasts. The visit of the Polish emissaries 613 hi The spread of the movement in Turkey, EGypt, and North Africa. Abraham MiGuel Cardozo 633 iv The movement in Yemen 651 v Nehemiah Kohen and his visit to Sabbatai Sevi 658 vi Complaints to the Turkish authorities reGard­ inG an alleGed Jewish revolt. Sabbatai’s appear­ ance before the sultan and his apostasy in September, 1666 668 7 AFTER THE APOSTASY ( 1667- 1668) 687 I The effects of the apostasy on believers and unbelievers. The crisis of faith 687 II The rabbis of Constantinople attempt to calm the public 693 xii TABLE OF CONTENTS h i Nathan’s departure from Palestine. Steps by the rabbis of Constantinople aGainst Nathan and the Sabbatian believers 705 iv Nathan’s travels in Asia Minor and his at­ tempts to meet Sabbatai in Adrianople. Sab­ batai Sevi durinG 1667. Nathan’s travels in Greece 718 v “Believers” and “infidels” after the apostasy in Europe, especially in Italy and Holland 749 vi Nathan’s journey to Italy in 1668. His ex­ amination by the rabbinic court at Venice and his mystical mission to Rome. His return to the Balkans and residence in Kastoria 764 vii The prophet Sabbatai Raphael and his travels in Europe 781 v ii i The theoloGy of the Sabbatian believers after the apostasy 792 ix The doctrine of the apostate messiah and of the siGnificance of the Law accordinG to the writinGs of Nathan of Gaza 802 x The letter Magen Abraham by Abraham MiGuel Cardozo 814 8 THE LAST YEARS OF SABBATAI SEVI ( 1668- 1676) 821 I The consolidation of the Sabbatian Group in Adrianople 821 II The revelations of the year 1668 and the tract The Testimony of the Faith. Sabbatai Sevi and his circle until 1672 828 hi The doctrines of the Sabbatian circle. Israel Hazzan’s commentary on the Psalms 856 iv The imprisonment and trial of Sabbatai Sevi in 1672 872 v Sabbatai’s banishment to DulciGno. The mes­ sianic revival in the years 1674-75 in Amster­ dam and in North Africa 882 xiii TABLE OF CONTENTS vi Sabbatai’s last years. His “ Mystery of the Godhead” and the tract The Mystery of the Faith 899 v ii The deaths of Sabbatai and of the prophet Nathan 914 BIBLIOGRAPHY 931 INDEX 9 5 7 xiv.
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