Sabbateanism After Sabbatai Tzvi
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sociopolitical Challenges of Marginal Religious Groups: The Sabbatean Movement as a Case Study By Town Halim Gençoĝlu Cape Supervisor: Dr. A Reisenberger of Thesis Presented for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the School of Languages and Literatures University UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN September 2017 The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University of Cape Town Plagiarism Declaration I hereby declare that this is my own work, and any ideas borrowed from other sources have been acknowledged throughout the dissertation. This thesis/dissertation has been submitted to the Turnitin module (or equivalent similarity and originality checking software) and I confirm that my supervisor has seen my report and any concerns revealed by such have been resolved with my supervisor. Name: Halim Gencoglu Student number: GNCHAL001 Signature: Date: 1st Dec 2018 1 Dedication This thesis is dedicated to all the believers who stood by their convictions like the ancient philosopher Socrates, Jesus, Muslim Sufi religious scholar Hallaaj-e Mansoor and believers of minority movement such as the Sabbateans in Judaism and the Ahmadi Muslims, who have often been victimized because of their marginal beliefs and faith. What is hoped for is respect towards one another’s faith, not adoption, but a disposition that invites mutual understanding. 2 Jesus “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also”. Bible, Luke 6:29 Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh) “Teach others and make things easy, behave with tolerance and patience”. Sunan at Tirmidhi, 1924 Mahatma Gandhi “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind”. Mohandas Gandhi - "An Eye for an Eye Only Ends up Making the Whole World Blind"- Classroom Poster (Poster Envy) Mustafa Kemal Ataturk “Peace at Home, Peace in the World!” Atürk’ün Tamim, Telgraf ve Beyannameleri, Vol, IV. (1917-1938) p, 551, Ankara Desmond Tutu “God is Not a Christian. Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu…” Carlton Pearson, 2011, God Is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu...: God Dwells with Us, in Us, Around Us, as Us 3 Table of Contents Dedication ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................ 4 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION TO A MARGINAL RELIGIOUS SECT, SABBATEANISM ......... 12 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 12 1.1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 12 1.1.2 Aims of Study ...................................................................................................................... 17 1.1. 4 Definition of key terms ....................................................................................................... 18 1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 21 1.1.6 Limitations of this study ...................................................................................................... 22 1.1.7 Materials .............................................................................................................................. 22 1.3 Literature review of studies on Shabbetai Tzvi........................................................................... 23 1.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 31 1.5 Thesis Outline ............................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER II: TURKISH-JEWISH RELATIONS FROM THE 7TH TO THE 17TH CENTURY ...... 34 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 34 2.2 Turkish-Jewish relations through the ages .................................................................................. 36 2.2.1 Turkish-Jewish relations in the first and last Jewish Empire, Khazars .................................... 36 2.2.2 Turkish-Jewish relations in the Seljuk and early Ottoman Empires .................................... 39 2.2.3 The welcome of Sephardic Jews under Bayezit II ............................................................... 44 2.2.5 Religious links between the Abrahamic religions ................................................................ 53 2.2.4 Ottoman Approach towards Christians and Jews ................................................................. 58 2.2.5 The Turkish image in the Western world ............................................................................. 61 2.2.6 Turkish-Jewish relations at the time of Shabbetai Tzvi ....................................................... 63 2.2.7 Turkish-Jewish relations globally ........................................................................................ 67 2.3 Religious conversion in the Ottoman era .................................................................................... 71 2.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 76 CHAPTER III: MESSIANIC BELIEF IN CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND IN JUDAISM ................ 77 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 77 4 3.2 Messianism and its meanings in three religious contexts ........................................................... 78 3.2.1 Messianism in Judaism ........................................................................................................ 82 3.2.2 Messianism in Christianity ................................................................................................... 92 3.2.3 Messianism in Islam............................................................................................................. 98 3.3 Messianic beliefs in other nations at the time of Shabbetai Tzvi .............................................. 119 3.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 119 CHAPTER IV: THE LIFE OF SABBATAI TZVI AND HIS MESSIAHSHIP ................................. 122 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 122 4.2 Shabbetai Tzvi’s early education .............................................................................................. 122 4.3 Religious movements of Shabbetai Tzvi and his contemporaries............................................. 124 4.4 From Izmir to Solanica, Cairo, and Jerusalem .......................................................................... 127 4.5 Relations between Kabalist Nathan of Gaza and Shabbetai Tzvi ............................................. 129 4.6 Sarah’s divine vision about Shabbetai Tzvi .............................................................................. 130 4.7 The Ottoman Empire’s perceptions of Shabbetai Tzvi ............................................................. 132 4.7.1 Tzvi’s Arrest in Izmir ......................................................................................................... 134 4.7.2 The Ottoman Empire’s response to Tzvi’s controversial statements ................................. 136 4.7.3 Tzvi’s conversion to Islam ................................................................................................. 136 4.7.4 After Tzvi’s conversion to Islam........................................................................................ 142 4.8 Last years and death .................................................................................................................. 143 4.9 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 145 CHAPTER V: SABBATEANISM AFTER SABBATAI TZVI ......................................................... 147 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 147 5.2 Controversies surrounding Sabbateanism ................................................................................. 147 5.3 Sabbateanism as a hidden sect .................................................................................................. 148 5.4 Differences between some Sabbatean groups ..........................................................................