Sabbatai Zevi

religious leader

Sabbatai Zevi was a 17th-century Jewish mystic and self-proclaimed Messiah who sparked widespread messianic fervor among Jewish communities in Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Born in 1626 in Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey), he claimed to have a divine mission to restore Israel and bring redemption. His controversial teachings and activities led to his arrest by the Ottoman authorities, and he ultimately converted to Islam under pressure, which created a schism among his followers. Despite his conversion, Zevi's influence persisted, leading to the emergence of the 'Dönmeh,' a group of crypto-Jews who combined aspects of Judaism and Islam.