3 times in the last two weeks I've encountered Shabbtai Tzvi in the course of my work. This is odd because Tzvi d. in 1676 and even for my doctoral studies he was only somewhat important. But I have come to the conclusion that there is a reason to go back and study him RIGHT NOW - ThreadSky

rabbiruth.bsky.social • 6 days ago

3 times in the last two weeks I've encountered Shabbtai Tzvi in the course of my work. This is odd because Tzvi d. in 1676 and even for my doctoral studies he was only somewhat important. But I have come to the conclusion that there is a reason to go back and study him RIGHT NOW

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rabbiruth.bsky.social•6 days ago

Shabbtai Tzvi saw himself as the messiah of the Jewish people come to solve the problems of the day. People sold their worldly good to follow him. They gave up pious behavior. The upheaval was extraordinary. Ultimately he was deemed a false messiah. Most of his followers were left without direction

rabbiruth.bsky.social•6 days ago

Tzvi did told people that common moral norms did not matter, nor did observance. When he was proven false (by his own abandonment of Judaism), he left people without the hope he provided, improvising and without a clear path forward—chaos.

rabbiruth.bsky.social•6 days ago

I understand the appeal of a messiah who will solve all of our problems. I understand the appeal of solutions that seem to break the rules because the rules don't seem to be getting us all the results we want. But I fear false messiahs who cannot deliver on promises and create chaos in their wake.

hauntedhideaway.bsky.social•6 days ago

We have to be our own heroes and lift each other up. Everyone acts like oh this political figure, if they just have all the power, will fix everything. On the left and the right. It doesn’t work like that. I believe in a messianic age more than a messiah and I think WE bring it in.

johnheyderman.bsky.social•6 days ago

I had never thought of Sabbat Tzvi as a precursor to Trump-Musk. At least not until now.

jubucucu.bsky.social•5 days ago

This is well written. Tzvi was a terrible danger, and we see a lot of that today too. The difference is that HaShem finally caught up with Tzvi. For some reason, in today's world, HaShem is letting the evil ones have their way.

rabbiruth.bsky.social•5 days ago

“Caught up with him” but not right away and not before much damage was w

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