Beginning in 1648, a self-proclaimed Jewish messianic figure gained traction, even developing Jewish “roadies” who followed him as he traveled across Europe toward Jerusalem. Not even 20 years later, he converted to Islam, spurring his most loyal followers to create an entirely new religious sect, while leaving nearly 100,000 Jews disappointed. Shabbetai Zevi is one of the most prominent false messiahs in Jewish history, and his legacy is made all the more interesting by the work of modern-day historians and psychiatrists who believe he may have had bipolar disorder.
Charming, handsome, and a religious scholar who was ordained as a rabbi at the age of 18, Zevi grew up well known in his community. Rather than pursuing Torah studies, however, Zevi’s religious upbringing sparked his interest in Kabbalah, a Jewish mysticism focused on uncovering divine meanings within the universe, and believing that God had hidden pure pieces of light throughout the world, Jews—through social work and following the rules of Jewish law—could find this light, and in doing so, bring about their return to Jerusalem.
Shabbetai Zevi claimed he heard God speak to him, experiencing moments when God spoke to him and those where he felt walled off and disconnected, which historians now understand to be bipolar fits of mania and depression respectively. He also took action to “up his spiritual marketability”, claiming that he was born on the ninth day of Av (Tisha B’Av), a Jewish holiday commemorating the destruction of the First and Second temples.
Zevi did not initially proclaim himself to be the messiah until he met a man, Nathan of Gaza, who claimed to experience a prophecy telling him that Zevi was the messiah. He became something of Zevi’s “PR manager”, spreading his claims and greatly increasing his popularity. From this point on, many Jews became completely convinced of Zevi’s legitimacy, even despite some of his more outrageous actions, such as his choice to legally and religiously marry a Torah scroll. Certain Jews followed him as he began his journey to the Ottoman Empire, where he sought to convince the Sultan to accept his prophecies as the messiah. Jews who didn’t follow him there but were still completely convinced in his messianic status removed the roofs from their houses, believing they would be lifted up and brought to Jerusalem. This widespread faith in Zevi stemmed from a history of persecution, and was particularly caused by a recent event, the Chmielnicki uprising, where 300,000 Jews were massacred in Ukraine in 1648, just as Shabbetai Zevi began to speak about his revelations.
In 1666, after traveling to Constantinople to make his claims to the Ottoman Sultan, Zevi was jailed, and given a choice: convert or be killed. In a shocking act, Zevi converted to Islam! Jews were heartbroken, shocked, disappointed. Perhaps most shockingly, some of Zevi’s most stringent followers took it in stride, believing that the conversion was simply part of the birthing pains of the Messiah, a test handed down from God. Unwavering in their faith, they too converted to Islam, becoming the Dönmeh, retaining some of their Jewish mystical practices as Crypto-Jews while practicing Islam outwardly. This community lasted for generations before eventually assimilating in the 20th century.
Zevi’s path—from charismatic messiah to apostate leader—poses enduring questions: What does it mean to lead people spiritually? How does collective trauma impact communities? And was his movement ultimately a source of hope for Jews experiencing discrimination and religious suppression, or a betrayal that furthered their despair?
History Unfiltered 
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