A rare remnant from the Sabbatean controversy!

A rare remnant from the Sabbatean controversy!

A rare remnant from the Sabbatean controversy. A handwritten leaf from a letter about the false prophet Shabtai Tzvi, dating to the 17th century, with textual variations from the known version.

A manuscript leaf in Eastern script, copied from a historical letter written during the height of the Sabbatean movement around 1666. This leaf was written relatively close to the time of the events, likely in the mid-to-late 17th century or early 18th century.

The letter vividly describes the fervor with which Shabtai Tzvi was received by his followers and their approach to Nathan of Gaza for penitential rectifications. Among the excerpts written in the letter:

"And thus said the sage, our master Rabbi Shmuel, may he be protected—Rabbi Shmuel Gandur of Egypt, one of the disciples of Shabtai Tzvi—'He who beholds the face of the Rabbi, our master Shabtai Tzvi, as the vision of the angel of God, exceedingly revered, greater than all sages—in Talmud, in Kabbalah, in splendor, in virtues, in piety….'

And about the sage, our master Rabbi Avraham Nathan of Gaza, the people frequently inquire about repentance, and he declares that he came into the world solely to proclaim that the sage, our master Shabtai, is destined to be the messianic redeemer of the God of Israel…."

The full letter was printed by A. M. Habermann, based on two manuscripts: the Schocken manuscript and the Columbia manuscript, in *Kovetz Al Yad*, published by Mekitzei Nirdamim, Year 13, Issue 2, Jerusalem 1941, pp. 207–212.

The page before us contains slight textual variations from the printed version (found on p. 211 there).

Original remnants concerning Sabbateanism from such an early period are extremely rare and particularly significant.

[1] leaf of paper, 10 x 15 cm, written on both sides.

Condition: Moderate to good. Some stains and minor tears at the margins. Slight ink fading.