Is Shabbatai Zvi J-Okay?

The year is 1648. Things are not going well for European Jewry, to say the very least. But there are rumblings that a man from the heart of the Ottoman Empire will resuscitate this proud community.

His name is Shabbatai Zvi and he just might be the messiah. At long last! Since before another man named Jesus was claimed to be the Jewish messiah, the Jews have experienced tragedy. Not anymore with the help of this man Zvi.

News spreads across Europe of this man and his potential. Jews begin to hope again an emotion that had only existed in the memories of community elders. Shabbatai Zvi claimed:

"The first-begotten Son of God, Shabbetai Zvi, Messiah and Redeemer of the people of Israel, to all the sons of Israel, Peace! Since ye have been deemed worthy to behold the great day and the fulfillment of God's word by the Prophets, your lament and sorrow must be changed into joy, and your fasting into merriment; for ye shall weep no more. Rejoice with song and melody, and change the day formerly spent in sadness and sorrow into a day of jubilee, because I have appeared."

The Sultan of the Ottoman, Mehmed, gets word of Shabbatai Zvi and his movement. Sultan Mehmed fears this man's power. He demands that the Jewish messiah converts to Islam to do the Sultan's bidding or face the ultimate punishment: death.

You or I would choose conversion and that is understandable. But we do not make messianic claims. Shabbatai Zvi, the so-called messiah, converts to Islam. The Jews are on their own again. For Zvi, his hide is important than martyrdom, more important than his people, more important than hope.

Is Shabbatai Zvi J-okay? Nay.