Letter to Shabbetai Tzvi

Eliah ben Michael Judah Leon

Nathan of Gaza

Indeed, in order to do the will of my Father who is in heaven, I came in fear, trembling and trepidation, with a bow of my head and a prostration of my body, “spreading out my arms and my legs” [b. Megillah 22b]. I will fall at the feet of the splendor of the “gazelle,” the hosts of Israel,1 and I know that I will not be ashamed, for my loins were…

Please login or register for free access to Posen Library
Register
Already have an account?
Engage with this Source

Creator Bio

Eliah ben Michael Judah Leon

17th Century

Eliah ben Michael Judah Leon was a member of Amsterdam’s Portuguese Jewish community who was the scribe for a letter hailing Shabbetai Tzvi as the Messiah in 1666, signed by twenty-four prominent members of the community.

Creator Bio

Nathan of Gaza

1644–1680

Nathan of Gaza (also known as Nathan Benjamin ben Elisha Hayyim ha-Levi Ashkenazi) was born in Jerusalem and moved to Gaza around 1663. The son of a respected religious scholar, he too became a scholar of Talmud and also of kabbalah. In 1665, he had a vision that Shabbetai Tsvi was the Messiah and urged him to proclaim himself. He served as Shabbetai Tsvi’s prophet, writing letters that spread news of the messianic movement to Jewish communities around the world.

You may also like

Letter to Raphael Joseph

To our fruit of holiness enwrapped in praise, our man of deeds rich in accomplishment, the exalted prince and honored rabbi. May your light shine like the rising sun, blossom like the flowers! May an…
View Source