Yitzhak Ben-Zvi and Zalman Shazar and Their Research on Sabbateanism

Abstract

This paper surveys the scholarly work on Sabbateanism by two of Israel’s presidents: Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (1884-1963; president 1952-1963), and Zalman Shazar (1889-1972; president 1963-1972).

Sabbateanism and the cult’s leader, Shabtai Zvi, emerged in 1665. The aftershocks of the movement affected Judaism for centuries and developed a negative profile in Jewish historical consciousness, especially regarding the Sabbatean sects that converted to Islam and Christianity.

Unlike earlier Jewish movements, such as Rabbinical Judaism and the Jewish Enlightenment, Zionism took a different approach toward Sabbateanism even though the negative sentiments lingered. Zionism perceived it as a bold attempt to bring salvation and unity to the Jewish people through messianic leadership.

Ben-Zvi and Shazar, leaders in the early and mid-20th century Zionist Labor Movement, adopted a positive attitude toward the Sabbateanism and became historians of the cult. Ben-Zvi was particularly interested in Sabbateans who converted to Islam – the Dönmeh sect – in Thessaloniki, Turkey, and the Balkans. His fluency in Turkish helped him discover many hidden historical documents by making contact with the sect’s members and offspring. Later, as president of Israel, he instructed Israeli diplomats to maintain contact with the sect.

Shazar was more interested in Sabbateanisn in Europe. He studied Jewish history with some of the greatest figures in the field, such as Shimon Dubnov and Salo Baron. Both presidents were in professional contact with Gershom Scholem, the greatest scholar of Sabbateanism in Jerusalem.