People have been waiting special one that will rescue them from this injustice, dirty and sinful World. Especially in Judaism and Christianity this waiting left its place to belief. If you once believe something than it is easy to find many clues support your belief. So, clues are not important in belief but expectations and conjecture.
Expectations and conjecture for messiah have been always proper for Jews. Though many other messiah candidates declared their holy personality and identity, any of them were successful as Sabatay Sevi who was born in Izmir, Ottoman Empire, 1 August 1626. I do not wish to tell his short but interesting life which started in Izmir then followed by Egypt, Ghazze, Istanbul, Selanik, Gallipoli and finished at last in Ulcinj, Montenegro (Ülgün, Karadağ). Or I do not wish to tell his exile, rituals.
Sabatay Sevi influenced lots of people from all around the world and still many people believe in him. Though it is debateful, many resources say there are still more than several hundred thousands. So, if we evaluate his messiah claim by numbers, he was one of the most successful messiahs ever lived.
However, his journey was not so good at the beginning in Izmir. As usual he was taught Kabala, and Talmud however his vision differed from the others. In his 18th he was Rabbi and had great knowledge on Talmud. The reason of his first exile is not known exactly but we know his some practices which irritate rabbis. The most important was, he pronounced Tetragrammaton several times. It is forbidden for any Jew even Rabbi to pronounce one of the names of God which means to be, to exist, to cause to become. The other reasons could be his bathing rituals in Smyrna bay, and fasts. The other dark point is, we do not know whether he had claimed his messiah in Smyrna or not.
But, rising millenarianism in all over the world caused great expectations for messiah. It was not hard to be successful for any messiah candidate with a good tale and powerful, intellectual supporters in those days. It was easy to tell tales, even if we generalize those people with some mind disorders, it was easier for them to create magnificent tales. Then the only thing required is intellectual and influential supporter who would use his superiority not for himself but for messiah candidate.
Nathan of Gaza was the one for Sabatay. He was a theologian and author born in Jerusalem. His knowledge on Kabala and Talmud was magnificent. Probably he was modest man who did not fit himself as a messiah but instead looking for one. The time is very close to Messiah age according to Nathan and finally he found his messiah when he met with Sabatay in Gaza, 1665. Sabatay was an excommunicated rabbi at those days, he was exiled from both Izmir and Istanbul and was living in Egypt.
In Turkish there is quote like “Sheikh does not fly, disciple make him fly.” Nathan was great disciple, although they could not met several and long times, Nathan never gave up his support and published many works. They were influential and full of knowledge. He claimed Messiah would lead the Ten Lost Tribes back to the Holy Land. At first it was just a claim but in those years when communication was not proper and usually done by orally. So it did not take long time for people even in England, talking about great army seen in Arabia and marching towards the capital of Ottomans. People was talking that Sultan was afraid of Sabatay and ready to give his throne, even he was another disciple of Sabatay.
Messiah was rising among the people however both Muslims and Jews who did not believe in him, was uncomfortable with that situation. So he was arrested in Istanbul and exiled to Gallipoli. And in 1666, he was taken from Gallipoli and conveyed to Edirne.
In 1666, sultan of Ottoman Empire was Mehmed IV and his grand vizier was Fazıl Ahmet Pasha. But the most influential figure in religious cases was Vani Mehmet Efendi who was member of puritan muslim sect Kadızadeler. The decision on Sabatay would probably be according to Vani Mehmet Efendi and such a solid and puritan religious man's decision on such a pervert and dangerous religious case should be death. However, Hunger Games movie should be watched in Sultan's Court and they knew the famous quote “We don't need to destroy her (him), just the image”. So Grand Vizier offered Sabatay to conversion to Islam. Court thought that if Sabatay accepts their offer, many Jew would convert the others have nobody to follow and legacy would over. Surprisingly Sabatay accepted conversion without hesitation and next day he took the name Aziz Mehmet Efendi. Moreover he was awarded with few bags of gold and the important duty as a Kapıcıbaşı.
Believe, than you can easily find clues to support your belief just believe. As we said at the beginning, people was already believed in Sabatay and this conversion did not affect people so much. First, many of them did not trust this news coming from Edirne, than some said he converted because he was going to collect informations from the court. Nathan's first response was “people, we can not understand mystery behind his decision, his all decisions and movements are full of secrets and miracles”. At last he was a man who would defeat the evil in his house.
Though at the beginning Sabatay was not ambitious about his old claims, support from his disciples probably provoke him and he began to attend Jewish meetings. In Istanbul he was important and famous figure among both muslims and Jewish. In 1672 he was accused to swear the religion, group sex and drinking wine. This time he was very close to death but again the judgement on him was not death but again exile. This exile would be his first exile which was given by state, and the last one in his life. He was exiled to Ülgün, and died there. Even though many disciples did not believe to his death and still wait for his return.
His legacy have affected our world, first of all he was not orthodox Jew and defended many reforms. He ate forbidden foods, he singed forbidden songs and said forbidden words. Though Zionism was not a popular choice, he gave hope and alternative life to Jews. In his triumph days, many Jews sold their goods and be ready for salvation.
In Selanik, called Dönmes, people choose to live as a muslim in daily life, even they go to pilgrimage, but secretly be Jews. According to resources, even they have three different groups, Kapancılar consists of middle and high economical classes, Yakubiler were officers and Karakaşlar were artisans.
As we said at the beginning, if a man with a messiah claim would be judged by the numbers of people he converted, Sabatay was one of the most successful one. And nobody saw his dead body…
