מאמרו של תום פרנס מתמקד בשאלת תודעתו העצמית של נחמיה חייא חיון על רקע מאבקי הירושה בתנועה השבתאית... more מאמרו של תום פרנס מתמקד בשאלת תודעתו העצמית של נחמיה חייא חיון על רקע מאבקי הירושה בתנועה השבתאית אחר מותו של משיחה ועל רקע הפילוגים והוויכוחים התיאולוגיים בקרב שבתאי המאה השמונה עשרה. מעיונו של פרנס בחיבורו המרכזי של חיון, 'עוז לאלהים', ובחיבורים נוספים פרי עטו, עולה דמותו כהוגה עצמאי, אשר מרד במוריו השונים וביקש לנכס לעצמו תפקיד מפתח בתהליך הגאולה ואולי אף את מעמד המשיח. המאמר דן בנושאים מרכזיים בהגות השבתאית, כגון סוד האלוהות, אידיאולוגיית האמונה ומשמעותה של המשיחיות. אליבא דפרנס יש להבין את התיאולוגיה של חיון בראש ובראשונה כניסיון להמציא שבתאות מחדש, שבתאות ללא שבתי, שבתאות שתמשיך לקדם את הרעיון המשיחי ואת תהליך הגאולה, אך מבלי להשתעבד לדמותו של שבתי צבי, להיקבר בקברו או להתמסר לציפייה לחזרתו דווקא, בבחינת שבתי מת, יחי המשיח — יהיה אשר יהיה.
Tom Parnass' article focuses on the question of his self-consciousness against the backdrop of the succession struggles inside the Sabbatian movement after its leader’s demise as well as the subsequent schisms and theological debates in the eighteenth century. On the basis of a perusal of Hayyon’s works, not least his masterpiece Oz lElohim, Parnass depicts an independent thinker who rebelled against his various mentors and sought to secure for himself a key role in the redemption drama, perhaps even the part of Messiah. Furthermore, this paper discusses central topics in Sabbatian thought, including the mystery behind divinity, the ideology of faith, and the meaning of messianism. According to Parnass, Hayyon’s theology should by and large be grasped as an attempt to reinvent Sabbatianism as an ideology that can continue to advance the messianic idea and the redemption, without subjugating the movement to the image of Šabbetay Sevi. That is to say, the kabbalist endeavored to prevent devotees from burying themselves in the leader’s grave or clinging to expectations of his return in the sense of “Šabbetay is dead, long live the Messiah” come what may.
In this article, I seek to illuminate the thought and self-understanding of Nehemiah Hayon with... more In this article, I seek to illuminate the thought and self-understanding of Nehemiah Hayon within the context of the schisms and theological debates within the Sabbatean movement in the early eighteenth century. I delve into central topics in Sabbatean thought such as the mystery of divinity, the "ideology of faith," and the significance of messianism. Through an examination of Hayon's central work, "Oz le-Elohim," as well as other writings and documents, I argue for seeing Hayoun as an independent thinker, who rebelled against his various teachers and sought to establish his own pivotal role in the redemption process, perhaps even his messianic status. After analyzing the various aspects of his worldview and theology, I contend that his theology should primarily be read as an articulation of Sabbatean faith adapted to the era in which Sabbatai Zevi, the presumed messiah, lost his significance as the focal point of faith for many who had previously hoped for his return.
מאמרו של תום פרנס מתמקד בשאלת תודעתו העצמית של נחמיה חייא חיון על רקע מאבקי הירושה בתנועה השבתאית... more מאמרו של תום פרנס מתמקד בשאלת תודעתו העצמית של נחמיה חייא חיון על רקע מאבקי הירושה בתנועה השבתאית אחר מותו של משיחה ועל רקע הפילוגים והוויכוחים התיאולוגיים בקרב שבתאי המאה השמונה עשרה. מעיונו של פרנס בחיבורו המרכזי של חיון, 'עוז לאלהים', ובחיבורים נוספים פרי עטו, עולה דמותו כהוגה עצמאי, אשר מרד במוריו השונים וביקש לנכס לעצמו תפקיד מפתח בתהליך הגאולה ואולי אף את מעמד המשיח. המאמר דן בנושאים מרכזיים בהגות השבתאית, כגון סוד האלוהות, אידיאולוגיית האמונה ומשמעותה של המשיחיות. אליבא דפרנס יש להבין את התיאולוגיה של חיון בראש ובראשונה כניסיון להמציא שבתאות מחדש, שבתאות ללא שבתי, שבתאות שתמשיך לקדם את הרעיון המשיחי ואת תהליך הגאולה, אך מבלי להשתעבד לדמותו של שבתי צבי, להיקבר בקברו או להתמסר לציפייה לחזרתו דווקא, בבחינת שבתי מת, יחי המשיח — יהיה אשר יהיה.
Tom Parnass' article focuses on the question of his self-consciousness against the backdrop of the succession struggles inside the Sabbatian movement after its leader’s demise as well as the subsequent schisms and theological debates in the eighteenth century. On the basis of a perusal of Hayyon’s works, not least his masterpiece Oz lElohim, Parnass depicts an independent thinker who rebelled against his various mentors and sought to secure for himself a key role in the redemption drama, perhaps even the part of Messiah. Furthermore, this paper discusses central topics in Sabbatian thought, including the mystery behind divinity, the ideology of faith, and the meaning of messianism. According to Parnass, Hayyon’s theology should by and large be grasped as an attempt to reinvent Sabbatianism as an ideology that can continue to advance the messianic idea and the redemption, without subjugating the movement to the image of Šabbetay Sevi. That is to say, the kabbalist endeavored to prevent devotees from burying themselves in the leader’s grave or clinging to expectations of his return in the sense of “Šabbetay is dead, long live the Messiah” come what may.
In this article, I seek to illuminate the thought and self-understanding of Nehemiah Hayon with... more In this article, I seek to illuminate the thought and self-understanding of Nehemiah Hayon within the context of the schisms and theological debates within the Sabbatean movement in the early eighteenth century. I delve into central topics in Sabbatean thought such as the mystery of divinity, the "ideology of faith," and the significance of messianism. Through an examination of Hayon's central work, "Oz le-Elohim," as well as other writings and documents, I argue for seeing Hayoun as an independent thinker, who rebelled against his various teachers and sought to establish his own pivotal role in the redemption process, perhaps even his messianic status. After analyzing the various aspects of his worldview and theology, I contend that his theology should primarily be read as an articulation of Sabbatean faith adapted to the era in which Sabbatai Zevi, the presumed messiah, lost his significance as the focal point of faith for many who had previously hoped for his return.
Uploads
Tom Parnass' article focuses on the question of his self-consciousness against the backdrop of the succession struggles inside the Sabbatian movement after its leader’s demise as well as the subsequent schisms and theological debates in the eighteenth century. On the basis of a perusal of Hayyon’s works, not least his masterpiece Oz lElohim, Parnass depicts an independent thinker who rebelled against his various mentors and sought to secure for himself a key role in the redemption drama, perhaps even the part of Messiah. Furthermore, this paper discusses central topics in Sabbatian thought, including the mystery behind divinity, the ideology of faith, and the meaning of messianism. According to Parnass, Hayyon’s theology should by and large be grasped as an attempt to reinvent Sabbatianism as an ideology that can continue to advance the messianic idea and the redemption, without subjugating the movement to the image of Šabbetay Sevi. That is to say, the kabbalist endeavored to prevent devotees from burying themselves in the leader’s grave or clinging to expectations of his return in the sense of “Šabbetay is dead, long live the Messiah” come what may.
Tom Parnass' article focuses on the question of his self-consciousness against the backdrop of the succession struggles inside the Sabbatian movement after its leader’s demise as well as the subsequent schisms and theological debates in the eighteenth century. On the basis of a perusal of Hayyon’s works, not least his masterpiece Oz lElohim, Parnass depicts an independent thinker who rebelled against his various mentors and sought to secure for himself a key role in the redemption drama, perhaps even the part of Messiah. Furthermore, this paper discusses central topics in Sabbatian thought, including the mystery behind divinity, the ideology of faith, and the meaning of messianism. According to Parnass, Hayyon’s theology should by and large be grasped as an attempt to reinvent Sabbatianism as an ideology that can continue to advance the messianic idea and the redemption, without subjugating the movement to the image of Šabbetay Sevi. That is to say, the kabbalist endeavored to prevent devotees from burying themselves in the leader’s grave or clinging to expectations of his return in the sense of “Šabbetay is dead, long live the Messiah” come what may.