Ya’akov Sasportas. Kitzur Tzitzath Novel Tzvi [abridged compendium of correspondences and polemics against Sabbathian messianism].

(EMDEN, YA’AKOV).

Jacob Emden

Altona

1768

FIRST EDITION with commentary by Emden.

Vinograd, Altona 92.

This work, originally appended to Sasportas’ volume of responsa Ohel Ya’akov, was expunged by the Elders of Amsterdam’s Portuguese Community, intimidated as they were, by the ferocity with which Sasportas attacked the followers of Shabthai Tzvi. Much has been written explaining Sasportas’ and Emden’s passionate animosity towards Sabbatianism in comparison to other rabbis who were no less opposed yet did not fight the movement as aggressively. See I. Tishby’s introduction to his edition of Tzitzath Novel Tzvi pp. 13-39; E. Carlebach, In Pursuit of Heresy; (1990) p. 5; and J.J. Schachter Motivations for Radical Anti-Sabbatianism in: The Sabbatian Movement and its Aftermath: Messianism, Sabbatianism and Frankism, Vol. Two (1997) pp. 31-36.