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Sabbatai Zevi, reformer of Talmud, rabbi, kabalist and Jewish `false` prophet, lived in Ulcinj where he was banished by Sultan Mehmed IV. He died in this small Mediterranean town, on 30th September 1676.
The story of Sabbatai Zevi and his having lived his last days in Ulcinj, becomes interesting when it is noted that, even today, there are more than 100,000 people in Turkey who follow Sabbatai Zevi's religious doctrines.
As well, a significant number of contemporary celebrities and pop mega-stars (including Madonna and Britney Spears) claim that they are Kabalists.
According to the historical data about Zevi, he started learning Talmud while he was still a young boy and he became fascinated with mysticism and Kabala which, in turn, determined his life.
His will to knowledge, his intelligence and charisma helped him gain respect and renowned among clergy and youth in his hometown. Influenced by English milleniaristic movement and Jewish text named Zohar, Sabbatai proclaimed that he is, boy only 22 years old, long awaited Messiah who will dethrone rulers and establish the Kingdom of Israel. Given the fact that he was very young and had no political influence, this act of self-proclamation did not attract huge crowd of followers, but he did attract the wreath of rulers who ordered him to leave Smyrna, and, few years later, he was excommunicated from Jewish community.
Exodus and excommunication failed to prevent him from continuing his mission, first in Constantinople and later in Thessalonica, Alexandria, Cairo and Jerusalem. Whenever he moved to another city, he became better known and, in that way, he attracted more followers and anger of rabbis who claimed that his declarations are blasphemy.
Sabbatai finally decided to return to his place of birth, Smyrna, where he finally accomplished his mission - it was acknowledged that he was a Messiah who had a huge crowd of loyal followers. However, that fact did not suit Sultan Mehmed IV so he ordered Sabbatai to come to Istanbul and persuaded the new Messiah to convert to Islam.
Conversion to the new religion caused a huge disappointment among Sabbatai's followers. Rabbis were especially angry and they claimed that Sabbatai has proven himself to be a fake and a manipulator. Sabbatai was not aware that Sultan was the only person who could protect him now, so he continued to preach Judaism telling the Sultan that his goal was to convert Jews into Islam. Unfortunately for him, Sultan did not want to tolerate this kind of conduct so he stopped financing him and when he realized that Zevi was still preaching to Jews, he decided to permanently banish him to Ulcinj.
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