Almost 400 years later, we still feel the devastating effects of the false Mashiach whose actions rocked the world

Smyrna, Turkey

May 1646

“I want to be a great chacham, a Rav who teaches Torah to many people,” I told Ima today.

She wanted to know where I got that idea from. “It’s a wonderful idea,” she hurried to reassure me. “But what made you think of it now?”

I know why she was wondering that. Because I’m six years old and I’m usually more interested in playing with my friends than learning. But in cheder today, my friend Moshe was telling us about a bochur named Shabtai Tzvi who has just become a chacham — and he is only 20 years old! That made me think it would be very special to become a chacham too.

I’m going to learn really well and get semichah as young as I can — maybe not when I’m 20, like Shabtai Tzvi, but at least when I’m 30…

Yitzchak

November 1646

My older brother Elchanan came home very excited today.

“I joined a new study group!” he announced at the supper table.

Abba looked pleased, and asked him what he was studying.

“We’re learning seforim of Kabbalah with the great chacham, Shabtai Tzvi,” Elchanan said.

Abba stopped smiling. “Shabtai Tzvi? I’ve heard about him. They say he’s a genius — and a good speaker, very charismatic. But I’ve also heard that he has some strange habits. Tell me, Elchanan,” he asked my brother. “Is it true that he fasts for weeks at a time? That he sometimes isolates himself for a long time, going into the forest and being alone there for many weeks?”

I was fascinated to hear all of this — I’d never heard of a chacham doing these things.

“It’s true, Abba. It’s because he is so holy,” Elchanan explained. “He toivels in the mikveh many times a day and they say he is also a miracle worker, he can make nissim happen. When you study with him, you can feel the holiness! He truly is something special.”

Elchanan was making me wish that I was old enough to join him. And yet, when I looked at Abba, I saw that he was frowning.

Yitzchak