THE LOST MESSIAH.

The article focuses on Sabbatai Sevi, a 17th-century Jewish figure who claimed to be the messiah amid widespread spiritual upheaval in the Jewish diaspora. Initially gaining a large following after being endorsed by the prophet Nathan of Gaza, Sabbatai's movement spread across Europe, particularly in Italy, before his dramatic conversion to Islam in 1666 under threat of execution by the Ottoman sultan. Despite his apostasy, some followers, known as the Dönme, continued to secretly observe Jewish practices while outwardly Muslim, and his legacy influenced later messianic claimants. The article traces Sabbatai's rise, the social and religious context of his movement, and its enduring impact on Jewish history.