History Through Text: False Messiahs with Rabbi Kulwin

History Through Text is a seminar to be offered throughout the year, taught by Rabbi Kulwin.Taught in blocks, each class will also be a stand-alone unit, so that an inability to attend all (or even most) of the sessions will not be an impediment to an enjoyable and simulating learning experience.

Third Series: False Messiahs
On Tuesdays, May 12 & 19, 7:00 PM
False messiahs dot our history, in Crete in 431 and Bagdad in 870, Rome in 1524 and the apocalyptic year of 1666, when the infamous Turk Shabbatai Tzvi threw Europe into turmoil. Some a century ago considered Herzl a false messiah and some today see the continued Lubavitch devotion to the late Rabbi Schneersohn as messianic fervor.

In these sessions we will discuss just what Judaism considers a messiah, why the followers thought these individuals fit the bill, and read primary documents from the time of a number of the false messiahs. In addition to learning their stories – riveting and bizarre and sometimes even racy – we will see if there is a discernible historical pattern which could predict when one might arise.

This lecture series is free & open to the community. Register online or call 973.994.2290.