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Cited by 0Religion, Theology, History, Judaism, ChristianityJewish and Middle Eastern StudiesBiblical Studies and Interpretation

The Sin of Ending Exile: Bar Kokhba, Shabbtai Zvi and the Modern Heresiology of Zionism

Magid, Shaul·2025·Political Theology
DOI 10.1080/1462317x.2025.2504263
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Abstract

After the destruction of the Second Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE and the failed insurrection in 138 CE, Jews determined that the still operative biblical covenant would be lived out in exile until the end-time. This exilic existence became the template of Jewish life and practice. With the advent of Zionism this exilic covenant was reconsidered and there was a strong impulse to end exile through political sovereignty in the land of Israel. Many traditional Jews rebelled against this attempt to end exile, Perhaps the most vociferous anti-Zionist voice in the postwar period was Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887–1979). In his work Vayoel Moshe (1960) he waged a fierce battle against Zionism as heresy and false messianism. One tack was to view Zionism in the trajectory of the history of heresy from the first century military figure Bar Kokhba through the seventeenth century false messiah Shabbtai Zvi. This essay examines Teitelbaum’s rendering of Bar Kokhba and Shabbtai Zvi as precursors to the heresy of Zionism that either miscalculates messianic time, or attempt to erase the messianic idea altogether.

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Research works printed but not linked: 24

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Authors
Magid, S.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Magid, Shaul
ORCID
Magid, Shaul
Venue
Political Theology
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2025-02-17
Volume
26
Issue
2
Pages
166-183
ISSN
  • 1462-317X (ISSN-L)
  • 1743-1719
DOI
10.1080/1462317x.2025.2504263
OpenAlex
W4410403041
Cited by
0
References
33
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Political Theology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Religion, Theology, History, Judaism, Christianity
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Biblical Studies and Interpretation
Keywords
Zionism, Bar Kokhba, anti-Zionism, heresy, messianism, Jewish exile, Second Temple, false messiah

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