MORDECAI (Mokhi'aḥ) BEN ḤAYYIM OF EISENSTADT

MORDECAI (Mokhi'aḥ ) BEN ḤAYYIM OF EISENSTADT (1650–1729), wandering Shabbatean preacher – hence his cognomen Mokhi'aḥ ("reprover"). He propagated faith in *Shabbetai Ẓevi as the Messiah after the latter's conversion to Islam. An extreme ascetic, he wandered through Hungary, Moravia, Italy, and Poland spreading the doctrine, previously enunciated by *Nathan of Gaza, that for mystical reasons Shabbetai Ẓevi had to undergo conversion and that his death was merely an illusion. In three years, he insisted, the "Messiah" would reappear. Invited to Italy in 1682 by R. Issachar Behr *Perlhefter and R. Abraham *Rovigo of Modena – both secret Shabbatean adherents – he put forth the claim that, while Shabbetai Ẓevi had been the Messiah b. Ephraim, he, Mordecai, was the Messiah b. David. Apocalyptic writings stemming from Rovigo's circle and probably written by Perlhefter (1678–80) portray him as the forerunner of the Messiah. In the above-mentioned document reference is made to his plan to go to Rome in order to make certain "messianic" preparations. Upon meeting him in Modena, his host, R. Perlhefter, recognizing signs of madness in him, turned against him, apparently causing Mordecai's abrupt departure from Italy some time before 1682. He thereupon traveled through Bohemia and Poland, where, thanks to his prepossessing personality and fiery preaching, he won numerous adherents. Heinrich *Graetz dubbed him a "Jewish Vicente *Ferrer."

bibliography:

Graetz, Gesch, 10 (1896), note 4, ii; J. Leveen, in: Ignace Goldziher Memorial Volume, 1 (1948), 393–9; G. Scholem, in: Sefer Dinaburg (1949), 240ff. (Heb.); I. Tishby, Netivei Emunah u-Minut (1964), s.v.Eisenstadt, Mordecai.

[Theodore Friedman]