Zsidózás és identitás a korai szombatos szövegekben (1588? – 1621)
Judaizing and Identity in the Earliest Sabbatarian Writings (1588? – 1621)

Summary/Abstract: The denominational and national identity of the Transylvanian Sabbatarians (‘Judaizers’) has been constantly debated since the mid-19th century discovery of Sabbatarian literature. The question has always been haunted by mythologizing tendencies. The absence of something that was a given in the cases of other denominations – that is, the reflection on their native land and their nationality– has been explained in terms of denominationally and nationally biased viewpoints. Although most scholars had their own opinions about this question, no one has heretofore undertaken a detailed inquiry into the subject based on the texts themselves, and within the context of the Sabbatarians’ attitude to Jews. This study addresses this deficiency. It employs a relevant set of keywords to identify the signs of identity-creation in the earliest extant texts, and explores the Sabbatarian perception of the Jews. It reinforces the hypothesis that the absence of a patriotic voice is rooted in the theological advance towards Judaism. Although the perception of the Jews is not entirely positive in Sabbatarian texts, their role is unique, making them essential for salvation. This indicates the later direction of the formation of Sabbatarian national and denominational identity, which was a gradual movement towards Jewishness, leading to eventual‘assimilation’.

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