Jacob Querido

Jacob Querido (‘the Beloved’, ca. 1650–1690, Alexandria, Egypt) was the successor of the self-proclaimed Jewish Messiah Sabbatai Zevi. Born in Thessaloniki, he was the son of Joseph the Philosopher and brother of Jochebed, Shabbatai Zevi's last wife. Jochebed (also called ‘Ā’ishah following her conversion to Islam) claimed that he was the reincarnation of her late spouse, so that he might succeed to the leadership of Sabbatai's followers.^[1] He attracted a considerable following of his own, called Ya‘qōviyīm or Yakubiler.^[1]

Querido converted to Islam taking his name as Yakup in 1687 and playing an important role in the Dönmeh. He led his disciples on a pilgrimage to Mecca. He died in Alexandria on his way back.

Notes

1. Shaw, Stanford Jay (1991). The Jews of the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic. New York City: New York University Press.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Jewish Encyclopedia. 1901–1906.