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Yaakov Emden on Eibeschütz and Sabbatean Suspicions

Rabbi Yaakov Emden's responsa address concerns about hidden heretical references and numerical allusions allegedly embedded in liturgical texts, which he believed contained Sabbatean sympathies. The sources document Emden's textual analysis and his efforts to identify and expunge such problematic material from prayer books.

תחנו' חדשו' בשוי״ט

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recovered from “Responsa She'elat Ya'avetz, Part II 124”

Sheilat Yaavetz, Volume II

שאילת יעבץ, חלק ב קכ״ד — ד"ה באמירת תחנו' ובקשו' חדשו' בשוי"ט ואודות

Sheilat Yaavetz, Volume II 124:5

Yaakov Emden states that he removed a particular supplication recited at the blessing of the new month from his prayer book not only for his own reasons but especially because he recognized it as containing a heretical reference—a supplication he believes was composed by the false prophet (referring to Shabbatai Tzvi) and that is filled with amulets and numerical references (remez and hey) alluding to 5414 and concealing within it an abomination related to Shabbatai Tzvi, which he had previously testified to and noted in his sefer Teh"k, though he notes that he cannot currently locate the problematic text to verify it.

באמירת תחנו' ובקשו' חדשו' בשוי"ט ואודות שאלתך השניה. מתחנה ארוכה שאומרים בשעה שמברכין החודש. יפה כוונת להרחיקה. לא לבד מטעמי ונימוקי עמי. כמ"ש בשכבר בספר בית אל. אצל הנהגת הכניסה לבית מבה"כ ליל ש"ק. כי על כן הסירותי אותה תחנה מלפני.ולא הכנסתיה בבית תפלתי. אלא עוד מטעם אחר עצום יותר כנגע נראה לי. איסור נוסף יש בתחנה כזו שזכרת. עם כי לא ראיתיה כעת. גם חפשתי אחריה במ"ח ולא מצאתיה. אכן זכורני שבס' מירם חה"י נמצאת תחנה שיסד נביא השקר העזתי לאמרה ביש"ק שמברכין החודש (זולתה לא ידעתי) ואותה מלאה לה גלוליה. רמ"ז וה"ן מספר תתי"ד לרמוז על שקוץ ש"ץ שר"י צפן בתוכה. כמו שכבר העידותי בעם. והעירותי על זאת מאז. בחתימת ספר תה"ק. אך בעת הזאת לא נמצא ספר קוסמין הלז תחת ידי. אשר ראיתיו לפני כמה שנים ביד אורח עובר עלינו. בהבטה בעלמא. ולא בא עוד לידי.

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