How many people were known as the jewish messiah throughout history?

Question

There was one called Solomon Molko back in the 16th Century who was burned at the stake, but i'm interested in learning about more. (Oh, and no Jesus please, I think I know about that one)

Answer 1

I think the most recent person whos been considred as possibly the messiah, would be the Rebbe. some people still think that he might be it.

interestingly its a common belief in Judaism that there is a "potential" messiah born in each generation, a person who has the proper heritage and potential. and that if the time is right that potential can bloom into being the one.

theres a variety of people who were false messiahs.

some of which, including the rebbe, came closer than Jesus did.

edit: actually *NONE* fulfilled them yet. in fact most of them have never even been close to being fulfilled. especially according to christian belief, Jesus was not even close to qualifying.

Answer 2

Jesus was NEVER known as the 'Jewish messiah' !!!

He is called messiah only by Christians.

Historically there have been many false messiahs but there are specific details in the Tanakh as to how we Jews can identify the real messiah. Jesus fulfilled NONE of these criteria which is of course why we don't regard him as messiah.

The only other one I can think of was a Chassidic Jew and typically, the name escapes me just now.....the answerer above me has it!

Answer 3

Looking over Wikipedia's list of menwho claimed to be the messiah, it seems to average about on major event per century:

Here's the list:
Alexander the Great
Judas son of Hezekiah (Ezekias) (c. 4 BCE)
Simon (c. 4 BCE)
Athronges (c. 4-2? BCE)
Jesus (30 ce)
Theudas (44-46) in the Roman province of Judea
Menahem ben Judah partook in a revolt against Agrippa II in Judea
Simon bar Kokhba (died c. 135), defeated in the Second Jewish-Roman War
Moses of Crete (5th century)
Issac ben Ya'ḳub Obadiah Abu 'Isa al-Isfahani of Ispahan lived in Persia during the reign of the Umayyad Caliph 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (684-705).
Yudghan, lived and taught in Persia in the early eighth century disciple of Isḥaḳ ben Ya'ḳub Obadiah Abu 'Isa al-Isfahani of Ispahan
Serene (Sherini, Sheria, Serenus, Zonoria, Saüra) (c. 720)
David Alroy or Alrui (c. 1160)
Abraham Abulafia (b. 1240)
Nissim ben Abraham (c. 1295) active in Avila.
Moses Botarel of Cisneros (c. 1413)
Asher Kay (1502) a German near Venice.
David Reubeni (early sixteenth century).
Solomon Molcho (early sixteenth century).
Hayim Vital (1542-1620)
Sabbatai Zevi (alternative spellings: Shabbetai, Sabbetai, Shabbesai; Zvi, Tzvi) (1626-1676)
Barukhia Russo (Osman Baba), successor of Sabbatai Zevi.
Miguel (Abraham) Cardoso (b. 1630)
Mordecai Mokiakh ("the Rebuker") of Eisenstadt (active 1678-1683)
Jacob Querido (d. 1690), said to be the reincarnation of Shabbetai Zevi.
Löbele Prossnitz (Joseph ben Jacob), early eighteenth century
Jacob Joseph Frank (1726-1791), founder of the Frankist movement.
Shukr Kuhayl I, 19th-century Yemenite pseudo-messiah
Judah ben Shalom (Shukr Kuhayl II), 19th-century Yemenite pseudo-messiah
Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994). While Schneerson never claimed to be the messiah, some say that he hinted at the possibility on a number of occasions, and some followers maintain his status as the messiah to this day

Answer 4

There are a number of churches that believe that John the baptist was the Messiah, and they also believe he fulfilled the prophecies. I seem to recall reading about followers of a Barabas as a Messiah as well.

Conversely, many Jewish scholars will tell you that the Messianic prophecies have not yet been fulfilled by anyone. Too bad God didn't explicitly say which scriptures were Messianic prophecies.

Answer 5

Simon bar Kokhba (died c. 135),was a major consideration
a major scholar that studied this was probably
gershom scholem check him out
shabettai tzvi and jacob franc were also self proclaimed candidates for the position
thelate chabad rebbe publicised the slogan "we want moshiach now"

Answer 6

oh, there were a couple false messiahs, but no real ones. shabbati tzvi was another.

Answer 7

Several claimed to be the Messiah, but only one fulfilled the prophecies.