This paper examines the mythical figure of Sarah as a maternal symbol in mystical ritual and the earthly experience of the Sabbatian Ma’aminim—followers of Sabbatai Tsvi (1626–1676), one of the most prominent Jewish messiahs, who converted to Islam in his footsteps and established secret communities in the Ottoman Empire.
Among nineteenth-century Sabbatian remnants, Sarah is depicted as a maternal cosmic force of redemption, intertwined with female community members and mothers. This paper explores the relationship between the mystical-theological elevation of her motherhood and actual gender structures through an analysis of clandestine, multilingual Sabbatian ritual songs, depictions of daily life, and Muslim-Jewish interfaith interactions. It examines divine and human Sabbatian mothers and how emotional expressions of motherhood were shaped through the community’s performative devotional practice. Ultimately, this case study raises broader questions about how mystical traditions reconfigure gendered symbolism and how theological innovation interacts with communal realities.