Goldish, Matt

Matt Goldish is a historian of religion specializing in early modern Jewish history and messianic movements. He is Professor of History and Melton Chair in Jewish History at Ohio State University. His scholarship examines the intersection of mysticism, prophecy, and religious authority in 17th-century Judaism. His book The Sabbatean Prophets (2004) provides a comprehensive analysis of the prophetic figures who emerged during and after the Sabbatean messianic movement led by Sabbatai Zevi. Goldish demonstrates how these prophets, many of them women, claimed divine inspiration and challenged traditional rabbinic authority. His work contributes to understanding how apocalyptic and mystical ideas shaped religious experience and theological discourse in early modern Judaism. He has also written on conversos, Jewish-Christian relations, and the impact of scientific thought on Jewish theology. His research illuminates how messianic movements and prophetic claims reflect broader questions about divine revelation, religious authority, and the nature of religious experience.