Wikipedia's first sentence called it “prominent sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century primo was one of the earliest followers of sabbatai zevi”. Today it says “prominent sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century”.
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The opening as it read in October 6, 2023
Samuel Primo ( circa 1635 in Jerusalem – 1708 in Adrianople ), was a prominent Sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century. Primo was one of the earliest followers of Sabbatai Zevi , the self-proclaimed Jewish messiah. Primo became Zevi's private secretary on Zevi's journey from Jerusalem to Smyrna in 1665, cleverly managing to give to the advent of the pseudo- Messiah an air of dignity. From Smyrna, Primo spread the news among foreign Jews that the Messiah had actually appeared. With certain of his confidants he was the first to plan the abolition of rabbinic Judaism. In the name of Zevi, Primo sent a circular to the Jews (December 1665) advising the abolition of the fast-day of the tenth of the tenth day of the month of Ṭebet on the Hebrew calendar . In February, 1666, Primo accompanied Zevi to Constantinople . After Zevi converted to Islam , Primo explained this apparent apostasy as having been foreordained in the Messianic role. Concerning the rest of his life not much is known. In Berenbaum, Michael ; Skolnik, Fred (eds.). Note that Scholem says he was "probably" born in Cairo, whereas the original source article in the Jewish Encyclopedia stated that he "probably" died in Constantinople. Here we have kept the two places not qualified otherwise as "probable" for the respective places of birth and death.
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 1114897343.
The opening as it stood in 2015
Samuel Primo ( circa 1635 in Jerusalem – 1708 in Adrianople ), was a prominent Sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century Primo was one of the earliest followers of Sabbatai Zevi , the self-proclaimed Jewish messiah. Primo became Zevi's private secretary on Zevi's journey from Jerusalem to Smyrna in 1665, cleverly managing to give to the advent of the pseudo- Messiah an air of dignity. From Smyrna, Primo spread the news among foreign Jews that the Messiah had actually appeared. With certain of his confidants he was the first to plan the abolition of rabbinic Judaism. In the name of Zevi, Primo sent a circular to the Jews (December 1665) advising the abolition of the fast-day of the tenth day of the month of Ṭebet on the Hebrew calendar . In February, 1666, Primo accompanied Zevi to Constantinople . After Zevi converted to Islam , Primo explained this apparent apostasy as having been foreordained in the Messianic role. Concerning the rest of his life not much is known. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Note that Scholem says he was "probably" born in Cairo, whereas the original source article in the Jewish Encyclopedia stated that he "probably" died in Constantinople. Here we have kept the two places not qualified otherwise as "probable" for the respective places of birth and death.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 665331946.
The opening as it stood in 2020
Samuel Primo ( circa 1635 in Jerusalem – 1708 in Adrianople ), was a prominent Sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century Primo was one of the earliest followers of Sabbatai Zevi , the self-proclaimed Jewish messiah. Primo became Zevi's private secretary on Zevi's journey from Jerusalem to Smyrna in 1665, cleverly managing to give to the advent of the pseudo- Messiah an air of dignity. From Smyrna, Primo spread the news among foreign Jews that the Messiah had actually appeared. With certain of his confidants he was the first to plan the abolition of rabbinic Judaism. In the name of Zevi, Primo sent a circular to the Jews (December 1665) advising the abolition of the fast-day of the tenth of the tenth day of the month of Ṭebet on the Hebrew calendar . In February, 1666, Primo accompanied Zevi to Constantinople . After Zevi converted to Islam , Primo explained this apparent apostasy as having been foreordained in the Messianic role. Concerning the rest of his life not much is known. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Note that Scholem says he was "probably" born in Cairo, whereas the original source article in the Jewish Encyclopedia stated that he "probably" died in Constantinople. Here we have kept the two places not qualified otherwise as "probable" for the respective places of birth and death.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 848664648.
The opening as it stood in 2025
Sabbatean sectarian Samuel Primo ( c. 1635 in Jerusalem – 1708 in Adrianople ), was a prominent Sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century. Primo was one of the earliest followers of Sabbatai Zevi , the self-proclaimed Jewish messiah. Primo became Zevi's private secretary on Zevi's journey from Jerusalem to Smyrna in 1665, cleverly managing to give the advent of the pseudo- Messiah an air of dignity. From Smyrna, Primo spread the news among foreign Jews that the Messiah had actually appeared. With certain of his confidants he was the first to plan the abolition of rabbinic Judaism. In the name of Zevi, Primo sent a circular to the Jews (December 1665) advising the abolition of the fast-day of the tenth of the tenth day of the month of Ṭebet on the Hebrew calendar . In February, 1666, Primo accompanied Zevi to Constantinople . After Zevi converted to Islam , Primo explained this apparent apostasy as having been foreordained in the Messianic role. Concerning the rest of his life not much is known. In Berenbaum, Michael ; Skolnik, Fred (eds.). Note that Scholem says he was "probably" born in Cairo, whereas the original source article in the Jewish Encyclopedia stated that he "probably" died in Constantinople. Here we have kept the two places not qualified otherwise as "probable" for the respective places of birth and death.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1282487625. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “prominent sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century primo was one of the earliest followers of sabbatai zevi”. Today it says “prominent sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century”. Read the current article and compare.
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Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
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Then
prominent sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century primo was one of the earliest followers of sabbatai zevi
Now
prominent sabbatean sectarian of the 17th century
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