Avraham Haim Zagdun

Avraham Haim Zagdun

Abraham Haim Zagdun (Hebrew: אַבְרָהָם חַיִּים זַגְדּוֹן‎) is the leader of a Jewish messianic cult where he sees himself as the messiah and the spiritual heir of Nachman of Breslov.

Biography

Abraham Zagdun was born in Tunisia and immigrated to France with his family as part of the broader wave of North African Jewish migration. He grew up in an affluent environment; his family was well-established. In France, his dad managed multiple businesses and owned hundreds of properties.

From a young age, Zagdun believed he possessed supernatural powers. As he said to researcher Tomer Persico:

I lacked nothing in France, but from the age of three I sensed a profound depth within me. I never blindly accepted what others told me and always felt that I possessed extraordinary powers. I even remember foreseeing the First Intifada before it happened.

— Abraham Haim Zagdun

In 1987, upon the birth of their first daughter, Zagdun and his wife decided to immigrate to Israel with their daughter.

The cult of Avraham Zagdun

Avraham Haim Zagdun is the leader of a fringe, mystically-charged Jewish sect often referred to as the A"Z-niks (from his initials). Considered a charismatic but controversial figure, Zagdun is a cult leader, self-styled redeemer, and spiritual icon to hundreds of fervent followers. This movement is characterized by the creation and widespread advertising of symbols bearing the letters ‘‘AZ,’’ the initials of Zagdun’s name. Zagdun has been ostracized by most Braslov Hasidim but managed to garner a small, loyal following in Jerusalem.

Theology and beliefs

Zagdun's teachings blend Kabbalistic mysticism, messianic undertones, and a stark anti-halakhic stance, often rejecting traditional Jewish law outright. The group worships its leader, Zagdun. Beliefs include:

• The Torah is spiritually ineffective without the guidance of the "True Tzaddiq"—a role Zagdun implicitly claims.
• Torah of Zagon is an "elixir of life," while study of traditional Halakha is "a deadly poison".
• The Tzaddiq symbolizes unity, while in the absence of the Tzaddiq, the Torah and even Kabbalah represent plurality. In practice, the Tzaddiq (Zagdun) here replaces God as the symbol of unity.
• Zagdun's 'New Torah' has messianic significance.
• Zagdun identifies the redemption with the actualization of the divinity that is within man. Since he sees himself as the herald of the true redemption, he is doing self-deification.
• Zagdun reveals the higher Torah (the Torah of redemption), that is, the space between the letters, while others see only the letters themselves. Another teaching says that the Tzaddiq is a silent figure who symbolizes the space between the letters rather than the text itself, further reinforcing the assertion that Zagdun is the Tzaddiq.
• Zagdun is the bearer of the "New Torah".
• Torah without Zagdun is like a body without a soul.
• Books radiate spiritual power, even unopened, especially those linked to his teachings. Therefore, the best way to read is a book in hand and several lying around.
• Sabbath observance, and even rabbinic structure; sticking to the Zagdun's teachings.
• The acronym A"Z (his initials) is sacred and encoded into jewelry, tallitot, and graffiti across Jerusalem and Netanya.
• Studying Zagdun's works is more important than studying Talmud.
• Zagdun is often referred to by followers as messiah but he refuses to openly declare it, instead hinting through cryptic teachings.

Supernatural abilities

Bilocation

Zagdun is known among his followers for recounting various stories that are described as miracles. In one of his sermons, Zagdun claimed to have been seen simultaneously in Netanya and Jerusalem. According to him, none of the listeners questioned the plausibility of this account. "I have no idea how, but I’ve been told this many times", he said, adding that someone once reported seeing him in a forest at night while he was asleep elsewhere.

"I don’t know why I was given these powers, but I am not a prophet."

— Abraham Haim Zagdon

Knowledge of sacred texts

One of Zagdun’s most remarkable claims is that he possesses direct, intuitive knowledge of Jewish sacred texts, without having studied them traditionally.

"I've never read the Rambam [Maimonides] in my life—but I know what he says."

— Abraham Haim Zagdon

Seduction girl controversy

In the early 2000s, as Zagdun began to gain popularity, a young woman was allegedly sent to tempt him. Over the years, various rumors circulated about him, but this was the only one he publicly acknowledged, admitting that he had "fallen". The revelation had a significant impact, leading many of his followers to leave his movement and join other Breslov-affiliated communities. As a result, Zagdun and his group became increasingly isolated within the broader Hasidic world.

A former student recalled: "At first, he tried to deny it, but eventually told us someone had drugged his drink, which caused him to lose control of his faculties."

Zagdun later offered a justification: "Is there anyone who hasn’t had a fall? Just as a car involved in an accident isn’t immediately discarded, the same goes for a person. Even Rebbe Nachman said that after someone falls, they can become a complete tzaddik [righteous person]. So I don’t understand how people who claim to follow Rebbe Nachman can ignore one of his most important teachings. In Psalms, it’s written that King David merited that the Messiah would descend from his lineage because he sinned and admitted his sin."

Charisma and psychological control

Zagdun is known for extended silences during lessons, sometimes waiting minutes between words to intensify mystique. A family member and former follower described:

"He'd say an unrelated word, wait ten minutes, then another unrelated word. Later one of the students will make a rare insight out of it. It is important to note that the student's insight is not always what he (Zagdon) meant."

Influence and symbolism

AZ Graffiti

His name, "Avraham Zagdun", is often shortened to "AZ", which followers see as mystically linked to the word אז ("then"), a harbinger of messianic revelation (According to Zagdun). His initials appear on wedding rings, tallit fringes, graffiti, and spiritual literature. Zagdun-themed songs have been written by his disciples, calling him "Our Rabbi, Our Master, Our Zagdun, Our savior, Our messiah".