Safed Kabbalah not only turned theories into practices, therefore creating new rituals, but is also responsible for some of the most common Jewish rituals.

According to Faierstein's research Luria was the first person who kissed the scroll of the Torah. Other rituals believed to have started in Safed and not "the mists of antiquity" include the reciting of "Shema before Sleeping" before bed and "Mode Ani" when waking up, kissing the mezuzah when entering and leaving, and the mayim achronim before grace after meals.

As far Sabbatai Sevi goes...

Wow. What an interesting guy. Sevi was born into a pretty wealthy merchant family, and studied under some of the leading rabbis in Smyrna. Fascinating right? What makes Sevi so interesting is that he was this sex-crazed kind of bi-polar guy that considered himself the Messiah. Most of the Jewish community in Smyrna wrote him off as insane and banished him. So, he spent a few years like a nomad traveling through Turkey, Israel, Syria, and parts of the ottoman Empire while he tried to clear his head of his demons through practical Kabbalah.

Finally after a lot of traveling and wandering around Sabbatai Sevi found himself in Gaza, home of this holy man referred to as "Nathan of Gaza." Nathan of Gaza was known for having the ability to reveal the source of someone's soul. Turns out in Sevi's 11 years of wandering around the Middle East, he made quite a name for himself and Nathan of Gaza already knew who he was. Nathan of Gaza had a vision that Sevi really was the Messiah. When Nathan finally met Sevi he tried to convince him that his mental instability was not spiritual suffering, but he was in fact the Messiah.

On the night of the next Shavuot Nathan had another vision that indicated Sevi was the Messiah. After Sabbatai was convinced of Nathan's word he announced himself as the Messiah and the two traveled together through Israel, Turkey and Syria gaining much support and little opposition.

Nathan and Sabbatai's travels took them to Constantinople, where Sabbatai was arrested upon arrival and thrown in Jail. He was given the option to die, or convert to Islam. Sabbatai decided to convert to islam, which sent many doubt amongst the Jewish community that he was the Messiah.

By the time Sabbatai died unexpectedly on Yom Kippur 1676, his following was dwindling.