Frankism is a Sabbatean religious movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, created in Podolia , named after its founder, Jacob Frank . Frank completely rejected Jewish norms, preaching to his followers that they were obligated to transgress moral boundaries. At its height Frankism claimed perhaps 50,000 followers, primarily Jews living in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , as well as in Central and Eastern Europe .
121-670: Frankists believed in Sabbatai Zevi , one of the most famous of all self-proclaimed messiahs in Jewish history. He believed in transgressing Jewish commandments in order to elevate the " divine sparks " constrained by them, and he himself actually performed actions that violated traditional Jewish prohibitions, such as eating foods forbidden by kashrut , the Jewish dietary laws, practicing ritual incest, and celebrating prescribed fast days as feast days. He eventually opted to convert to Islam rather than face execution for claiming to be
242-559: A center of Kabbalism, as his base. Proclaiming himself the Messiah or "anointed one," he gained a large following and put on all sorts of mystical events—e.g., the celebration of his marriage as the "One Without End" (the Ein Sof ) with the Torah , preparing a solemn festival to which he invited his friends. But the rabbis of Salonica, headed by Rabbi Hiyya Abraham Di Boton, banished him from
363-402: A certain place. According to Frank's teachings, all of the important forefathers – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses – strove towards the "Virgin", who, manifested herself in different persons (such as Rachel), and all had failed. Moses' liberation from Egypt could not have been complete either, since the foundation of salvation is the virgin. But now, according to Frank, the true Virgin had arrived,
484-459: A female Messiah visible to all people: his daughter Eve Frank . In a teaching, Frank clearly identifies himself with the traditional Messiah ben Joseph , who will have a great messianic impact but perish in the fight against the end-time enemies. Just as he precedes the Messiah ben David , Frank prepares the way for the "Virgin", his daughter. Frankism characterizes the "Virgin" using elements of
605-465: A generous pension for complying with their political and religious plans. About 300 families who followed Zevi also converted to Islam and became known as Dönme . Subsequently, the Ottomans banished him twice, first to Constantinople , and, when he was heard singing Psalms with Jews, to a small town known today as Ulcinj in present-day Montenegro . He later died in isolation. Sabbatai Zevi
726-642: A hundred years ago. In the 1930s a comprehensive study on the history of the sects was also published in French by Abraham Galanté. More recently, Professor Cengiz Şişman has published a new study called The Burden of Silence . According to a review published in the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post , the branch known as Karakaş follow Sufi-influenced practices, while the Kapancıs have not been influenced by Islam at all and are now completely secular. A house in
847-642: A minority opinion in the Talmud, in the messianic time there would no longer be holy obligations. The fast of the Tenth of Tevet became a day of feasting and rejoicing. Samuel Primo , who became Sabbatai's secretary when he went to Smyrna, directed the following circular to all of the Jews in the name of the Messiah: The first-begotten Son of God, Shabbethai Tebi, Messiah and Redeemer of the people of Israel, to all
968-492: A new romantic and licentious element entered Sabbatai's career. The overturning of her past life was interpreted by Sabbatai's followers as further confirmation of his messiahship, following the biblical story of the prophet Hosea , who had also been commanded to take a "wife of whoredom" as the first symbolic act of his calling. With Halabi's financial and political backing, a charming wife, and many additional followers, Sabbatai returned to Jerusalem in triumph. Passing through
1089-478: A new soul. Frank emphasized that all the patriarchs and also Sabbatai Zevi had been unable to enter the level of Da'as because they were not baptized. In order to be worthy of entering the Da'as, one must first reach the level of Esau , the acceptance of Catholicism . Frankism allowed all of its followers to take part in the mystical search for Da'as, but demanded blind obedience to its leader Jacob Frank, combined with
1210-721: A pitch that the government had to intervene, while at Sale , Morocco, the emir ordered a persecution of the Jews. During this period Sabbatai declared the fasts of the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av (his birthday) would henceforth be feast-days, and contemplated converting the Day of Atonement to one of celebration. While Sabbatai was in Abydos prison an incident occurred which ultimately led to his downfall. Polish Jewish communities, hearing of Sabbatai's Messianic claims, sent
1331-476: A sight. He also claimed to have visions of God. Sabbatai revealed his claim to being the Messiah early on to Isaac Silveyra and Moses Pinheiro , the latter a brother-in-law of the Italian rabbi and Kabbalist Joseph Ergas . However, at a mere twenty-two, Sabbatai was still too young to be thought of as an established rabbinic authority; his influence on the local community was limited. Even though he had led
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#17327944023291452-422: Is "the head of nothingness" ( reisha d'ayin ), and the third level is "the long head" ( reisha d'arich ). These three heads correspond to the superconscious levels of faith, pleasure and will in the soul. In its early 12th-century dissemination, Kabbalah garnered criticism from some rabbis who adhered to Jewish philosophy for its alleged introduction of diversity into Jewish monotheism. The seeming plurality of
1573-535: Is continuously created from nothing. Since they are the attributes through which the unknowable, infinite divine essence becomes revealed to the creations, all ten emanate in each World. Nonetheless, the structure of the Four Worlds arises because in each one, certain sefirot predominate. Each World is spiritual, apart from the lower aspect of the final World, which is the Asiyah Gashmi ("Physical Asiyah"),
1694-431: Is reflected in society's hatred and exclusion of them, which result from Frankism's consistent implementation of the idea that all laws and teachings of the world are only laws of the "Three Evil World Rulers", and therefore do not need to be observed. In the best case such laws and teachings need only be kept in pretense; religions and teachings of the world can be worn like an empty shell and then discarded at whim, because
1815-463: Is stated in the Sefer Yetzirah , "Ten sefirot of nothingness, ten and not nine, ten and not eleven". As altogether 11 sefirot are listed across the various schemes, two ( Keter and Da'at ) are seen as unconscious and conscious manifestations of the same principle, conserving the 10 categories. The sefirot are described as channels of divine creative life force or consciousness through which
1936-475: Is symbolized by the letter "V", which also represents Jacob's ladder . The seeker must first climb down into the abyss to reach the deepest level of humiliation and then climb back up to "life". According to Frankist doctrine, the patriarchs and Moses had already tried to follow the path, but had failed, as had Zevi. Frank proclaims that the Frankists' descent down the "V" ladder into the deepest humiliation
2057-694: Is the third messianic incarnation of the Sephira Tiferet after Sabbatai Zevi and Baruchiah Russo [ de ] , and also the reborn forefather Jacob . But he is nonetheless only a helper. The actual guide in Frankism is the Virgin, the incarnation of the Shekhinah and the female Messiah. Frankists are supposed to follow her bravely like soldiers through all horrors. The path, by which Frank seeks to lead his followers to "life" through Frankism,
2178-417: Is used to describe the mystical place where all ten Sephiroth are united. It is an apparent Sephira, which cosmologically means the "concealed knowledge" that creates a harmonizing union between the two Sephiroth Chokmah (male principle) and Binah (female principle) and results from the fusion of cosmic forces. On a physical level, "knowledge" means the sexual union of man and woman, which manifests itself in
2299-437: The kaymakam to tell him of Sabbatai's ambitions. The kaymakam informed Sultan Mehmed IV and Sabbatai was removed from Abydos and taken to Adrianople , where the vizier gave him three choices; subject himself to a trial of his divinity in the form of a volley of arrows (should the archers miss, his divinity would be proven); be impaled; or convert to Islam. On the following day (September 16, 1666) Zevi appeared before
2420-644: The Częstochowa monastery, where he was exiled. He had small portraits of his daughter Eve made corresponding to Catholic images of the Virgin Mary ; these are now in the National Library of Israel . Eve as the embodiment of the Shechinah, however, was an element that did not appear yet during Frank's lifetime. The Virgin was hidden from Frank and his task was to free her. The "Black Madonna" points to
2541-667: The High Holy Day of Yom Kippur . Upon his death, his widow, brother, and children by his first wife moved to Thessaloniki. His tomb was believed to have been in Berat at a tekke built in the yard of the Imperial Mosque ( Albanian : Xhamia e Mbretit ), where a tomb stood until 1967. Research done in 1985 suggested that he was actually buried in Dulcigno . His biographer, Gershom Scholem , mentioned that his tomb
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#17327944023292662-489: The Holy Spirit at Passover , and had received a revelation. Either Sabbatai or one of his followers published a mystical work claiming he was the true Messiah in spite of his conversion and that his goal was to bring thousands of Muslims to Judaism. However, he told the sultan that he was trying to convert Jews to Islam, and the sultan permitted him to associate with other Jews and preach in their synagogues. Gradually
2783-716: The Messianic Age would begin in 1666 with the conquest of the world without bloodshed. The Messiah would lead the Ten Lost Tribes back to the Holy Land , "riding on a lion with a seven-headed dragon in its jaws". The rabbis of Jerusalem viewed Sabbatai's movement with great suspicion, and threatened its followers with excommunication . Acknowledging that Jerusalem was not the best place to carry out his plans, Sabbatai left for his native Smyrna, and Nathan proclaimed that henceforth Gaza rather than Jerusalem would be
2904-589: The Ottoman government. Raphael Joseph led an ascetic life, which included fasting, bathing in cold water, and scourging himself at night, and used his great wealth for charity, supporting poor Talmudists and Kabbalists, fifty of whom reportedly dined at his table regularly. He became a supporter and promoter of Sabbatai's messianic claims. In about 1663 Sabbatai moved on to Jerusalem where he resumed his former ascetic practice of frequent fasting and other penances. Many saw this as proof of his extraordinary piety . He
3025-814: The Queen Esther stories, and is strongly influenced by the Marian cult surrounding the Black Madonna of Częstochowa . He claimed that the Black Madonna would lead his followers to the Frankist "Virgin" (Shechinah), and therefore presented baptism as a necessary step. Following the Bahir and the Zohar , where the Shechinah is described as being like a princess in a tower, Frank refers to an actual tower of
3146-703: The Rump Parliament , appealed to it as a reason to readmit Jews into England, saying, "[T]he opinions of many Christians and mine do concur herein, that we both believe that the restoring time of our Nation into their native country is very near at hand." As he was the agent for an English trading house in Smyrna, Sabbatai's father must have had business contact with English people and it is possible that his son learned something about Western millenarian expectations at home. Scholars are still assessing how much influence English and Dutch Calvinist millenarianism had on
3267-630: The Tetragrammaton , an act which Judaism prohibited to all but the High Priest of Israel in the Temple in Jerusalem on Yom Kippur . For scholars acquainted with rabbinical and Kabbalistic literature, this act was therefore highly symbolic. Sabbatai also claimed that he could fly, but told his followers that he couldn't do so in public because they were 'not worthy enough' to witness such
3388-514: The Torah and the Zohar as well as popular stories from the surrounding culture, which were quoted verbatim or paraphrased, or adapted to his own doctrine. The text begins and ends with a vision: § 1 is Frank's vision of his calling; § 2192 is Frank's final testament to his "company". The Words of the Lord belongs to Jewish literature , but its contents reject Jewish tradition and its teachings. Biblical figures such as Jacob , Esau and Esther are
3509-502: The Words of the Lord were manifestly learned, despite the simple language used. Creating such colorful parables and allegories required an excellent knowledge of Kabbalistic literature, far beyond simply picking up some sayings. The last stage of the mystical path in Frankism is the stage of Da'as , cosmic cognizance. In the Zohar as well as in Frankism, Da'as (also Da'at or Da'ath )
3630-572: The sultan 's crown on his own head, the grand vizier , Köprülü Fazıl Ahmet Paşa , ordered his immediate arrest and had him imprisoned, maybe to avoid any doubts as to the power still wielded by the Turkish Sultanate. However, his imprisonment discouraged neither Sabbatai nor his followers. He was treated well in prison, perhaps because of bribes which seems to have strengthened his followers' belief in him. Meanwhile Nathan of Gaza, Abraham Yachini and others circulated fabulous reports about
3751-527: The "Virgin". Depending on the behaviour of the "company", the "Virgin" would behave positively or negatively towards them, a well-known idea from the Kabbalistic descriptions of the Shechinah. During her father’s lifetime, Eve Frank held a special position within the "company": as soon as she was old enough, she stood at her father's side as a confidant and adjutant. Jacob Frank repeatedly accused his followers of having fallen back into Judaism, thus preventing
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3872-507: The 10 attributes/emanations in Kabbalah , through which Ein Sof ("infinite space") reveals itself and continuously creates both the physical realm and the seder hishtalshelut (the chained descent of the metaphysical Four Worlds ). The term is alternatively transliterated into English as sephirot/sephiroth , singular sefira/sephirah . As revelations of the creator's will ( רצון rāṣon ),
3993-675: The Dönme had become prominent in the tobacco and textile trades. They established progressive schools and some members became politically active. Many joined the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), the revolutionary party known as the Young Turks . With the major Dönmeh city of Selanik (now Thessaloniki) becoming part of Greece in 1912, Greece expelled the Muslims, including the Dönme, from its territory, with most migrating to Turkey. This
4114-660: The Ein Sof and the four lower Worlds. As the four Worlds link the Infinite with this realm, they also enable the soul to ascend in devotion or mystical states, towards the Divine. Each World can be understood as descriptive of dimensional levels of intentionality related to the natural human "desire to receive", and a method for the soul's progress upward toward unity with or return to the Creator. (The terminology of this formulation
4235-470: The Ein Sof is God before he decided to become God as we now know him. The sefirot are divine emanations that come from the Ein Sof in a manner often described as a flame. The sefirot emanate from above to below. As the first Sefira is closest to Ein Sof, it is the least comprehensible to the human mind, while in turn the last is the best understood because it is closest to the material world that humanity dwells on. The singular, sefira ( ספירה səpirā ),
4356-626: The God of Jacob." In Hamburg , the council introduced the custom of praying for Sabbatai not only on Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath), but also on Monday and Thursday; unbelievers were compelled to remain in the synagogue and join in the prayer with a loud Amen . Sabbatai's picture was printed together with that of King David in most of the prayer-books, along with his Kabbalistic formulas and penances. Such innovations caused great commotion in some communities. In Moravia excitement reached such
4477-524: The God-world relationship, and the inner nature of the divine. These include the metaphor of the soul-body relationship, the functions of human soul-powers, the configuration of human bodily form, and female-male influences in the divine. Kabbalists repeatedly warn and stress the need to divorce their notions from any corporality, dualism, plurality, or spatial and temporal connotations. As "the Torah speaks in
4598-584: The Godhead. One parable to explain this is the difference between the Ma'or "Luminary" and the ohr "Light" that it emanates, like the difference between the single body of the sun and the multiple rays of sunlight that illuminate a room. In Kabbalah, there is a direct correspondence between the Hebrew name of any spiritual or physical phenomenon and its manifestations in the mundane world. The Hebrew name represents
4719-538: The Jewish world. During the Khmelnytsky Uprising in Poland, a young Jewish orphan named Sarah was found by Christians and sent to a convent to be cared for. After ten years, aged about sixteen, she escaped (she claimed through a miracle), and made her way to Amsterdam and then to Livorno where, according to reports, she led a life of prostitution while also conceiving the notion that she would become
4840-507: The Kabbalist Nehemiah Ha-Kohen to interview him in his captivity. Nehemiah reached Abydos, after a journey of three months at the beginning of September, 1666. The meeting did not go well - Nehemiah declared Sabbatai to be an impostor. Some Sabbataians are said to have contemplated murdering Nehemiah as a rival. Nehemiah, however, escaped to Constantinople, where he pretended to embrace Islam to get an audience with
4961-468: The Lord §§ 1–2192) was destroyed, along with numerous other Frankist sources, during the destruction of Warsaw in World War II. Until recently, all researchers of Frankism have therefore relied on the source material of the extensive biography by the historian Aleksander Kraushar [ pl ; de ] , which is the most important study of Frankism from the pre-war period. In Frankism, Frank
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5082-480: The Man-metaphor more radically to anthropomorphise particular divine manifestations on high, while repeatedly stressing the need to divest analogies from impure materialistic corporality. Classical proof texts on which it bases its approach include, "From my flesh I envisage God", and the rabbinic analogy "As the soul permeates the whole body...sees but is not seen...sustains the whole body...is pure...abides in
5203-619: The Netherlands were already centres of his messianic movement, and the Jews of Hamburg and Amsterdam learned of the events in Smyrna from trustworthy Christians. Henry Oldenburg , a distinguished German savant who became the first secretary of the Royal Society , wrote to Baruch Spinoza ( Spinozae Epistolae No 33): "All the world here is talking of a rumour of the return of the Israelites ... to their own country. ... Should
5324-516: The One God is a result of the spiritual evolution of God's light, which introduced a diversity of emanations from the infinite divine essence. This was necessary due to the inability of humanity to exist in God's infinite presence. God does not change; rather, it is our ability to perceive his emanations that is modified. This is stressed in Kabbalah to avoid heretical notions of any plurality in
5445-496: The Talmud. At the same time, he was fascinated by mysticism and the Kabbalah and was influenced by Isaac Luria . The practical Kabbalah , whose devotees used asceticism to communicate with God and the angels , to predict the future and perform all sorts of miracles , was especially appealing to him. As well as Luria's writings, he read the Zohar and practiced asceticism and purification exercises called tikkunim . During
5566-582: The Turks tired of Sabbatai's antics, ending his doorkeeper's salary. At the beginning of 1673, the sultan had Zevi exiled to Ulcinj ( Dulcigno , Turkish : Ulkum ) where his wife died in 1674. Zevi then married Esther, the daughter of rabbi Joseph Filosoff of Thessaloniki. In August 1676, Sabbatai wrote to the Jewish community in Berat, Albania , requesting religious books. Shortly thereafter, he died in isolation—according to some accounts, on September 17, 1676,
5687-465: The World effects no change in God; and the distinct, separate origins of the soul and the body, while in relation to God's omnipresence, especially in its acosmic Hasidic development, all creation is nullified in its source. As all levels of Creation are constructed around the 10 sefirot, their names in Kabbalah describe the particular role each plays in forming reality. These are the external dimensions of
5808-458: The bride of the Messiah, whose appearance was thought to be imminent. When a report of her adventures reached Cairo, Sabbatai claimed that such a consort had been promised to him in a dream because he, as the Messiah, was bound to fall in love with an unchaste woman. He reportedly sent messengers to Livorno to bring Sarah to him, and they were married at Halabi's house. Her beauty and eccentricity reportedly helped him gain new followers. Through her
5929-591: The capital to the imperial courts' seat in Adrianople (now Edirne ), he was judged on accusations of fomenting sedition . Sabbatai was given the choice of either facing death by some type of ordeal or of converting to Islam by the Grand Vizier representing Sultan Mehmed IV . He seems to have chosen the latter course, donning a turban from that time on. The heads of the Ottoman state then rewarded him with
6050-478: The centre of İzmir close to the Agora has long been associated with Sabbetai Zevi. Having been left in ruins as recently as 2015, it has since been restored to its original style. Sephirah Sefirot ( / s f ɪ ˈ r oʊ t , ˈ s f ɪr oʊ t / ; Hebrew : סְפִירוֹת , romanized : səfiroṯ , plural of Koinē Greek : σφαῖρα , lit. 'sphere' ), meaning emanations , are
6171-511: The city and sources differ as to the route he then took, with Alexandria , Athens , Constantinople , Jerusalem , and Smyrna mentioned as temporary bases. Eventually he settled in Cairo , where he lived for about two years (1660–1662). There he befriended Raphael Joseph Halabi (of Aleppo ), a wealthy and influential Jew who held the high position of mint-master and tax-farmer in Cairo under
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#17327944023296292-548: The city of Gaza , which at the time had an important Jewish community, he met Nathan Benjamin Levi, known since as Nathan of Gaza ([נתן העזתי] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |translit= ( help ) ), who became very active in Sabbatai's messianic career, serving as his right-hand man and declaring himself to be the risen Elijah , who, it was predicted, would proclaim the arrival of the Messiah. In 1665, Nathan announced that
6413-421: The complete abandonment of all laws and teachings, which, in any case, they only appeared to follow. True to the motto: "The more blind and radical my obedience to my Lord, the more likely the possibility of reaching Da'as", after accepting Catholicism, the Frankists strove to complete the personal path to Da'as, which in the end would only be possible for a few select "Brothers and Sisters". The triangle or "V" of
6534-519: The day preceding Passover , he slew a paschal lamb for himself and his followers, and ate it with its fat, a violation of Jewish Law. He is said to have pronounced over it the benediction: "Blessed be God who hath restored again that which was forbidden." The immense sums sent to him by his rich followers, the charms of the queenly Sarah, and the cooperation shown by the Turkish officials and others enabled Sabbatai to show off almost royal splendour in
6655-409: The depths of their exile, leading them back up to Da'as. The beginning of the entry into Da'as will be seen on earth when the Frankists are integrated into non-Jewish society and accepted by the international community. Then the mystical-cosmological path will continue. Several authorities on Sabbateanism, such as Heinrich Graetz and Aleksander Kraushar [ de ; pl ] , were skeptical of
6776-482: The ears of all Frankists, but only for his personally selected, small circle of so-called "Brothers and Sisters", of whom he demanded blind obedience. Frank tried to maintain absolute control over at least this circle, taking advantage of their tendency to believe in demons and magic . Within the circle of "Brothers and Sisters", Frank spoke directly only to the "Brothers"; according to his teachings nothing could be done with women alone, since women had brought death into
6897-609: The emanation of the material world from the spiritual realms, the analogous anthropomorphisms and material metaphors themselves derive through cause and effect from their precise root analogies on High. Describing the material world below in general, and humans in particular, as created in the "image" of the world above is not restricted in Rabbinic Judaism to Kabbalah, but abounds more widely in Biblical , Midrashic , Talmudic and philosophical literature. Kabbalah extends
7018-425: The existence of a distinctive Frankist doctrine. According to Gershom Scholem , a 20th-century authority on Sabbateanism and Kabbalah, Kraushar described Frank's sayings as "grotesque, comical and incomprehensible". In his classic essay "Redemption Through Sin", Scholem placed Frankism as a later and more radical outgrowth of Sabbateanism. In contrast, Jay Michaelson argues that Frankism was "an original theology that
7139-423: The experience of Jewish mysticism into daily inspiration ( devekut ), this inner life of the sefirot is explored, and the role they play in man's service of God in this world. The Ein Sof (lit: without end) is an important concept in Jewish Kabbalah. Generally translated as "infinity" and "endless", the Ein Sof represents the formless state of the universe before the self-materialization of God. In other words,
7260-469: The first complete systemization of Kabbalah, the sefirot are listed from highest to lowest: 3 Binah - "Understanding" 4 Chesed - "Kindness" 5 Gevurah - "Discipline" 6 Tiferet - "Glory" (Secondary emotions:) 7 Netzach - "Victory" 8 Hod - "Splendour" 9 Yesod - "Foundation" (Vessel to bring action:) 10 Malkuth - "Kingdom" Kingship Kabbalah uses subtle anthropomorphic analogies and metaphors to describe God in Judaism , both
7381-450: The first half of the 17th century, millenarian ideas about the approach of the messianic time were popular. They included ideas about the redemption of the Jews and their return to the land of Israel , with independent sovereignty. The apocalyptic year was identified by Christian authors as 1666 and millenarianism was widespread in England. This belief was so prevalent that Menasseh Ben Israel , in his letter to Oliver Cromwell and
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#17327944023297502-468: The following passage: Solomon was wise, wiser than all the peoples. He mixed with the nations, took the daughters of kings as his wives, but he did not get anything out of it. He could mix with the nations because he was a king. But here the whole world knows that I am descendant from Jews, that I am newly baptized and poor. But I have hope that I will mix with their society this winter, and they themselves will call me. I can tell you: whoever does not mix with
7623-500: The foundations of Frank's teaching. Frank's "Brothers" compiled the work between 1755 and 1791 in the form of a Zbiór (collection) of materials developed in numerous meetings over the years. The original Polish title Księga (book) is therefore somewhat misleading, and is only used once in the collection itself, in § 2192. It was written down starting around 1773 and distributed exclusively in handwritten form to his widely scattered followers. The last known complete manuscript ( Words of
7744-431: The heavy taxes levied by the Ottoman government. Known as the favourite of the rich and powerful Raphael Joseph Halabi in Cairo, Sabbatai was chosen to appeal to him for money and support and his success in getting the funds to pay off the Turks raised his prestige. His followers dated his public career from this journey to Cairo. Another event that took place during his second stay in Cairo helped spread Sabbatai's fame in
7865-594: The holy day. There was outrage and dissension in the communities, while many of the leaders who had been sympathetic to the movement were shocked by such radical innovations. Solomon Algazi , a prominent Talmudist of Smyrna, and other members of the rabbinate who opposed the abolition of the fast, narrowly escaped death at the hands of Sabbatai's followers. At the beginning of 1666, Sabbatai left Smyrna for Constantinople ( İstanbul in present-day Turkey ), possibly forced out by city officials. Since Nathan of Gaza had prophesied that, once in Constantinople, Sabbatai would place
7986-476: The image of God He created him, male and female He created them"), and more widely, all creations as reflections of their life source in the sefirot. Therefore, the sefirot also describe the spiritual life of man, break down man's psychological processes, and constitute the conceptual paradigm in Kabbalah for understanding everything. This relationship between the soul of man and the divine gives Kabbalah one of its two central metaphors in describing divinity, alongside
8107-404: The inner dimensions of the sefirot: These ten levels are associated with Kabbalah's four different "Worlds" or planes of existence, the main part from the perspective of the descending "chain of progression" ( Seder hishtalshelut ), that links the infinite divine Ein Sof with the finite, physical realm. In all Worlds, the 10 sefirot radiate, and are the divine channels through which every level
8228-486: The inner life of man. Articulation of the sefirot in Hasidic philosophy is primarily concerned with their inner dimensions, and exploring the direct, enlivening contribution of each in man's spiritual worship of God. Kabbalah focuses on the esoteric manifestations of God in creation, the vessels of divinity. Hasidut looks at the lights that fill these vessels, how the structures reveal the divine essence, and how this inwardness can be perceived. This difference can be seen in
8349-411: The innermost precincts...is unique in the body...does not eat and drink...no man knows where its place is...so the Holy One, Blessed is He..." Together with the metaphor of light, the Man-metaphor is central in Kabbalah. Nonetheless, it too has its limitations, needs qualification, and breaks down if taken as a literal, corporeal comparison. Its limitations include the effect of the body on the soul, while
8470-406: The ladder refers to the Trinity , but at the same time to the earthly path of the Frankists: by getting rid of all laws and teachings they degraded themselves and incurred the contempt of society. The "V" is applied to Edom, Shekhinah and Da'as; meaning: The Frankists should be baptized, in order to reach the cosmic Esau, or, at the tip of the "V", the "Virgin" (Shekhinah), who will raise them up from
8591-416: The language of Man", the empirical terms are necessarily imposed upon human experience in this world. Once the analogy is described, its limitations are then related to stripping the kernel of its husk to arrive at a truer conception. Nonetheless, Kabbalists carefully chose their terminology to denote subtle connotations and profound relationships in the divine spiritual influences. More accurately, as they see
8712-461: The liberation of the "Virgin". The only way to the "Virgin" is to adapt to the Polish environment. The liberation of the Shechinah - the transfer of the Shechinah's soul from Jacob to Eve Frank - is also described in some longer fairy-tale-like narratives in the Words of the Lord , which are reminiscent of Middle Eastern models in the 1001 Nights . They use traditional Kabbalistic terminology, with
8833-475: The medieval Kabbalistic text of the Zohar , which is one of the core texts of Kabbalah. In Cordoveran Kabbalah, the forces of creation are considered autonomous forces that evolve independently. By contrast, in Lurean or Lurianic Kabbalah (the Kabbalah of Isaac Luria ), the sefirot are perceived as a constellation of forces in active dialogue with one another at every stage of that evolution. Luria described
8954-545: The messiah. Especially after Zevi's death, a number of branches of Sabbateanism evolved that disagreed among themselves over which aspects of traditional Judaism should be preserved and which should be discarded. Jacob Frank claimed to be a reincarnation of Sabbatai Zevi and followed and extended his practice of transgression. Father-daughter incest was commonly practised by his followers, and orgies featured prominently in ritual. Frank claimed that "all laws and teachings will fall", and following antinomianism , asserted that
9075-427: The messianic movement that developed around Zevi's activities. Along with general messianic beliefs, there was another computation , based on a passage in the Zohar (a famous Jewish mystical text), that Israel would be redeemed by the long-awaited Jewish Messiah in 1648. In 1648, Sabbatai announced to his followers in Smyrna that he was the anticipated messianic redeemer. To prove this, he started to pronounce
9196-534: The mid-17th century. The bloody pogroms of Bohdan Khmelnytsky during the cossack riots had wiped out an estimated 10,000 - 20,000 Jews in Eastern Europe and destroyed many centres of Jewish learning and communal life. For most of the Jews of Europe, therefore, this was a propitious moment for the messiah to deliver the promised salvation. Probably with his consent, Sabbatai's adherents planned to abolish many ritualistic observances because, according to
9317-473: The miraculous deeds "the Messiah" was supposedly performing in the Turkish capital, and the messianic expectations in the Jewish diasporas continued to rise. After two months' imprisonment in Constantinople, Sabbatai was moved to the state prison-castle at Abydos accompanied by some of his friends. The Sabbataians then renamed the fortress Migdal Oz (Tower [of] Strength). As Sabbatai had arrived on
9438-589: The most important obligation of mankind was the transgression of every boundary. The Sabbatean leader Jacob Frank stood at the lead of Frankism. He regarded his followers as soldiers, and all were members of a company for the purpose of building a Frankist army, which was to secure Frank's rule over a Frankist country. There were four company locations, in Ivanie , Częstochowa , Brno and Offenbach am Main . Members were required to wear plate armor, shields and helmets and train hard. His teachings were not intended for
9559-492: The motif of concealment and disguise as a gardener being important in Frankism; the garden stands for a symbolic setting of the world of the ten Sephiroth . The strengthening of the third Sephira Chokmah (the male principle, also known as the upper Shechinah) also leads to the liberation of the lower Shechinah. In Frank's perception of the "Virgin" it is clear how deeply his ideas are rooted in Kabbalah and other Jewish writings, despite Christian influences. The author or authors of
9680-452: The names of these two stages of Jewish mysticism. "Kabbalah" in Hebrew is derived from "kabal" (to "receive" as a vessel). "Hasidut" is from "chesed" ("loving-kindness"), considered the first and greatest sefirah, also called "Greatness", the wish to reveal and share. The names of the sefirot come from Kabbalah, and describe the Divine effect that each has upon Creation, but not their inner qualities. Hasidic thought uses new descriptive terms for
9801-422: The nations, all his work is in vain! Frank was not interested in the acculturation of the Jews; rather he wanted them to purposefully integrate into society in order to ultimately overthrow it. If the enemies of the Jews in the 18th century had been familiar with Frank's secret sectarian canon, it would have made the already hotly contested Jewish emancipation considerably more difficult. The center of Frankism
9922-482: The news be confirmed, it may bring about a revolution in all things." Sabbatai's followers soon included many prominent rabbis, such as Isaac Aboab da Fonseca , Moses Raphael de Aguilar , Moshe ben Yonatan Galante , Moses ben Mordecai Zacuto , and Chaim Benveniste. Benjamin Musaphia , an adherent of Spinoza , also became a follower. Meanwhile, fantastic reports circulated and were widely believed. For example, it
10043-822: The numbers of individual with descent from the group. They have been described as presenting themselves as Muslim in public whilst practising their own forms of messianic/mystical Jewish beliefs in private. Some claim that Dönme still play a role in Turkish politics (one of interference), particularly some political parties in Turkey like the MHP . However, others dismiss it as an antisemitic conspiracy theory . The Dönme eventually split into three sects, each with quite different beliefs, as Ottoman Jewish scholars Abraham Danon , and Joseph Néhama pointed out in French-language Jewish Studies journal articles over
10164-486: The other Ohr (light) metaphor. However, Kabbalah repeatedly stresses the need to avoid all corporeal interpretation. Through this, the sefirot are related to the structure of the body and are reformed into partzufim (personas). Underlying the structural purpose of each sefirah is a hidden motivational force which is understood best by comparison with a corresponding psychological state in human spiritual experience. In Hasidic philosophy , which has sought to internalise
10285-410: The particular characteristic of inner light within each sefirah. Understanding the sefirot throughout Jewish mysticism is achieved by their correspondence to the human soul. This applies to the outer, Kabbalistic structure of the sefirot. It applies even more to their inner dimensions, which correspond to inner psychological qualities in human perception. Identifying the essential spiritual properties of
10406-504: The physical Universe. Each World is progressively grosser and further removed from consciousness of the Divine, until in this World it is possible to be unaware of or to deny God. In descending order: In the Zohar and elsewhere, there are these four Worlds or planes of existence. In the Lurianic system of Kabbalah, five Worlds are counted, comprising these and a higher, fifth plane, Adam Kadmon-manifest Godhead level , that mediates between
10527-494: The pious life of a mystic in Smyrna for several years, the older, more established rabbinic leadership was suspicious of his activities and the local college of rabbis. Headed by his teacher, Joseph Escapa , they kept a watchful eye on him. When his messianic pretensions became too bold, he and his followers were subjected to an edict of ḥerem , a type of excommunication in Judaism . In about 1651 (according to others, 1654),
10648-456: The present day in some parts of the US and other Western nations. Right-wing conspiracy theorist Candace Owens has associated it with devil worship and referred to it as "the preferred religion of the elites." Sabbatai Zevi Sabbatai Zevi ( Hebrew : שַׁבְּתַי צְבִי , romanized : Šabbəṯay Ṣəvī ; Turkish : Sabetay Sevi ; August 1, 1626 – c. September 17, 1676 )
10769-449: The primary and secondary conscious divine emotions. The sefirot of the left side and the sefira of Malkuth are feminine, as the female principle in Kabbalah describes a vessel that receives the outward male light , then inwardly nurtures and gives birth to the sefirot below them. Kabbalah sees the human soul as mirroring the divine (after Genesis 1:27, "God created man in His own image, in
10890-460: The prison at Abydos. Accounts of his life there were exaggerated and spread among Jews in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in some parts of Europe, Jews began to unroof their houses and prepare for a new "exodus". In almost every synagogue, Sabbatai's initials were posted, and prayers for him were inserted in the following form: "Bless our Lord and King, the holy and righteous Sabbatai Zevi, the Messiah of
11011-531: The rabbis banished Sabbatai and his disciples from Smyrna. It is uncertain where he went from there, but by 1658, he surfaced in Constantinople . There, he met a preacher, Abraham Yachini a disciple of the Talmudic scholar Joseph Trani , who confirmed his messianic mission. Yachini is said to have forged a manuscript in archaic characters which bore testimony to Sabbatai's claim to being the Messiah. It
11132-513: The sacred city. On his way from Jerusalem to Smyrna, Sabbatai was greeted enthusiastically in Aleppo . In Smyrna, which he reached in the autumn of 1665, great homage was paid to him. After some hesitation, he declared himself to be the expected Messiah during Rosh Hashanah in 1665; his declaration was made in the synagogue , with the blowing of shofars , and shouts of "Long live our King, our Messiah!" His followers then began to refer to him with
11253-535: The sefirot as complex and dynamically interacting entities known as partzufim "faces," each with its own symbolically human-like persona. Keter, the Crown, is the first sefirah. It is the superconscious intermediary between God and the other, conscious sefirot. Three different levels, or "heads," are identified within Keter. In some contexts, the highest level of Keter is called "The unknowable head," The second level
11374-457: The sefirot is found in the ancient Sefer Yetzirah "The Book of Formation," attributed to the first Jewish patriarch, Abraham . However, the names of the sefirot as given in later Kabbalah are not specified there, but rather are only identified by their attributes "forward," "backward," "right," "left," "down," "up," "light," "darkness," "good" and "evil." Further references to the sefirot, now with their later-accepted names, are elaborated on in
11495-507: The sefirot should not be understood as ten gods, but rather as ten different channels through which the one God reveals His will. In later Jewish literature, the ten sefirot refer either to the ten manifestations of God; the ten powers or faculties of the soul; or the ten structural forces of nature. Alternative configurations of the sefirot are interpreted by various schools in the historical evolution of Kabbalah, with each articulating differing spiritual aspects. The tradition of enumerating 10
11616-452: The sefirot, describing their functional roles in channelling the divine, creative Ohr (Light) to all levels. As the sefirot are viewed to comprise both metaphorical "lights" and " vessels ", their structural role describes the particular identity each sefirah possesses from its characteristic vessel. Underlying this functional structure of the sefirot, each one possesses a hidden, inner spiritual motivation that inspires its activity. This forms
11737-431: The solution. Rather, Frank claimed that the "mixing" between holy and unholy was virtuous. Netanel Lederberg claims that Frank had a Gnostic philosophy wherein there was a " true God " whose existence was hidden by a " false God ". This "true God" could allegedly be revealed only through a total destruction of the social and religious structures created by the "false God", thus leading to a thorough antinomianism. For Frank,
11858-539: The sons of Israel, Peace! Since ye have been deemed worthy to behold the great day and the fulfilment of God's word by the Prophets, your lament and sorrow must be changed into joy, and your fasting into merriment; for ye shall weep no more. Rejoice with song and melody, and change the day formerly spent in sadness and sorrow into a day of jubilee, because I have appeared. Primo's message was considered blasphemous, as Sabbatai wanted to celebrate his own birthday rather than
11979-598: The soul gives the best insight into their divine source, and in the process reveals the spiritual beauty of the soul. In Hasidic thought these inner dimensions of the sefirot are called the Powers of the Soul ( Kochos HaNefesh ). Hasidism sought the internalisation of the abstract ideas of Kabbalah, both outwardly in joyful sincerity of dveikus in daily life, acts of loving-kindness and prayer; and inwardly in its profound new articulation of Jewish mystical thought, by relating it to
12100-417: The sultan, cast off his Jewish garb and put a Turkish turban on his head, thereby accomplishing his conversion to Islam. Satisfied, the sultan rewarded Sabbatai by conferring on him the title (Mahmed) Effendi , and appointing him as his doorkeeper on a generous salary. Sarah and approximately 300 families among his followers also converted to Islam. Thereafter these new Muslims were known as Dönme. Sabbatai
12221-404: The title AMIRAH, a Hebrew acronym for the phrase "Our Lord and King, his Majesty be exalted" ( Adoneinu Malkeinu Yarum Hodo ). Assisted by his wife, Sabbatai became the leader of the community and used his power to crush any opposition. He deposed the existing rabbi of Smyrna, Aaron Lapapa , and appointed Chaim Benveniste in his place. His fame began to extend far and wide. Italy, Germany, and
12342-432: The true Torah is yet to be revealed. The Mosaic Law with its Ten Commandments should be despised, as it is part of the old Torah. The contempt for all teaching of the world culminates in a statement by Frank to his close circle of "Brothers and Sisters" that amounts to a command for total assimilation : one should adapt to the respective religion or language depending on the country. Frank also advises masked assimilation in
12463-465: The true Virgin, who will be revealed preceding the final redemption. Frank regarded himself as the Virgin's guide, who - before her manifestation - is in a mysterious place and was given only to him since the beginning of the world, so that he, as her father, would be her guardian. As of then, the soul of the Shechinah was still with Frank; his "Brothers" were never worthy enough to see her themselves. They were supposed to support Frank in his efforts to find
12584-402: The union of Adam and Eve ( Genesis 4:1). It is thus possible to reach Da'as through sexual intercourse . With the help of sexual rites, Jacob Frank wished to reach Da'as on earth, the last step of his Jacob's ladder. This knowledge was a higher realization that would bring a deep insight into all things. It was enlightenment and fresh realization in one. With it would be associated a new name and
12705-507: The unique essence of the object. This reflects the belief that the universe is created through the metaphorical speech of God, as stated in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis . Kabbalah expounds on the names of the sefirot and their nuances, including their gematria (numerical values), to reach an understanding of these emanations of God's essence. In the 16th-century rational synthesis of Moses ben Jacob Cordovero (Cordoveran Kabbalah),
12826-542: The unknowable divine essence is revealed to mankind. The first sefirah, Keter , describes the divine superconscious Will that is beyond conscious intellect . The next three sefirot ( Chokmah , Binah and Da'at ) describe three levels of conscious divine intellect. In particular, Da'at represents Keter in its knowable form, the concept of knowledge. Will and knowledge are corresponding somewhat dependent opposites. The seven subsequent sefirot ( Chesed , Gevurah , Tiferet , Netzach , Hod , Yesod and Malkuth ) describe
12947-415: The very distinction between good and evil is a product of a world governed by the "false God". Lederberg compares Frank's position to that of Friedrich Nietzsche . After Jacob Frank's death in 1791, his daughter Eve , who had been declared in 1770 to be the incarnation of the Shekhinah , continued to lead the movement with her brothers. Antisemitic conspiracy theories regarding Frankism have persisted to
13068-686: The world. The most important Frankist text is the Księga Słów Pańskich (Book of the Words of the Lord). This is written in Polish in extremely simple, almost folk language and consists of short sayings (some fewer than ten words), interpretations and parables, visions and dreams; longer speculations about the elements of the doctrine; various episodes from Frank's life, the Frankist "company" and contemporary rulers; and fairy-tale stories up to 1100 words long. To support them, there are mainly quotations from
13189-621: Was a poultry dealer in the Morea . During the war between Turkey and Venice , Smyrna became the center of Levantine trade and Mordecai became the Smyrna agent of an English trading house, achieving some wealth in the process. In accordance with the prevailing Jewish custom of the time, Sabbatai's father had him study the Talmud . He attended a yeshiva under the rabbi of Smyrna, Joseph Escapa . Studies in halakha , or Jewish law, did not appeal to him, but apparently Zevi did attain proficiency in
13310-439: Was a loanword from Koinē Greek : σφαῖρα , lit. 'sphere' ). However, early Kabbalists presented several other etymological possibilities: a "counting" or "enumeration"; or from the same triliteral root: sefer "text," sippur "recounting a story," sfar ("boundary" - ספר), and sofer , or safra "scribe"; or sappir "sapphire." This term had complex connotations within Kabbalah. The original reference to
13431-472: Was a new concept of the Shechinah . However, the term Shechinah was forbidden in Frankism, because Jacob Frank referred to her as "the Virgin". Shechinah is a Kabbalistic term. Klaus Samuel Davidowicz , a Jewish Studies scholar at the university of Vienna who has written extensively on Frank and Frankism, assumes it was originally an old name for God that referred to the indwelling or presence of God in
13552-500: Was a part of the messianic scheme. Those such as Nathan of Gaza and Primo who were interested in maintaining the movement encouraged such belief. In many communities, the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av were still observed as feast-days in spite of bans and excommunications by the rabbis. At times Sabbatai assumed the role of a pious Muslim and reviled Judaism; at others he associated with Jews as one of their own faith. In March, 1668, he announced that he had been filled with
13673-684: Was an Ottoman Jewish mystic , and ordained rabbi from Smyrna (now İzmir , Turkey). His family origins may have been Ashkenazi or Spanish. Active throughout the Ottoman Empire , Zevi claimed to be the long-awaited Jewish Messiah and founded the Sabbatean movement . Upon arriving in Constantinople in February 1666, Sabbatai was imprisoned on the order of the grand vizier Köprülüzade Fazıl Ahmed Pasha . In September of that same year, after being moved from different prisons around
13794-459: Was born in the Ottoman city of Smyrna , supposedly on Tisha B'Av 1626, the Jewish holy day of mourning. In Hebrew Sabbatai means Saturn , and in Jewish tradition "the reign of Sabbatai", the highest planet, was often linked to the advent of the Messiah. Zevi's family were from Patras and either of Ashkenazi origins (according to Encyclopaedia Judaica ) or of Spanish descent (according to The Jewish Encyclopedia ). His father, Mordecai,
13915-477: Was entitled The Great Wisdom of Solomon , and began: I, Abraham, was confined in a cave for forty years, and I wondered greatly that the time of miracles did not arrive. Then was heard a voice proclaiming, "A son will be born in the Hebrew year 5386 [the year 1626 CE] to Mordecai Zevi; and he will be called Shabbethai. He will humble the great dragon; ... he, the true Messiah, will sit upon My throne." Armed with this document, Sabbatai chose Salonica , at that time
14036-454: Was finalized with the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey . By the mid-20th century they were becoming highly assimilated. Although little is known about them, various groups called Dönme continue to follow Sabbatai Zevi today, mostly in Turkey . Estimates of the numbers vary. As of 2016 there are 'perhaps 2,000' believing Dönme still living in Turkey, though this is dwarfed by
14157-399: Was innovative, if sinister" that was, in many respects, a departure from the earlier formulations of Sabbateanism. In traditional Sabbatean doctrine, Zevi (and often his followers) claimed to be able to liberate the sparks of holiness hidden within what seemed to be evil. According to Michaelson, Frank's theology asserted that the attempt to liberate the sparks of holiness was the problem, not
14278-485: Was ordered to take a second wife to confirm his conversion. Some days afterwards, he wrote to the community in Smyrna: "God has made me an Ishmaelite; He commanded, and it was done. The ninth day of my regeneration." Sabbatai's conversion devastated his followers, and Muslims and Christians alike ridiculed them. In spite of his apostasy , many of his adherents still clung to their belief in him, claiming that his conversion
14399-425: Was said to have a good voice, and attracted large audiences when he sang psalms all night long, or Spanish love-songs to which he gave mystical interpretations. At other times he prayed and cried at the graves of pious men and women or distributed sweetmeats to children on the streets. Gradually he gathered a larger circle of adherents. At the time the Jewish community in Jerusalem was in dire need of money to pay
14520-423: Was said, "In the north of Scotland a ship had appeared with silken sails and ropes, manned by sailors who spoke Hebrew . The flag bore the inscription 'The Twelve Tribes of Israel'." The Jewish community of Avignon , France prepared to emigrate to the new kingdom in the spring of 1666. Jewish readiness to believe Sabbatai Zevi's messianic claims may largely be explained by the desperate state of European Jewry in
14641-519: Was visited by Dönme pilgrims from Salonika until the early 20th century. "By the 1680s, the Dönme had congregated in Salonica, the cosmopolitan and majority-Jewish city in Ottoman Greece. For the next 250 years, they would lead an independent communal life—intermarrying, doing business together, maintaining their own shrines, and handing down their secret traditions." By the 19th century,
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